Matsuo Basho, Japan's eminent 17th-century poet, is celebrated for his extensive travels on foot, seeking enlightenment and inspiration. His journeys, characterized by simplicity and reflective solitude, followed a tradition of wandering poets and monks who explored both the landscape and their inner selves. Influenced by figures like the monk Zoki and the nun Abutsu, Basho's experiences shaped his poetry, allowing for expressions of the natural world and personal reflection. The full moon, a Buddhist symbol of enlightenment, represented his quest for deeper truth during his travels along the narrow road to the deep north.
In giving voice to what he called this windswept spirit, Basho was consciously following in the footsteps of a long line of spiritual ancestors famous for their long walks.
Basho thought of his walks as a spiritual discipline, visiting not only remote parts of Japan but also neglected corners of himself, obscured by society.
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