Art, haiku by Edo period poet Basho newly discovered

ITAMI, Hyogo -- Haiku poems, correspondence and artwork by Edo period poet Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) have been newly discovered in several areas across Japan, a museum and library facility specializing in haiku here has announced.

A total of 16 pieces by Basho were found in private homes in Kyoto and Aichi prefectures and other places. His letters reveal strong connections with his pupils through The Zhuangzi (a Chinese text attributed to Zhuang Zhou), which is believed to have influenced the renowned Japanese poet.

One letter was written two years before Basho's death in 1692. Addressed to his pupil Dosui, a feudal samurai in an area that is now Shiga Prefecture, the letter expressed disappointment that while there were people in Edo who can teach from "The Zhuangzi," potential students were disappearing.

There was also a haiku piece which had been jointly composed with two other poets. It is believed to be the one Basho worked on when he visited what is now the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, in March 1685. He wrote the last part of the poem, which reads, "People climb the cherry tree at a three-pronged spot." The "three-pronged spot" is believed to refer to a river confluence. Basho was apparently enjoying sharing a moment with those who were viewing cherry blossoms from a boat nearby.

In addition, a haiku poem by Basho accompanied by a drawing was also found. It depicts a morning glory and the moon with a poem composed in 1682 titled "On a morning glory."

According to museum and library facility Kakimori Bunko in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, some 40 artworks by Basho have been discovered to date. They are mostly from his closing years. The recently found items are believed to be drawings that Basho completed around the time he was 40-42. Only two other pieces from those years have been found.

The facility will exhibit Basho's newly discovered pieces from June 11 through July 18.