Matsuo Basho was a famous 17th century Japanese poet who is considered the greatest master of haiku poetry. He helped develop haiku from its original hokku form into its modern 5-7-5 syllable structure with references to nature and seasonal themes. Haiku conveys vivid sensory images and aims to capture a fleeting moment or impression, typically in 17 syllables arranged in 3 lines. Basho played a pivotal role in establishing haiku as an independent genre of poetry focused on brevity, intensity, and seasonal themes that has endured to this day.

1. HAIKU
by: Matsuo Basho

2. Matsuo Basho
• 1644 – November 28, 1694
• Ueno, in Iga Province
• He made a living as a teacher.
• famous poet of the Edo period in Japan

4. Contributions to Literature
• most famous poet of the Edo
period in Japan.
• recognized for collaborative haikai no renga
form
• in Japan, many of his poems are reproduced
on monuments and traditional sites.
• recognized as the greatest master of haiku

7. History of Haiku
• Bashō became a servant to Tōdō
Yoshitada.
5-7-5 mora format
hokku
Later renamed as haiku.

8. What is Haiku?
• a Japanese poem of seventeen
syllables, in three lines of five,
seven, and five, traditionally
evoking images of the natural
world.

9. Structural Rules
• Uses exactly 17 syllables
• Syllables are arranged in three
lines of 5-7-5
• Avoids similes and metaphors
• Refers to a season of the year

10. What is Haiku All About?
• Haiku poems can describe anything
• Has a dominant impression
• Uses imagistic language

11. Seasonal Theme
Each Haiku must contain a kigo,
a season word, which indicates
what season of the year the
Haiku is set.

12. Example
Clouds appear and bring -
to men a chance to rest from
looking at the moon

14. • Subject- nature
• Observation at the moment (beautiful
day)
• Senses- sight

15. Other Example
Spring morning marvel
lovely nameless little hill
on a sea of mist

17. • Subject- nature
• Observation at the moment
• Senses- sight, smell and texture
• Season- Spring

18. Old pond
a frog jumps
the sound of water