松尾芭蕉『奥の細道』の旅の謎Matsuo Basho's Journey and the Mysteries of Oku no Hosomichi

Hearing of Japanese haiku, many readers may know its representative figure, Matsuo Basho (1644–1694). Basho greatly developed haiku in the early Edo period, composing one poem after another as he traveled the country, and left as many as 1,000 verses in his lifetime.

His best-known work is Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North). (Sadly, Basho's original manuscript has not been found.)

Oku no Hosomichi was made by Basho, influenced by Saigyo (1118–1190), a poet of the late Heian period (12th century) honored as a founder of haiku culture, and by Sogi (1421–1502), a representative poet of medieval Japan. Showing respect to the poets and haiku masters of the past, he made it in order to trace their footsteps. In a sense it was a pilgrimage through Japanese literature.

Basho set out on this journey in 1689, at the age of 46. Travel then often meant not coming back, so he left prepared for death, taking his leave of his family and others, accompanied by only one disciple.

Leaving Edo, he traveled through Tohoku and Hokuriku and ended the journey in what is now Gifu Prefecture, leaving masterpieces in many places. Yet the journey leaves many mysteries even today, and they became the source of various legends later.

One thing still unclear, for example, is where Basho found the money for the journey. It is true that patrons and wealthy disciples helped in part, but that was nowhere near enough. The source of his funds has been investigated, but none of the answers is confirmed. The amount actually spent on the journey of Oku no Hosomichi is, in today's money, about 2 to 3 million yen.

Basho was of samurai descent, but his father's status was already that of a farmer. His family is said to have been well off for farmers, but not enough to raise this travel money.

What is most astonishing, however, is the speed and distance of his travel.

Let us consider average life expectancy for a moment. The average life expectancy of the Japanese in the Edo period is generally thought to be around 30 to 40 years. High infant mortality was one factor; for those who survived to adulthood the average was around 50 to 60, and it was not unusual to live past 70.

Basho's age then, translated to today, corresponds to the 60s or 70s, an age at which people have generally finished all their work and quietly enjoy their remaining years. In fact, Basho often complained of ailments on the road.

Travel then also meant carrying a heavy backpack that filled the back. Basho's baggage is thought to have weighed 15 to 20 kg. The pack held many necessities such as paper, brush and ink, as well as clothing, rain gear and medicine.

He also slept outdoors often. Many mountain areas had not been cleared as they are now, so the main route, from Tohoku to Hokuriku, was a succession of bad roads. There were also dangers from bandits hiding in the mountains, and from bears and wolves (now extinct).

Even so, Basho covered an average of 16 km a day on foot. On the journey of Oku no Hosomichi he walked 2,400 km in 150 days. For a person in their 60s or 70s today to carry 15 to 20 kg and walk 2,400 km of bad road in just 150 days would be a dream.

Baggage generally lightens on a journey, but it is said that people in each place, moved by Basho's fame, visited where he stopped and gave him various gifts, so the total weight grew day by day. And unlike today, there was no hard training before the trip, and enough food was not always available.

How, then, did Matsuo Basho achieve this feat?

After his death, later generations imagined many things about this unbelievable accomplishment. In time, astonishing legends arose and are told to this day. I will write about these interesting legends next time.