In later life Basho turned to Zen Buddhism, and the travel sketched in this volume relfect his attempts to cast off earthly attachments and reach out to spiritual fulfillment. The sketches are written in the haibun style--a linking of verse and prose. The title piece, in particular, reveals Basho striving to discover a vision of eternity in the transient world around him and his personal evocation of the mysteries of the universe.
In later life Basho turned to Zen Buddhism, and the travel sketched in this volume relfect his attempts to cast off earthly attachments and reach out to spiritual fulfillment. The sketches are written in the haibun style--a linking of verse and prose. The title piece, in particular, reveals Basho striving to discover a vision of eternity in the transient world around him and his personal evocation of the mysteries of the universe.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North Acknowledgments Introduction The Records of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton A Visit to the Kashima Shrine The Records of a Travel-Worn Satchel A Visit to Sarashina Village The Narrow Road to the Deep North Map 1. Central Japan Map 2. Central Japan Map 3. Northern Japan Notes