Oku no Hosomichi

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oku-no-hosomichi

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Oku no Hosomichi?Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694)
2. What is the journey commencement?March 27, 1689
3. What is the approximate distance traveled?Over 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers)
4. How long was Bashō's journey and how far did he walk?Bashō walked for about 156 days and covered more than 1,500 miles on foot. That was a very long and slow journey.
5. Why did Bashō write poems during his trip?He wrote poems to capture the feelings he felt when seeing mountains, rivers, and old places. The poems helped him think about life and nature.

Haiku: A traditional Japanese poetic form consisting of three phrases with a 5, 7, 5 syllable structure, often incorporating a seasonal reference and a 'cutting word'.
Matsuo Bashō: The most celebrated poet of the Edo period, credited with elevating haiku to a high art form and author of Oku no Hosomichi.
Haikai no reku: A form of Japanese linked verse that includes haiku and is often characterized by its blend of serious and humorous elements.
Sabi and Wabi: Aesthetic concepts in Japanese culture emphasizing rustic simplicity, quietude, and the beauty found in imperfection and transience.