Traces of Dreams: Landscape, Cultural Memory, and the Poetry of Bashō

Basho (1644-94) is perhaps the best known Japanese poet in both Japan and the West, and yet there has been remarkably little serious scholarship in English on his achievement. This book is intended to address that virtual void by establishing the ground for critical discussion and reading of a central figure in Japanese culture, placing the works of Basho and his disciples in the context of broader social change. Intended for both the general reader and the specialist, Traces of Dreams examines the issues of language, landscape, cultural memory, and social practice in early modern Japan through a fundamental reassessment of haikai —popular linked verse that eventually gave birth to modern haiku —particularly that of Basho and his disciples. The author analyzes haikai not only as a specific poetic genre but as a mode of discourse that emerged from the profound engagement between the new commoner culture that came to the fore in the seventeenth century cities and the earlier traditions, which haikai parodied, transformed, and translated into the vernacular. Traces of Dreams explores the manner in which haikai both appropriated and recast the established cultural and poetic associations embodied in nature, historical objects, and famous places—the landscape that preserved the cultural memory and that became the source of authority as well as the contested ground for haikai re-visioning and re-mapping. Basho (1644-94) Is Perhaps The Best-known Japanese Poet In Both Japan And The West, And Yet There Has Been Remarkably Little Serious Scholarship In English On His Achievement. This Book Is Intended To Address That Virtual Void By Establishing The Ground For Critical Discussion And Reading Of A Central Figure In Japanese Culture, Placing The Works Of Basho And His Disciples In The Context Of Broader Social Change. Intended For Both The General Reader And The Specialist, Traces Of Dreams Examines The Issues Of Language, Landscape, Cultural Memory, And Social Practice In Early Modern Japan Through A Fundamental Reassessment Of Haikai - Popular Linked Verse That Eventually Gave Birth To Modern Haiku - Particularly That Of Basho And His Disciples. Traces Of Dreams Explores The Manner In Which Haikai Both Appropriated And Recast The Established Cultural And Poetic Associations Embodied In Nature, Historical Objects, And Famous Places - The Landscape That Preserves The Cultural Memory And That Became The Source Of Authority As Well As The Contested Ground For Haikai Re-visioning And Remapping.--book Jacket. Introduction: Refiguring Cultural Memory -- Bashō: Myth East And West -- Haikai Language, Haikai Spirit -- The Art Of Juxtaposition: Cutting And Joining -- Linking And Communal Poetry -- The Poet As Guest -- Seasonal Associations And Cultural Landscape -- Remapping The Past: Narrow Road To The Interior -- Awakening To The High, Returning To The Low: Bashō's Poetics -- Epilogue: Parting Of The Ways. Haruo Shirane. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [339]-354) And Index. Basho (1644-94) is perhaps the best known Japanese poet in both Japan and the West, and yet there has been remarkably little serious scholarship in English on his achievement. This book is intended to address that virtual void by establishing the ground for critical discussion and reading of a central figure in Japanese culture, placing the works of Basho and his disciples in the context of broader social change. Intended for both the general reader and the specialist, examines the issues of language, landscape, cultural memory, and social practice in early modern Japan through a fundamental reassessment of —popular linked verse that eventually gave birth to modern —particularly that of Basho and his disciples. The author analyzes haikai not only as a specific poetic genre but as a mode of discourse that emerged from the profound engagement between the new commoner culture that came to the fore in the seventeenth century cities the earlier traditions, which haikai parodied, transformed, and translated into the vernacular.__Traces of Dreams__ Acknowledgments Contents References and General Notes Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Bashō Myth East and West 3. Haikai Language, Haikai Spirit 4. The Art of Juxtaposition 5. Linking and Communal Poetry 6. The Poet as Guest 7. Seasonal Associations and Cultural Landscape 8. Remapping the Past: Narrow Road to the Interior 9. Awakening to the High, Returning to the Low: Bashō’s Poetics Epilogue: Parting of the Ways Reference Matter Appendix: Glossary of Literary Terms Notes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Epilogue Selected Bibliography Cited Hokky by Bashō, with Approximate Dates of the Earliest Variant General Index