Haikai - Bashō Revival

Bashō Revival

A new group of poets emerged in the mid-1700′s who "condemned the commercialized practices contemporary haikai and argued for a return to the ideals of Matsuo Bashō." The 18th century reform movement, lasting from around the 1730s to the 1790s came to be called the Bashō Revival. Prominent poets of this movement included Yosa Buson (1716-1783), Miura Chora (1729-1780), Takai Kitō (1741-1789), and Wada Ranzan (d.1773). "ther major 'Back to Bashō' poets were Tan Taigi 炭太祇 (1709-1771), Katō Kyōtai 加藤暁台 (1732-1792), Chōmu 蝶夢 (1732-1795), Kaya Shirao 加舎白雄 (1738-1791), and Hori Bakusui 堀麦水 (1718-1783). The movement had followers all over the country, due in part to the itinerant habits of many of its members." The revival movement members competed with the tentori poets, who neglected the craft of poetry in favor of dazzling readers with wit, "favor zoku 俗, the mundane or commonplace, over ga 雅, the elegant and refined."