This book can be used to explore the subtle beauty of haiku poetry, as a guide to meditation, or to appreciate the reproduced paintings that accompany the poems. The paintings are in brilliant color and each features the Japanese parasol.
Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694) was born Matsuo Kinsaku during the early Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Basho was recognized for his work in a poetic form that was a precursor to the haiku. Over the course of time, Basho became recognized as an unparalleled master of the haiku. His work is internationally renowned, and his poems are reproduced at many historical sites in Japan.