Matsuo Basho Monument 唐招提寺 松尾芭蕉句碑

Official explanation

Northeast of the Lecture Hall (Kodo) and on the left side of the stone steps leading up to the Kaizando lies a monument to the eminent seventeenth century poet Matsuo Basho (1644–1694), who was well known for his self-styled karumi, or “lighter” haiku works. During a visit to Toshodaiji in 1688, Basho prayed to the statue of Ganjin, and he crafted a verse that is etched into the memorial stone:

Fresh young leaves

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wipe away the teardrops

from your eyes.

wakaba shite

onme no shizuku

nuguwabaya)

In later life, Basho became a devout Buddhist and urged other haiku exponents to avoid superficiality in their works in favor of the non-attachment that characterizes the lotus flower, which detaches itself from the mud from which it emerges.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.