Matsuo Basho: Images and Writing

            There is a video on Matsuo Basho on You Tube. Someone put together images with Matsuo Basho’s poetry. I would like to answer the question: Discuss the combination of poems and images. Why do you think that maker of the video paired of the video paired the images and poems in the way he did?

            I think the maker of the video paired Basho’s poetry with images because it is another way to read poetry besides in a book. The maker added traditional music in the background. The video and poetry was an  effective way for the reader to respond to the poetry.

            At the beginning of the video there is a  Japanese woman dressed in a traditional robe sitting and appearing to be deep in thought. A ding begins the video and video shows a map of Basho’s Trail. Then a painting of Basho is shown. As one scene is over the transition begins and the image moves away to make room for the new video scene.

            It is clear the poetry is about a former century with the traditional paintings and people in traditional clothing while traditional music plays in the background. Cold weather sinks in and sorrow is the theme of the poem. A woman is shown and she is thinking back to the past.

            A part of the poem is shown on a slide by itself as all of the poem is. There are pretty nature scenes before and after. Basho wrote:

                                    “…on a darkening sea

the voices of wild

ducks

are faint and white” (Basho).

The figures of people become dark. This could be due to weather turning cold again or fading eyesight. The scene then moves to the right. The next scene has the words by Basho:

                                    “…this autumn

                                    old age I feel,

                                    in the birds, the clouds” (Basho).

A new scene appears. It is winter again and a very old man is carrying a stick with something heavy. Basho wrote:

                                    “…ill on a journey

                                    my dream wanders

                                    over a

                                    withered

                                    moor” (Basho).

The poem appears to be very quite and thoughtful because the music plays in the background quietly. Because the poetry is combined with music and images there is control about the pauses between the stanzas of the poetry.

 The video, poetry, and music created an effective way for the reader to respond to the poetry. The video includes the very beautiful poem by Basho to create another way to enjoy the poem and think about the words.

Somadeva

Somadeva wrote “The Red Lotus of Chastity” From Kathasaritsagara in the 11^th century.

A rich merchant, Guhasena married a young woman named  Devasmita. The couple was happy. Guhasena have to leave and sail about business. Devasmita did not want Guhasena to have an affair. Guhasena did not want Devasmita to have an affair while he was gone. The couple came up with an idea.

They prayed to Siva the god. They were granted the idea of each one departing with a lotus.

When Guhasena was gone other merchant men saw the lotus that Guhasena had. They wanted to find Devasmita. The merchant men knew the connection to the lotus. They wanted to tempt Devasmita. Devasmita know of their ideas. Devasmita had a maid disguise as Devasmita. Devasmita did not want to be spoiled by the men. The maid posed as Devasmita in order to trick the men. The disguises used by women are often to do with men. The hiding in a disguise is a one up on Guhasena. It is  a way for women to protect themselves when someone is after them. The women were in the know, but not the men. It is a way for control and have power over the men. They were unaware and went blindly along.

Works Cited

Somadeva, From Kathasaritsagara, “The Red Lotus of Chastity”. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Third Edition, Two- Volume Set. W.W. Norton. Ed. M Puchner. 2013. 1272-1279. Print.