Basho's Network and the Todo Family (summary)
Lecturer:Satoshi Okamoto
This lecture intends to discuss the possibility of Basho's journey of "Okuno Hoshomichi" having something to do with the interest of the Todo Family. It seems that Todo Takahisa, the relative of Basho's master was approaching chamberlains such as Makino and Yanagisawa, as well as the elders council member Abe. From this point of view, there is little wonder in considering Basho to be taking part in 'Bakufu Goryo Junken (government-owned land inspector)', which was one of the tasks of Edo magistrates, while living in the land located in Fukagawa that was bestowed to the Edo magistrate named Ina Hanjuro. Basho's partner Sora and his journey as an attendant to the Bakufu Goryo Junken officer taking care of the budget granted from the government following the death of the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi is detailed in the book titled "Nazo no Tabibito, Sora (Sora, the Mysterious Traveler)" written by Muramatsu Tomotsugu. "Okuno Hosomichi" also shows that Sora was in charge of the travel budget for the two. It indicates that Basho's journey was not just for the sake of aestheticism but also was an official inspection duty for the government-owned lands. In fact, the route of his journey covered most of the government owned lands except for Shikoku and Kyushu areas. His expression in the letter addressed to the attendant serving the Todo Shinshichiro's family that reads, "Shikoku and Kyushu areas are left unseen," conversely indicates that the journey up to that point was done at the request of the Todo Family. Taking under consideration the indirect relationship between Basho and Yanagisawa Yosiyasu in later years, the journey could very well be one of the tasks Basho had done for Todo Takahisa, who often was ridiculed with a nickname of "Yanagisawa's Doorkeeper"