Created 1978 Acquired 1978

calligraphy of Basho's poem

This was the haiku Basho wrote on first visiting Lake Biwa and Ishi Yama Dera where Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote most of The Tale of Genji.
Akebono - evening or dusk, with suggestion of the sky turning purple
Mada Murasakini - becoming purple, again reference to Murasaki
Hototogisu - Cuckoo [assumed to have heard its call]
This poem was on display at the temple when I visited in 1970, I have not been able to find any published (in English) reference to it. The calligraphy was by a master who was teacher to the wife of a friend.
[please let me know of any errors or additional information]

Bansui Fuji