Medieval Linked Verse in Early Modern Times(<Special Issue>The Medieval Bridge between the Past and the Future)

Abstract

It is generally believed that the style of linked verse was totally replaced by that of haiku in early modern times, but in reality it remained still dominant in the early Edo Period. Even in mid-Edo Period many books of linked verse were in print and available. In this way medieval linked verse was not dead but kept alive in early modern times. So it may be possible to regard the haiku style of Matsuo-Basho and other poets of the years of Genroku as a sort of return to linked verse after the end of the feverish haiku movement.