What They Sought

Prose fragment

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.

— Matsuo Bashō

Kyoroku Ribetsu no Kotoba / Saimon no Ji (1693)

In The Margin

Someone else’s footsteps are reassuring. They suggest that the uncertainty has already been dealt with. But we can learn the gestures, repeat the sentences, even acquire the same silences—and still never encounter the question that moved them. Perhaps admiration becomes useful when it gives us something to look for, rather than someone to resemble.

Source & Translation

Japanese text: Kyoroku Ribetsu no Kotoba, also known as Saimon no Ji (1693). Bashō invokes Kūkai’s teaching about learning the spirit of earlier masters rather than reproducing their outward forms. (opens in a new tab)

Source history: Okayama Prefectural Library’s reference answer, hosted by Japan’s National Diet Library, traces the passage and its connection to Kūkai. (opens in a new tab)

Common English rendering; translator unverified. The In The Margin reflection is original Mockivation commentary.