蛸壺やはかなき夢を夏の月 — Matsuo Bashō | Printable Wall Art

“蛸壺やはかなき夢を夏の月”
“Octopus traps — beneath them, fleeting dreams under the summer moon”

Words by Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694) — Edo-period haiku master, author of Oku no Hosomichi.

About this quote

Octopus traps are lowered into the sea at night, offering octopuses a brief, peaceful shelter before their capture at dawn. Bashō contrasts their unsuspecting slumber under the bright summer moon with their imminent fate. The verse gently highlights the fragile, temporary nature of life, reminding us that human ambitions and pleasures are often just as fleeting and vulnerable as the creature's dreams.

Composed in 1688 by Edo-period haiku master Matsuo Bashō during his travels to Akashi, a coastal area famous for octopus fishing. The poem captures his signature style of drawing deep philosophical reflection from a simple, observed scene.

People often hang this in a quiet study or bedroom to encourage thoughtful contemplation before sleeping.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.