This book provides annotated translations of two important death accounts in premodern Japanese literature - The Death of Sogi and The Death of Master Basho. These accounts provide vital information about the careers of two iconic literary figures and their circles of disciples. The book also explores how these thanatographies served the departed and the bereaved death and discipleship and how both memorials were subjectively fashioned in response to venerable literary precedents and to new standards of taste. Color images of paintings of the masters and their disciples add to the presentation.