Reginald Horace Blyth

Reginald Horace Blyth was an English writer, scholar, and devotee of Japanese culture, best known for his influential writings on Zen Buddhism and haiku poetry. Born in Essex, England, he was a conscientious objector during World War I and later studied English literature at the University of London. Blyth spent much of his adult life in Korea and Japan, teaching English and immersing himself in Japanese culture. He became a professor at Gakushuin University and a private tutor to Crown Prince Akihito. His prolific work, including the four-volume "Haiku" series and "Zen in English Literature and Oriental Classics," played a significant role in popularizing Zen and Japanese poetic forms in the West. He died in Tokyo in 1964.