Although written more than 600 years apart from each other, Ki no Tsurayuki's fictionalized depiction of his harsh journey to Kyoto, Tosa Nikki, has many similar qualities to Oku no Hosochi by Matsuo Bashō. Their focus on nature and travel in general, regardless of whether or not there is a set goal, creates a similar progression in both accounts based on real events. One of the main differences between these two accounts is the means by which they travel: one on foot, the second. more on the boat. In Tosa Nikki, the narrator, along with the rest of her crew, is on a ship, able to make observations of the world only from afar. They make comments about things like the moon, trees, and ocean, as well as the people with them on the ship. In contrast, Matsuo's journey takes place on foot, with external forces encountering him along the way. His interactions with benevolent people on his journey help him see the good in the world. This contrast between internal and external interaction helps shape the two narrators. While you might think that living on a ship for about two months would lead to unpleasant and perhaps grotesque images, especially those of living conditions, Ki no Tsurayuki is sure to keep those details buried. There is talk of alcohol consumption accompanied by cheerfulness, images of nature and many descriptions of the moon. It was only at the end, when they reached their destination in Kyoto, that the narrator described, albeit pleasantly, the deteriorated state of the cottage they were desperately trying to reach. “When we reached the house and passed through the gate, everything stood out brightly under the clear moon. Things were even worse than we'd heard: there was a wasteland of decay and dilapidation... middle of paper... progress, in the sense that not much happens in terms of plot or character development, but it puts greater emphasis on the path that led them there, represented as a real path in both stories. Matsuo's formulaic plot could be attributed to the influence Taoism had on him. Daoism places an emphasis on "action through inaction", as seen in its descriptions of seemingly mundane details of horse urine and several aspects of religion. His thought processes were as important as the physical journey he took, which allowed him to come full circle without feeling like he accomplished nothing. Nature plays an important role in the journeys of Matsuo and Ki no Tsurayuki. Their connection to the world around them influences their mental growth and changes their perspective from the beginning to the end of the narrative.