End-of-life Planning and Well-being in Bashō's "Oku No Hosomichi": A Structural Analysis Using PlantUML C4 Models

This research examines three haiku from Matsuo Bashō's masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North): "Inochi futatsu no naka ni ikitaru sakura kana" (Living within two lives-the cherry blossoms), "Hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo" (Like a clam's shell at Futami, we part as autumn departs), and "Araumi ya Sado ni yokotau Amanogawa" (Turbulent seas-stretching toward Sado, the Milky Way). We employ PlantUML C4 models to conduct a structural analysis of these haiku. By applying the four abstraction layers of the C4 model (Context, Container, Component, and Code) to haiku interpretation, we systematically visualize the elements of end-of-life contemplation (shūkatsu) and well-being embedded within these poems. Our analysis reveals common themes across all three haiku: acceptance of the duality of life and death, re-recognition of relationships, and transcendence through devotion to nature-all core elements of spiritual well-being in the context of preparing for life's end. This methodology demonstrates the potential to rediscover the contemporary value of classical literature and suggests applications for practical end-of-life support. The findings provide a structured framework for understanding how poetic forms can encapsulate profound existential insights, offering valuable perspectives for both literary studies and contemporary well-being practices.