On their way back they walked toward Dogo. Tracing the path of
their way back according to the reference map attached at the end of “Sansaku-shu,” the two turned to the left at the place where Dogo Prince Hotel stands now, and went toward the south. They walked along the path surrounding a moat on the south of Dogo Park. It was depicted as “going along a bamboo grove.” The place around there seemed to be a very beautiful spot.
Instead of turning to the left, they might have proceeded straight forward on the way from Ishiteji Temple. If they had passed the course, they could have soon reach Gianji Temple located just a little ahead. At the temple stood a stone tablet inscribed with a haiku of Matsuo Basho’s. The stone tablet was erected in 1883 (the 16th year of Meiji) by haiku poets in Matsuyama, including Ohara Kijuu, who played a leading role in the project. Shiki was once instructed by him in haikai.
このほたる田ごとの月にみくらべん
Kono hotaru tagoto no tsuki ni mikuraben
These fireflies,
With the moon above paddy fields,
I’d compare.
This haiku is adopted here. Basho composed it in 1688, when he was staying in Seta, Ohtsu (a shore of Lake Biwa). At that time he was on his way to Sarashina (Nagano). As Basho sees fireflies in Seta, he has already imagined the moon which is to be seen in Sarashina. What’s more, the moon is not just one night moon but every night moon he would see above the rice paddy field. And he is enjoying them. What this haiku depicts is such a kind of natural and mental landscape.
帰途は、そこから道後の方に向かって歩いている。「散策集」の巻末参考資料の足跡地図に記されている線を追ってゆくと、子規と極堂の二人は今道後プリンスホテルが建っている場所から南に曲がる途を通り、道後公園の南の外堀を歩いている。「御竹(たけ)薮(やぶ)の堀にそふて行く」と記されているが、その辺りは当時よほど美しい風景の場所だったらしい。
曲がらずに石手寺からの途をまっすぐそのまま進んでいてもよかったはずである。そのコースを通っていたら、すぐその先に義安寺(ぎあんじ)があった。その義安寺には子規が俳諧の手ほどきを受けた大原(おおはら)其(き)戎(じゅう)が中心となり明治１６年に建立した芭蕉句碑もあったのである。
このほたる田ごとの月にくらべみん
というのが、その句で、芭蕉が大津の勢田(せた)（現在の瀬田）にいた時詠んだ句である。芭蕉はその時更級(さらしな)に向かう旅の途中であった。大津の勢田(せた)で蛍を見ながら、更級の地でやがて見る月を思い浮かべて描いている。それも一夜だけの月ではない、毎晩田んぼの上に浮かんでくる月を想像して楽しんでいる。そんな句なのである。
their way back according to the reference map attached at the end of “Sansaku-shu,” the two turned to the left at the place where Dogo Prince Hotel stands now, and went toward the south. They walked along the path surrounding a moat on the south of Dogo Park. It was depicted as “going along a bamboo grove.” The place around there seemed to be a very beautiful spot.
Instead of turning to the left, they might have proceeded straight forward on the way from Ishiteji Temple. If they had passed the course, they could have soon reach Gianji Temple located just a little ahead. At the temple stood a stone tablet inscribed with a haiku of Matsuo Basho’s. The stone tablet was erected in 1883 (the 16th year of Meiji) by haiku poets in Matsuyama, including Ohara Kijuu, who played a leading role in the project. Shiki was once instructed by him in haikai.
このほたる田ごとの月にみくらべん
Kono hotaru tagoto no tsuki ni mikuraben
These fireflies,
With the moon above paddy fields,
I’d compare.
This haiku is adopted here. Basho composed it in 1688, when he was staying in Seta, Ohtsu (a shore of Lake Biwa). At that time he was on his way to Sarashina (Nagano). As Basho sees fireflies in Seta, he has already imagined the moon which is to be seen in Sarashina. What’s more, the moon is not just one night moon but every night moon he would see above the rice paddy field. And he is enjoying them. What this haiku depicts is such a kind of natural and mental landscape.
帰途は、そこから道後の方に向かって歩いている。「散策集」の巻末参考資料の足跡地図に記されている線を追ってゆくと、子規と極堂の二人は今道後プリンスホテルが建っている場所から南に曲がる途を通り、道後公園の南の外堀を歩いている。「御竹(たけ)薮(やぶ)の堀にそふて行く」と記されているが、その辺りは当時よほど美しい風景の場所だったらしい。
曲がらずに石手寺からの途をまっすぐそのまま進んでいてもよかったはずである。そのコースを通っていたら、すぐその先に義安寺(ぎあんじ)があった。その義安寺には子規が俳諧の手ほどきを受けた大原(おおはら)其(き)戎(じゅう)が中心となり明治１６年に建立した芭蕉句碑もあったのである。
このほたる田ごとの月にくらべみん
というのが、その句で、芭蕉が大津の勢田(せた)（現在の瀬田）にいた時詠んだ句である。芭蕉はその時更級(さらしな)に向かう旅の途中であった。大津の勢田(せた)で蛍を見ながら、更級の地でやがて見る月を思い浮かべて描いている。それも一夜だけの月ではない、毎晩田んぼの上に浮かんでくる月を想像して楽しんでいる。そんな句なのである。