The tone of the writing in this letter is unusually intense with Shiki’s emotion directly shown, which is rarely seen in his letters. Concerning this Dookan-yama affair, a response letter soon came to Shiki from Ioki Ryohzo (Hyootei), which said that he would talk with Kyoshi on the issue later. And also a letter from Kyoshi came, which said he could not make a complaint even if he was abandoned because of the affair this time, but he would like to be in close association with Shiki and get instructions from him in everything in the same way as the past. Actually, Kyoshi continued visiting the Shiki’s house from then on too.
Then, Shiki must have inwardly continued thinking that there was no one who could succeed him without Kyoshi from then on too.
In these circumstances, Shiki must have had a very hard time on March 17,1896, when he seemed to be notified of a serious development of illness by a doctor. According to the complete works of Masaoka Shiki published by Kodansha Company, there were four letters sent by him after that day during the month. All of them were written politely. Among them is a letter dated on March 30, sent to Mori Tsugitaro (Engetsu) in Yohgo-mura,Iyo-gun,Iyo-koku (at present,Yohgo-cho,Matsuyama). To his junior living in his hometown Shiki gave a polite and carful instruction in haiku by sending a letter. The instruction was about the choice of words in composing haiku. To the haiku of “Daibutsu mo nemutasoonaru hinaga kana(大仏も眠たそうなる日永哉),” which had been composed by Engetsu and enclosed in his letter sent to Shiki, the following instruction was given by Shiki.
―You should, of course, revise the word of mo in the “Daibutsu mo nemutasoonaru.” If you use the word of mo, the haiku will become theory. If you use the word of no, the haiku will become a landscape. Theory is not literature. As to your haiku of “Kasumi kara nagarete detari haru no kawa(霞から流れて出たり春の川),” the word of haru is not necessary. Only if you use the words of “Kasumi kara nagaredeta kawa(the river flowing from the mist)”, it is clear that you are referring to the river in spring. Then, in such a case, you should use the words like the Ishite River,the Ooi River,or the Katsura-gawa instead of adopting “haru-no-kawa (spring river).”―
This short letter makes me understand that he had a keen insight as a man of letters and had a kind concern for others despite the fact that he was ill in his body.
There is another example showing his character and spirit. There lived a man named Ishii Yuuji (Rogetsu) in Akita Prefecture. Shiki had become acquainted with him in Newspaper Nihon. He practiced the medicine in Akita Prefecture after passing the examination for the medical service. To him Shiki sent a letter, dated on August 8, 1896 (the 29th year of Meiji). In the letter Shiki says:
“I have come to be unable to go out due to the illness.”
その調子は、感情の高ぶりがそのまま出ていて、極めて激しいものである。子規の手紙の中では珍しい。この道灌山の件では、五百木良三（飄亭）からただちに、自分が虚子とも話しするからととりなしの手紙が届き、また虚子もすぐ、今回の件で見捨てられても仕方ないが今後とも交際、教訓は今までどおり願いたいとの趣旨の手紙子規に届いている。そして実際虚子はその後も子規の宅を訪ねている。
だから、やはり子規は一人心の中で自分の文学の継承者は虚子しかいないと、思っていたのだろう。
こうした状況下にあって、深刻な病の進行を医者から告げられたと思われる明治２９年３月１７日は、子規にとって実に辛い日だったはずである。しかし、そのあと３月中に出された子規の手紙は、講談社発行の「子規全集」によれば、４通あるが、すべて端然としたものである。その中に、３月３０日付けで伊予国伊予郡余戸村（現在の松山市余戸町）の森次太郎（円月）に宛てて出した手紙がある。そこで子規は郷土の後進に対し懇切丁寧な指導を行っている。それは作句における言葉の選択に関することであった。円月が子規への手紙に同封した「大仏も眠たそうなる日永哉」という句に対して、次の通りアドバイスをおくっている。
「大仏も眠たそうなる」とある「も」の字ハ改むるべきこと勿論(もちろん)也 もといへば理屈になり「の」といへば景色ニなる 理屈になれバ文学に非ず 「霞から流れて出たり春の川」といふ御句にては「春」といふ字不用也(ふようなり) 只「霞から流れ出た川」と許(ばか)りにては其の川ハ春の川なること勿論(もちろん)知れるなり 故に個様(このよう)な場合ニハ「春の川」といはずして「石手川」「大井川」「桂川」など等の語を用うべし
体は病んでいても、子規の確固たる文学者としての見識と丁寧で優しい心使いが、短い文面ながら、伝わってくる。
日本新聞社で知りあいだった石井祐治(ゆうじ)（露(ろ)月(げつ)）が医術開業試験に合格し秋田で開業していた。その同人に宛てて子規が手紙を出している。明治２９年８月８日付けのその手紙の中で、
「小生常病人外出の出来ぬ身の上と相成(あいな)り申し候(そうろう)」
と言い、
Then, Shiki must have inwardly continued thinking that there was no one who could succeed him without Kyoshi from then on too.
In these circumstances, Shiki must have had a very hard time on March 17,1896, when he seemed to be notified of a serious development of illness by a doctor. According to the complete works of Masaoka Shiki published by Kodansha Company, there were four letters sent by him after that day during the month. All of them were written politely. Among them is a letter dated on March 30, sent to Mori Tsugitaro (Engetsu) in Yohgo-mura,Iyo-gun,Iyo-koku (at present,Yohgo-cho,Matsuyama). To his junior living in his hometown Shiki gave a polite and carful instruction in haiku by sending a letter. The instruction was about the choice of words in composing haiku. To the haiku of “Daibutsu mo nemutasoonaru hinaga kana(大仏も眠たそうなる日永哉),” which had been composed by Engetsu and enclosed in his letter sent to Shiki, the following instruction was given by Shiki.
―You should, of course, revise the word of mo in the “Daibutsu mo nemutasoonaru.” If you use the word of mo, the haiku will become theory. If you use the word of no, the haiku will become a landscape. Theory is not literature. As to your haiku of “Kasumi kara nagarete detari haru no kawa(霞から流れて出たり春の川),” the word of haru is not necessary. Only if you use the words of “Kasumi kara nagaredeta kawa(the river flowing from the mist)”, it is clear that you are referring to the river in spring. Then, in such a case, you should use the words like the Ishite River,the Ooi River,or the Katsura-gawa instead of adopting “haru-no-kawa (spring river).”―
This short letter makes me understand that he had a keen insight as a man of letters and had a kind concern for others despite the fact that he was ill in his body.
There is another example showing his character and spirit. There lived a man named Ishii Yuuji (Rogetsu) in Akita Prefecture. Shiki had become acquainted with him in Newspaper Nihon. He practiced the medicine in Akita Prefecture after passing the examination for the medical service. To him Shiki sent a letter, dated on August 8, 1896 (the 29th year of Meiji). In the letter Shiki says:
“I have come to be unable to go out due to the illness.”
その調子は、感情の高ぶりがそのまま出ていて、極めて激しいものである。子規の手紙の中では珍しい。この道灌山の件では、五百木良三（飄亭）からただちに、自分が虚子とも話しするからととりなしの手紙が届き、また虚子もすぐ、今回の件で見捨てられても仕方ないが今後とも交際、教訓は今までどおり願いたいとの趣旨の手紙子規に届いている。そして実際虚子はその後も子規の宅を訪ねている。
だから、やはり子規は一人心の中で自分の文学の継承者は虚子しかいないと、思っていたのだろう。
こうした状況下にあって、深刻な病の進行を医者から告げられたと思われる明治２９年３月１７日は、子規にとって実に辛い日だったはずである。しかし、そのあと３月中に出された子規の手紙は、講談社発行の「子規全集」によれば、４通あるが、すべて端然としたものである。その中に、３月３０日付けで伊予国伊予郡余戸村（現在の松山市余戸町）の森次太郎（円月）に宛てて出した手紙がある。そこで子規は郷土の後進に対し懇切丁寧な指導を行っている。それは作句における言葉の選択に関することであった。円月が子規への手紙に同封した「大仏も眠たそうなる日永哉」という句に対して、次の通りアドバイスをおくっている。
「大仏も眠たそうなる」とある「も」の字ハ改むるべきこと勿論(もちろん)也 もといへば理屈になり「の」といへば景色ニなる 理屈になれバ文学に非ず 「霞から流れて出たり春の川」といふ御句にては「春」といふ字不用也(ふようなり) 只「霞から流れ出た川」と許(ばか)りにては其の川ハ春の川なること勿論(もちろん)知れるなり 故に個様(このよう)な場合ニハ「春の川」といはずして「石手川」「大井川」「桂川」など等の語を用うべし
体は病んでいても、子規の確固たる文学者としての見識と丁寧で優しい心使いが、短い文面ながら、伝わってくる。
日本新聞社で知りあいだった石井祐治(ゆうじ)（露(ろ)月(げつ)）が医術開業試験に合格し秋田で開業していた。その同人に宛てて子規が手紙を出している。明治２９年８月８日付けのその手紙の中で、
「小生常病人外出の出来ぬ身の上と相成(あいな)り申し候(そうろう)」
と言い、