Rakushisha, Cottage of Fallen Persimmones

Sore soles
battered path to Okochi
Rakushisha!

足痛い
おこちまでつぶす道
らくししゃ！


Tour Rakushisha　
らくししゃの旅行







Poem's found on stones throughout Rakushisha

Master of Persimmons
treetops are close to　　　
Arashiyama　　　　　　　　
かきぬしや
こずえわちかき
あらしやま
-Mukai Kyorai (1651-1704)

Summer Rains
Trace of a poem card　　
torn off the wall　　　　　　
さみだれや
しきしへぎたる
壁のあと
ーMatsu Basho, Saga Dairy. 1691

I've visited
The world's smallest　　
Kyorai's gravestone　　
およそてんかに
きょらいほどの
小さきはかにまいりけり
ーTakahama Kyoshi, 1908

Left Behind
the autumn wind　　　　
single gravestone　　　　
あきかぜに
ふきのこされて
はかひとつ
-Shaku Hyosai

Spring Rain
heaven and earth here　
the monument
春の雨
あめつちここに
はいじんと
-Hirasawa Ko

Basho's parting thoughts leaving Rakushisha.

Tomorrow I leave the hut　　　　　　　　　
of the fallen persimmons
and nostalgia hangs over my heart
-Matsuo Basho, Saga Dairy, 1691.

-My brief experience at Rakushisha was in the middle of what turned out to be a whirlwind tour of Arashiyama on foot. It started at Arashiyama Station and ended about 12 miles later in a Ramen shop! The time at Rakushisha was brief but it left a lasting impression on everyone I was with. These pictures do little justice to the small and private plot of land. It is incredibly quiet with exception to the birds and the rhythmic cycle of the Shishi-Odoshi.

-Rakushisha was the home to Mukai Kyorai (1651-1704). Kyorai was a disciple of Matsuo Basho. The cottage received its name when a storm from Arashiyama destroyed a crop of Persimmons that Kyorai had already sold and received payment. Matsuo Basho visited the cottage on three occassions, 1698, 1691, and 1694 . (Just two more than me!) Rakushisha has been rebuilt since Kyorai's days, however, it is extremely authentic in its presence.

Tour Rakushisha　らくししゃの旅行

-Some photo's from this album are courtesy of Daneah G, (The Thinking Chick)

-For an excellent overview of Rakushisha and translations of the Poetry Stones visit Japan Navigator. (The best blog of Japan on the web.)
-For a quick look into Rakushisha, -Click Here


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