This Haiku was composed in the spring of 1896 (Meiji 29).
It was said that the spring of Iyo region starts by the pilgrims' tinkling of bells.
Ishiteji Temple is the 51st of Shikoku sacred Temples and Anyou Temple was changed the name to "Ishiteji Temple" connecting to Kobo Taishi (Saint Kobo) and Saburo Emon, thirteen hundreds years hence.
This Deva Gate, that was found in 1312 (Bunpo 2) of Kamakura Period, is the only national treasure in Ishiteji Temple and the two Deva Kings of it (the statue of a man who has unusual strength) have been said the work of "Unkei" (the famous sculptor of Buddhist statues in Kamakura Period) and the cultural assets designated by Matsuyama Prefecture.
In those days Shiki was alive, pilgrims were used to take pots and kettles with them and boiled rice at the open space in the precinct.
At that time, Ishite Village had been in rulal region and the scenery that swallows perched in a line was observed here and there in the rice-planting season.
"It is just drizzling now Swallows forms a line on the bar At the Deva-gate of Temple" (Kyokudo)
