Hekigotou Kawahigashi's birthplace (The remains of Seikei"s residence)

At the 7th anniversary of Mr.Seikei" death 


 "Japanese rose have been open
   Through cherry blossoms have fallen by now
             The memorial service is held"
                                          (Shiki)
I composed this Haiku at the 13th anniversary of my late father, Seikei' death, when I came home. 

"The flower of pea and
        Trees around here and there are now
                In this day of mourning"
                                           (Hekigotou)
Hekigotou Kawahigashi (His real name is Heigorou) was born the fifth son of Seikei at this place on Feb.26, 1873 (Meiji 6).
Seikei studied at Shouheigaku in Edo (Tokyo in Edo period) and became the professor of Meikyoukan after he came home to Matsuyama. After the abolish of feudal domain system, he opened the private school, "Senshu-gakusha" in 1880 (Meiji 13) and educated children in Matsuyama.
Shiki Masaoka and his great five friends, Kyu Ohota, Kitou Takemura, Ryo Minami and Tomoyuki Mori, studied Chinese classics and held the poem gathering frequently in this place.

Shiki composed the following Haiku, praising Seikei, when he held the alumni meeting surrounding Saiko with Yanagihara, Mori, Shimizu and others on Aug.23, 1891 (Meiji 24). 


 "Though a lotus leaves
          Grow up in the muddy water
                How the dewdrops on the leaves 
                      Look like jewels"
Seikei died in 1894 (Meiji 27) at 65. He had been buried in the precincts of Houtouji Temple in Nishiyama with Hekigotou. 
 
"I'll make look my wife
         To my late father in the grave
                  In this very cold day"
                                                       (Hekigotou)
Hekigotou came home and visited his father's grave.
The third son, Kit Takemura (his pen name is "Koutou") and the forth son, Sen (his pen name is "Kazen") kept company with Shiki through Haiku.
Seikei's residence was the samurai mansion and had area of 300 tsubo (about 1,000 square meters). His residence had about ten rooms linked in long sideways from the room of twelve tatami mats to the entrance hall of three tatami mats.
There was a big pond on the south of it.
In the summer and on Dec.30 of 1889 (Meiji 22), Shiki took Hekigotou, seventeen years old, out of the gate and taught the point of catching ball with empty hands. This was the beginning of the acquaintance of Shiki and Hekigotou.
Kyoshi also closed Shiki following Hekigotou.