Kousin-an Hermitage
"My hermitage have two tatami-mats
But one tatami-mat is my little greed
Just for this transient world"
(Chodo Kurita)
This hermitage was built by "Chodo Kurita"(1749 - 1814), who was the number one Haiku writer in the early modern age in Iyo, in 1800(Kansei 12), at the age of 52, to give the rest of his life in the tasteful living.
On 17th, Sept. of 1949(Showa 24), this hermitage had been designated as the cultural asset and the commemorative asset(histrical relics) by the authority of Matsuyama Prefecture, and come up to the present time getting rid of the war damages.
The name of "Kousin-an" had derived from that Kansei 12, when this hermitage had been built, falled on "Kanoe-Saru" on the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac and there had been a small shrine made of blue steel near by the hermitage.
Chodo had the three faces. One was the brewery of his family business, and another was the town officer of official duties. Meanwhile he had been absorbed in composing Haikai.
We can see now, "Kousin-an Hermitage Report", that he wrote at this hermitage in 1805(Bunka 2), at the exhibition hall in the gurden. We regret to say that the water in the pond in front of this small hermitage looked out onto the front garden with the wistaria trellis on that large Japanese wisterias are used to bein bloom every year, dryed up. But, we can safely say it is miracle that an old hermitage of the end of 18th century have still survived at the corner of a such present-day city.
