Saihouji Temple

"The noble words of sovereign
On the sheets tinged with light gray
With Cherry blossoms of sumi"
(Kyokudo)

Saihouji Temple in Idai, opened in 792 (Enryaku 11), in the temple of the Tendai sect that have been recorded in history.
"The Cherry blossoms of sumi (Indian ink)" in front of the main hall of the temple are recited in the phrases of the folk song "Iyo-Bushi" and have been famous from old times.
"The words of sovereign" were the documents of sovereign described by officer in old times. "The sheets tinged with light gray" were the light gray forms to be described the words of sovereign.
The legend says that the 37th Emperor, Saimei, fell ill when she stayed at "Nikitatsu", and recovered her sprits by praying to God through the Imperial instructions.
She received a light gray sheets with the cherry blossoms, on that the words of sovereign were described, from Imperial court., and so this cherry blossoms were called "The cherry blossoms of light sumi". These incidents made this place of historical interest.
This cherry blossoms are the variety of wild cherry blossoms and double-flowering.
This Haiku monument was built in 1952 (Showa 27) and the characters on this monument are Kyokudo's own handwriting.