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| The characters on this monument was written by Kijyu Ohara who guided Shiki to compose Haiku. |
In 1688 (Genroku 1), Basho looked flying around fireflies on the surface of Seta River in Ohmi (The present Shiga Prefecture) on the way home. At that time, he remembered viewing the moon in Sarashina of Nagano, that was noted for "moonlight reflected in every paddy field" and composed this Haiku.
The whole district was called "The mount of Hime (princess)".
Michiari Kohno's uncle, "Michitoki" went to the war of Mongolian Invasions (of 1274 and 1281), leaving his only daughter "Hime" and he was killed in the Bay of Hakata.
Michiari carried his remains back to Hime waiting up her father. Hime had been staying at Gianji Temple and kept the grave of her late father throughout her life.
This Temple was a Zen temple, so it had been said that the origin of "Hime Daruma doll" is a tumbler of Bodhidharma on that Hime's face was drawn, to hold a memorial service for Hime. According to another theory, Hime Daruma doll shows the image of Empress Jinkou's being pregnant.
Mitarai River flows under Gianji Temple from the front of Ishiteji Temple and it is famous for its Genji fireflies. There would be some fireflies that were pressed by catchers and went out in the hill at the back of the temple, that of the main gate had been already closed."There would be some fireflies Been driven away and went out in the back-hill of the Temple" (Shiki)
