Soukouji Temple

"The building of Buddhist Temple
Belong to the Shin Sect is imposing
Beside flowers of rice plant"

(Shiki)

On Oct. 2nd of 1895 (Meiji 28), Shiki went out by himself to compose Haiku, be cause the weather improved and he felt better.
He left Gudabutsu-an hermitage, visited his relations, Fujino House and Ohara House, crossed the Nakano River, passed by the Hakkenya on the eastern corner of Renpukuji Temple, went up the bank of Ishite River along the rail of Yokogawara line, passed Mr.. Unrin Uraya's residence in Aioi-cho (the present Yanai-cho), went out the back of the old crematory and prison and return to Hakkenya again a fter going through the western side of Yakushiji Temple.
"The building of Buddhist Temple" was the Renpukuji Temple in Nakano-kawa.
this Haiku was connected with the Soukouji Temple belonged to the Shin sect of Honganji temple group, in that this monument was built.
The characters on this monument are the enlargement of Shiki's own handwriting .