"It is a long day
The spring day just reminds me of
Suburou Emon and Joururi-ji Temple"
(Shiki)
This Haiku monument is the first monument since the War in Matsuyama. This Hai ku appeared in the part of spring of the Haiku poetry "Kanzan Rakuboku" of 1896 (Meiji 29).
Saburou Emon in this Haiku was a rich man in this district and very greedy. Sa borou Emon did'nt notice that the traveler, who asked him for charity, is Kobo Taishi (Saint Kobo) and smashed the bowl in his hands into pieces. The bowl spli t and scattered to every (eight) side. After that, Saburou Emon's eight childre n died one after another. At last, he decided to embrace a religion and went on a pilgrimage in Shikoku right on the heels of Taishi. It is said that Saburou Em on is the founder of the pilgrimage in Shikoku.
He came across Taishi at last in the holy temple No.12 at the 21st of the pilg rimage in Shikoku and he was forgiven for his sin just before he died at the en d of his strength. At that time, Taishi handed him a small stone. After that Ok itoshi Khono, the head of a powerful family in Iyo. had a son who clasped a sto ne tightly in his right hand and wouldn't let it loose. Okitoshi prayed for his son to Ankyouyou-ji Temple of that time, and the son opened his hand.
After that time, it has been said that the Temple began to be called "Ishiteji Temple".
"Monju-in" in the direction of Joururi-ji Temple was called the remains of Sab urou Emon's residence.
