1 haiku (#3930) out of 10000
1816
.義中寺や拙者も是にはつ時雨
gichû ji ya sessha mo kore ni hatsu shigure
Gichu Temple--
I'm here too
first winter rain
Shinji Ogawa notes that sessha (literally: an untalented or ignorant person) means "I" in samurai fashion. He goes on to comment, "Gichû Temple is located nearby Lake Biwa and famous for Bashô's grave. The haiku is obviously the scene of a memorial service for Bashô held at Gichû Temple on October 12th. Another name for this memorial service is 'Winter Rain Service,' which is why Issa used the word, 'first winter rain.' However, Issa was in Edo in the winter of 1816 and did not go to Gichû in Shiga Prefecture. Issa might be recalling an old memory or perhaps he is saying, 'My heart is attending the ceremony at Gichû Temple.' In the old calendar, October 12th is about the beginning of winter."
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All translations © 1991-2010 by David G. Lanoue, rights reserved.