江戸時代の芭蕉が更にはるか昔の平安時代の侍に思いをはせて俳句を詠んだお寺です。ロマンがありますねぇ。 Motsuji Temple was originally constructed in the Heian era (794-1192), and it is said that the temple used to flourish and have 40 halls and 500 monks' dormitories. Also, this temple has an 850-year-old Jodo garden, which took in outstanding gardening technique and style at that time. Jodo means the world of Budda. So this garden was created to represent Pure Land or Heaven. Please walk around the heavenly garden thinking about the ancient people who made this and wanted to go to heaven after death. The main hall's principal image is a statue of Yakushi, Buddha of medicine, stayed with the bodhisattvas of solar and lunar radiance. Basho Matsuo, the most famous poet of the Edo period, also came here and created a haiku (the Japanese poetic form.) in the 1690s. It is translated in English here. " The summer grass 'Tis all that's left of ancient warriors' dreams." This is, "now only summer glasses are seen, but long time ago, the samurais were fought in this battlefield for their success and dreams." It is impressive that an old time poet created a poem for older time warriors, isn't it?