Masaoka Shiki's poetry engraved on a monument, completed at the Ankokuron-ji Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112190012/

Caption: Chief Priest Tamagawa stands at the side of the completed monument (containing an inscription of a poem by MasaokaShiki=Ankokuron-Ji Temple

At the Ankokuron-ji Temple in Oomachi, Kamakura city, which is connected to the haiku and tanka artist Masaoka Shiki, a monument in his honor has been completed. For a time, Shiki visited Kamakura to recite poetry. Within the temple, talk began of using the space as the location of his monument in Kamakura city.

(The famous buddhist) Nichiren would take retreats at the temple, where his missionary work was connected to. This is where Hōjō Tokiyori presented the Risshouankokuron, a Buddhist text compiled by Nichiren.

In 1888 and 1893, Masaoka Shiki visited Kamakura, travelling through the temple on foot as well. Also, Nichiren left behind many Waka and Haiku.

The monument is 180 centimeters tall and 110 centimeters wide. Written on the moument is a waka of Shiki's, recited in the year 1900 [The pine leaves of kamakura, in the roads and area of the valley, they explain the way. -Bodhisattva Nichiren]. Kishiki's profile is sculpted in a relief.

Chief Priest Tamagawa Gakushou knows of the poem recited at the Matsubagayatsu (an area including purification grounds), "It was recited from here," where the monument was drawn up and erected. The relief was a work of the son of one Shiki's students, it's construction expressing the depth of Shiki's connection (with his students). Tamagawa Gakushou said "Understanding that this is the first monument of Kishiki in Kamakura, we want to send him deep affection."

Original Text

正岡子規の歌を刻んだ文学碑、安国論寺に完成/鎌倉

完成した歌碑の横に立つ玉川住職＝安国論寺

鎌倉市大町の安国論寺に、同寺にゆかりのある俳人で歌人の正岡子規の歌碑が完成した。子規が鎌倉を訪れた時のことを詠んだ歌で、同寺は「子規の文学碑は鎌倉では初めてでは」と話している。

安国論寺は、日蓮がいおりを結んで布教をした場所で、ここで北条時頼に提出した「立正安国論」を著したとされている。

正岡子規は、１８８８年と93年の２度、鎌倉を訪問。同寺にも足を運んでいる。また、日蓮に関する和歌や俳句を多く残している。

歌碑は高さ約１８０センチ、幅約１１０センチ。子規が１９００年に詠んだ和歌「鎌倉の松葉が谷の道の辺に法を説きたる日蓮大菩薩（ぼさつ）」と記され、子規の横顔のレリーフもある。

玉川覚祥住職が同寺のある松葉ケ谷を詠んだこの歌のことを知り、「ここのことを歌っているから」と建立を構想。レリーフは、子規の門下生の息子による作品であるなど、建立の過程も子規と縁が深い。玉川住職は「鎌倉初の子規の歌碑を通じて、子規に親しんでほしい」と話している。