Kashihara-shi, Kume Since olden times this temple has been confused with the Okuyama Kumedera (see below), and the circumstances of its founding are unclear. Tile designs suggest that the temple was likely already in existence in the latter half of the 7th century. It is known to have flourished during the early Heian period. Remains include a rarely seen assemblage of boulders used as foundation stones for the pagoda. Atop the site of the original pagoda there rises a tahoto-style pagoda moved there during the Momoyama period ( Late 16th century).

(by Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro)

By Karu road Whose name recalls sky-flying [wild geese]
Was the village of my love
With fond attachment I yearned to visit there
Yet if I went too many times. unceasingly
People's eyes would be too many
And surely they would come to know.
So I pinned my hopes as to a great ship
Expecting that, Like vines of the sane-kazura
Though parting, surely we should meet again
And longed for her only in secret
As in an iridescent rock-pent pool
When. as if the sun in crossing
Had gone into darkness
And the shining moon had hidden in clouds
A messenger, with catalpa wand. reported saying
That my sweetheart, who had bent to me
Like the yielding seaweed in offshore waters
Had like a colored autumn leaf
Passed on and was no more.
Hearing the sound of this sudden report
I was at a loss for what to say or do
But hearing that voice I could not stay
And hoping there might be some human feeling
To allay even the thousandth part of my longing
I Left for the Karu market
That my sweetheart always came to see
But standing to listen, there wasn't heard even
The crying of birds on Unebi hill
And not a single person walked the road
Who even looked like her
So seeing nothing else to do
I only called my sweetheart's name
And waved my sleeve

Man'yoshu 207

To seek my love who has lost her way
In colored leaves
Too densely grown on an autumn hill
Which mountain trail to take
I do not know

Man'yoshu 208

Copyright (c) 1995 ASUKA HISTORICAL MUSEUM All Rights Reserved.
Any request to kakiya@lint.ne.jp
Authoring: Yasuhito Kakiya

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