04/05/2024
Chapter 1 His Secret of Birth
#01 His Secret of Birth Hidden in His Robe
Ikkyu Sojun was born on New Year's Day as the Imperial prince of Emperor Gokomatsu, 100th Emperor, in 1394. According to a theory, his mother was a surviving retainer of Southern Court, and was from Kazan-in clan, the Northern House of the Fujiwara clan. It is said that she served the Emperor of Northern Court, became favored and pregnant, was slandered, and her social position was reduced to ordinary people.
Ikkyu Sojun trained himself under Zogai Syukan, the chief priest of the Yamashiro Ankoku-ji Temple, at six years old. He was named Syuken under the school. Zogai Syukan belonged to Muso school of Rinzai sect, and moved to Yamashiro Ankoku-ji Temple from Saga Ryoko-in.
泉涌寺雲龍院、後小松院古廟春遊
その１
三皇 日月 一乾坤
五十 余年 百帝孫
万里 雲龍 門下客
慈心 深処 似君恩
The spring pleasure of visiting Gokomatsu's mausoleum in Senyu-ji Unryu-in Temple
The three Emperors, Gokogon; Goenyu; Gokomatsu, had been tightly bound like the sun and moon.
I am a descendant of 100th Emperor, Gokomatsu, who reigned for 50 years.
And am a disciple who visit Unryu-in Temple of the peak of Higashiyama here.
My lord's favors are deep like the mercy of the principal image.
その２
古寺 残僧 忘是非
雲龍 風月 帯皇畿
庭前 知有 王孫草
猶到 斜陽 不得帰
A priest is left alone in the old temple, forgets the right and wrong.
Unryu-in Temple reminds me of the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Palace.
In the garden, aristocratic flowering plant grows.
Even if it grows dark, I stand still there as it is hard to leave.
その３
対僧 清話 忘清遊
花落 鳥啼 山更幽
新草 古苔 廟前雨
幾回 春色 幾回秋
Dressing in black and refined speech efface the refined excursion.
Flowers are scatter, birds sing, foothills are deep.
Grasses are green, mosses are from antiquity, it rains in front of the grave.
How many times does spring come thus ? How many times does autumn come thus?
Sennyu-ji Temple is adjacent to the north of Tofuku-ji Temple, and is the mausoleum of the successive Imperial Family. On October 1433, Emperor Gokomatsu passed away. Ikkyu was 40 year old at the time.
Although it is the established theory that Ikkyu was an Imperial prince of Emperor Gokomatsu, some researchers have their doubts about it. However, if I consider these Chinese poems, after all, I remind of him who had strong ties with the Imperial family.
This Imperial mausoleum of Northern Court is still famous for ume flowers.
梅殿四時画梅
四時 春色 最奇哉
正是 玉梅 非野菊
昔日 清香 満金殿
風流 聖主 断碑苔
Out of the four seasons, it is rare in spring above all.
It is the excellent ume flowers, not like the wild chrysanthemums.
In ancient times, flowers had metaphor of scent.
The mosses of the epitaph talk the time-honored tradition of the man of imperial virtue.
