Mt. Fuji seen from Saigyo pass
I visited Saigyo pass on Sep. 03, 2008.
The explanation panel says ;
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The name "Saigyo" comes from the fact that on the way to the Eastern country for pilgrimage
priest Saigyo came to Kai (Yamanashi Pref.) from Suruga (Shizuoka Pref.) along the Fujigawa river,
he made a hermitage and lived for a while in the village below from this pass.
So they call this village "Saigyo Village", this pass "Saigyo Pass"
and this slope to the pass "Saigyo Slope."
Saigyo pass known as this "Bon-chu-no Fuji (Fuji in the tray)" has been
one of "Fujimi-sankei", together with Hanamizu Slope and Misaka Pass.
( where "Fujimi-sankei" means "Three Fuji-Viewing Spots from Yamanashi Pref. side)In the early Taisho era, OHMACHI Keigetsu, noted as his travel sketches, visited here
to see "Fujimi-sankei", and wrote the wonderfulness of Saigyo-zaka in his Keigetsu album.----------
Only the top of Fuji is seen on the dent of the mountains on the upper right part of this picture.
And only one-quarter is seen now.
Saigyo was one of the poets whose pieces of tanka were compiled into the Shin-Kokin-waka-shu.
"Kaze-ni nabiku Fuji-no kemuri-no Sora-ni kie-te
Yukue-mo shira-nu Waga-omoi-kana "
My interpretation is as follows.
"Streaming in the wind, Smoke of Mt. Fuji is vanishing away in the sky,
I don't know where they will go, neither do I know where my heart will go."
(Here, Which should be better mind or spirit or soul for "heart" ?)
When I looked the north side, the Fujigawa river was flowing quietly
against the background of mountains in Minobu.
The Fujigawa river against the background of mountains in Minobu
In fact Mt. Fuji is seen off and on among the eastern mountain ranges from this road along this river.
Today we are in full infrastructures such as vehicles, network of roads, and weather information,
so, it has become possible and easy for us to see beautiful Mt. Fuji from many places.
However when thinking about the situation of less infrastructures at that time,
I imagine it seemed to be a touching sight and a comfortable ease
for the travelers to see Mt. Fuji on the way of their travel.
Mt. Fuji seen from Saigyo Pass might have been a valuable scene of their travel,
though it was momentary, for the travelers walking on "KohSun Road (Minobu-way)".
I visited here again on Sep. 09, 2008 showing honor to priest Saigyo.
