One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.110Buddhist stole hanging pine tree on the shore of Senzoku pond

Senzoku pond was formed by water flowing into and collecting in a basin.
The water came from springs 1 kilometre to the north at the foot of the southern edge of Musashino Plateau. On the southeastern end of the plateau lay Edo city. The pond’s water was used for irrigating the paddy fields to the southeast.
In 1282, a famous Buddhist priest named Nichiren, the founder of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, was on his way to a hot spring spa in Hitachi Province, northeast of Musashi Province, when he happened to pass by the pond and took a rest on the eastern shore. He was so impressed by the clear water that he washed his feet in it. Therefore, people in the neighbourhood named the pond Senzoku, meaning “feet washing”. In order to wash his feet, Nichiren took off his stole and hung it on a pine tree. He was such an admired priest that people in the neighbourhood named the tree Kesagake Matsu, or “stole hanging pine tree”. It can be seen on the right of this print protected by a fence.
A variety of trees surrounds the pond, and their reflections on the water enhance the beauty of the area. Furthermore, an old highway, the Nakaharakaido, runs beside the pond, and the place became a very popular sightseeing spot for Edo people. On the highway in the foreground are seen several travellers walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. For the convenience of travellers, a teahouse has been built on the roadside.
A road called Ikegamido, leading to Shinagawa station on the Tokaido Highway, branched off near this place, and on the way to the station stood Ikegami Honmonji Temple, which enshrined Nichiren, who died there.