Shiromine Temple, the 80th Pilgrimage Temple, is located deep inside the Goshikidai in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture.  In 1156, the Hogen rebellion occurred in which Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Ex-Emperor Sutoku fought over the succession to the throne.  Ex-Emperor Sutoku, who was defeated by this turmoil, was exiled to Shiramine in Sanuki Province and passed away here.  Saigyo, who served Emperor Toba as a Northern Bushi, was a person on the side of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, but he was sympathetic to Ex-Emperor Sutoku through songs and other means.  Shiromine Temple has a tomb where Ex-Emperor Sutoku, who has reached the end of his misfortune, is enshrined.  Saigyo visited there three years after the death of the Ex-Emperor, and he left a tanka “you were on the throne, but you should be a peaceful Buddhahood now”.  The “玉(ball)” in the haiku means a throne, and the red peony is associated with that throne.

香川県坂出市にある五色台の奥深くに四国霊場第八十一番札所白峯寺があります。1156年、皇位継承をめぐり後白河天皇と崇徳上皇が争った保元の乱が起こります。この乱に敗れた崇徳上皇は讃岐国の白峯に流され、この地で崩御しました。北面の武士として鳥羽天皇に仕えた西行は、後白河天皇側の立場の人でしたが、歌などを通じて親交のあった崇徳上皇に思いを寄せていました。悲運の最期を遂げたその崇徳上皇が祀られた陵があるのが白峯寺です。西行はそこを上皇の死後三年経って訪ね、玉座におられたあなたですが、どうぞ安らかに成仏して下さいと歌を残しました。句中の「玉」は玉座のことで、赤いシャクヤクがその玉座を連想したわけです。