Ｔｈｅ　Ｓｉｔｅ　Ｌｉｂｒａｌｙ

THE CHALLENGE ! (４) 　　The challenge impossible 　　　　Some Poems From 'Man-You-Shu' and their introductions

(1)　The poem made by the Emperor Yu-ryaku 　　The introduction: In ancient Japan when a man asked a woman's name it meant the proposal of marriage. One day the Emperor went up on a hill to look down on his territory.There he met a pretty girl gathering herbs for her family. The Emperor asked: The poem (Vol.1-1) 　A little basket on your arm 　A tiny spade in your hand 　A girl gathering herbs on this hill 　　　 　　　Let me know your name 　　　Let me know your family 　The very emperor I am 　I reign over this glorious country 　I rule this Yamato comｐletely 　　　 　　　I will begin by telling you 　　　My own name and birth 　　　　　　　　　　（Japanese) 　　　　　　　　　　　　Ko mo yo miko mochi 　Hugushi mo yo mi hugushi mochi 　　　　　　　　　　　　Kono oka ni na tsumasu ko 　　　　　　　　　　　　Ie kikana 　Na norane　 　　　　　　　　　　　　Sora mitsu Yamato no kuni wa 　　　　　　　　　　　　Oshinabe te ware koso ore 　Shikinabe te ware koso mase 　　　　　　　　　　　　Ware koso wa norame ie wo mo na wo mo (2)　The elegy of the old capital city by Hitomaro Kakinomoto 　　The introduction: After the Revolution of Taika in 645, ancient Japan was disturbed by struggles for the throne (like the Prince Arima affair). Then in Korea peninsula three countries divided the peninsula and sometimes fought with each other. In 659 one of them Shilla(Shiragi in Japanese) allied with Tang Dynasty(Toh in Japanese, the empire of China) and attacked Paekche(Kudara, another one of the countries). Paekche asked Japan for aid. The Emperess Saimei and her son, the Prince Nakano-oe advanced the force to the peninsula. But they were badly defeated in a sea battle at Hakusuki-no-e(in Japanese, in the south-western part of the peninnsula). Besides, the Emperess Saimei was dead at Kyushu base. Then the Prince Nakano-oe succeeded the throne to become the Emperor Tenchi. He withdraw the troops, came back to Asuka capital, and further decided to move the capital from Asuka (In the southern part of Nara) to Omi(now in Shiga pref.), on the shore of the Lake Biwa. People were surprised and confused. But they had to obey the emperor. A few years later the Great Emperor Tenchi was dead and then the struggle for the throne occurred again. The son of the emperor and his uncle fought. The uncle, the Prince Oama won. He became the Emperor Temmu. They say in this emperor's era the ancient Japanese government began to be established. He moved the capital to Asuka again. So Omi capital was abandoned. About twenty years later, the poet Kakinomoto visited the ruined capital city and made some poems feeling deep grief: The poem(Vol.1-29) 　Since the Founding of the Nation 　In divine age 　Successive Imperial Courts were 　All in Yamato district 　However what reason had been 　The Great Emperor Tenchi 　Forcibly relocated the capital 　Beyond the border mountains 　To far away lands of Otsu 　They say here had been the Emperor's castle 　I hear here had been a great residence 　Yet there's nothing but 　Growing grass on the ruins 　Laying spring haze on the fields 　Now I am standing on this empty street 　I am sinking alone in grief 　　　　　　　(Japanese) 　　　　　　　　Tamadasuki Unebi no yama no Kashihara no hijiri no miyo yu 　　　　　　　　Are mashishi kami no kotogoto 　　　　　　　　Tsuga no ki no iya tsugitsugi ni ame no shita shirashimeshishi wo 　　　　　　　　Sora ni mitsu Yamato wo okite ao ni yoshi Narayama wo koe 　　　　　　　　Ikasama ni omohoshi mese ka 　　　　　　　　Amasakaru hina ni wa aredo 　　　　　　　　Ｉwabashiru Oumi no kuni no sasanami no Outsu no miya ni 　　　　　　　　Ame no shita shiroshi meshi kemu 　　　　　　　　Sumerogi no kami no mikoto no oomiya wa koko to kikedomo 　　　　　　　　Ootono wa koko to iedomo 　　　　　　　　Harukusa no shigeku oitaru kasumi tachi haruhi no kireru 　　　　　　　　Momoshiki no oomiyadokoro mireba kanashimo The poem(Vol.1-30) 　Eternal Karasaki in Shiga! 　Though you exist well 　In vain you wait for the boats 　On whichi the nobles would have chats 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Japanese) 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sasanami no Shiga no Krasaki sakiku aredo 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Oomiyabito no hune machi kanetsu 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　The introduction: On another trip to Omi, on his way home, Hitomaro Kakinomoto called on the shore of River Uji. There he thought about the old days lively with people who went up and down the river in boats. Some people would have gone to the office and some boating, some fishing.......... The Poem(Vol.3-264) 　On the time-honored River Uji 　Ripples are waving 　Arround the rotted fishing posts 　No one knows where they will go 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Japanese) 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Mononohu no yaso ujikawa no ajirogi ni 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Isayou nami no yukue shirazu mo The Poem(Vol.3-266) 　On the shore of the Lake Omi 　The twittering of the twilight plovers 　Evokes the past in saddness 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Japanese) 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Omi no umi yuunami-chidori na ga nakeba 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kokoro mo shino ni inishie omohoyu 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BACK　/　NEXT　/　To Top Page