A euphemistic reference to the onset of menstruation. In modern Japanese too, there are numerous moon-related expressions for a period, ranging from the prosaic Sino-Japanese gekkei ‘moon period’ to the poetic tsuki no sawari ‘touched by the moon’.
2 thoughts on “Moonlight shines”
Great site. Could you let me know to which poem of Man’yoshu this does refer? Are there more poems known to you dealing with the female cycle?
The poem in question is MYS X: 1889. I am not aware of any other poems on this topic specifically, but if I come across anything else, I will let you know.
Great site. Could you let me know to which poem of Man’yoshu this does refer? Are there more poems known to you dealing with the female cycle?
The poem in question is MYS X: 1889. I am not aware of any other poems on this topic specifically, but if I come across anything else, I will let you know.