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Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn III: 18

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Left (Win).

雲の上に待來し今日の白菊は人の詞の花にぞ有ける

kumo no ue ni
machikoshi kyō no
shiragiku wa
hito no kotoba no
hana ni zo arikeru		 Above the clouds
Long have we waited for this day, when
The white chrysanthemums
Are the words in which folk
Blossom forth!

A Servant Girl.

455

Right.

今日といへば八重咲く菊を九重に重ねし跡もあらはれにけり

kyō to ieba
yae saku kiku o
kokonoe ni
kasaneshi ato mo
arawarenikeri		 On this day
Upon the eight-fold blooming chrysanthemums,
A nine-fold layer
Was laid – a trace of it
Appearing…

Nobusada.

456

The Right have no criticisms to make of the Left’s poem. The Left state that the Right’s ‘Upon the eight-fold blooming chrysanthemums, a nine-fold layer’ (yae saku kiku o kokonoe ni) is lifted wholesale from an earlier famous poem.

Shunzei’s judgement: Both Left and Right charmingly express the conception [kokoro wa okashikuhaberu] of the Chrysanthemum Festival, but the Left’s ‘Are the words in which folk blossom forth!’ (hito no kotoba no hana ni zo arikeru) has a slightly better air about it at present.

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn II: 2

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Left.

行方無き秋の思ひぞせかれぬる村雨なびく雲の遠方

yukue naki
aki no omoi zo
sekarenuru
murasame nabiku
kumo no ochikata		 My endless
Thoughts of autumn
Have been interrupted by
The showers streaming from
The far-off clouds.

Lord Sada’ie.

363

Right.

日に添へて秋の涼しさ集ふ也時雨はまだし夕暮の雨

hi ni soete
aki no suzushisa
tsudounari
shigure wa madashi
yūgure no ame		 With the setting of the sun
Comes the cool of
Autumn;
‘Tis not yet shower season,
Yet evening brings the rain…

Nobusada.

364

The Right complain that the Left’s ‘far-off clouds’ (kumo no ochikata) is ‘difficult to understand’. The Left initially query the meaning of madashi, and then say it’s ‘not a good expression’.

Shunzei states, ‘The gentlemen of the Right have stated that “far-off clouds” is difficult to grasp, and this is certainly the case. Moreover, it is difficult to determine the voice of the speaker here. Madashi is unproblematic. It’s usual sense in poetry is “not yet” – as can be seen from the Kokinshu’s “were I to hear words yet unspoken”. The final section of the Right’s poem is particularly charming. It must win.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 16

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Left.

宵の間の月待つ程の雲間より思はぬ影を見する稲妻

yoi no ma no
tsuki matsu hodo no
kumoma yori
omowanu kage o
misuru inazuma		 In the early evening
While waiting for the moon,
From between the clouds
All unexpected is the light
Of lightning.

Lord Suetsune.

331

Right (Win).

夕月夜かげろふ宵の雲間より光をかへて照らす稲妻

yūzukuyo
kagerō yoi no
kumoma yori
hikari o kaete
terasu inazuma		 The evening moon
Misty is at dusk, when
From between the clouds
Comes a different light:
A flash of lightning!

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

332

Neither team finds any fault with the other’s poem this round.

Shunzei, however, says, ‘Both poems contain the line “from between the clouds” (kumoma yori), with the Left “while waiting for the moon” (tsuki matsu hodo) and the Right “The evening moon misty is at dusk” (yūzukuyo kagerō yoi). In addition to the fact that “misty” is far more charming in relation to an “evening moon”, than “waiting for the moon”, “all unexpected is the light” (omowanu kage) is not an expression I find particularly pleasing. “Comes a different light” (hikari o kaete) seem much finer. Thus, I make the right the winner.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 11

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Left (Win).

星合の空の光となる物は雲井の庭に照らす灯し火

hoshiai no
sora no hikari to
naru mono wa
kumoi no niwa ni
terasu tomoshibi		 The stars meeting in
The sky is lit
By
The Palace gardens’
Shining torches.

A Servant Girl.

321

Right.

七夕は雲の上より雲の上に心を分けて嬉しかるらん

tanabata wa
kumo no ue yori
kumo no ue ni
kokoro o wakete
ureshikaruran		 At Tanabata
Above the heavens’ clouds, and
Above the clouds on earth
Between them is the heart divided
In joy, no doubt!

Nobusada.

322

The Right state that the Left’s poem has no faults. The Left, on the other hand, say, ‘The Right’s poem seems to have very little of celebration about it. In addition, the expression “Above the heavens’ clouds, and above the clouds on earth” (kumo no ue yori kumo no ue ni) seems to have reversed the proper sense.’ (‘Above the clouds’ was a standard euphemism for the palace, and by association, the Emperor. Putting him in a secondary position here was perceived as a fault.)

Shunzei’s judgement: ‘“Above the heavens’ clouds, and above the clouds on earth” can be criticised, I think, for repeating the same phrase twice. And, what might one make of it having “reversed the proper sense”? The Left’s poem is faultless. The Right’s does, indeed, lack a conception of celebration, so the Left, again, win this round.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Summer II: 26

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Left.

雲井までひゞきやすらん夏山の峰より高き蝉の諸聲

kumoi made
hibiki ya suran
natsuyama no
mine yori takaki
semi no morogoe		 To the very clouds
Do they resound?
In summer, the mountain
Peaks they do surpass:
The cicadas’ jostling songs.

Lord Ari’ie.

291

Right (Win).

鳴きすさむひまこそなけれをちこちにやがて待ち取る蝉の聲ごゑ

nakisusamu
hima koso nakere
ochikochi ni
yagate machitoru
semi no koegoe		 Respite from song,
However brief, there’s none!
Both near and far
Wait but a moment and a
Cicada calls.

Lord Takanobu.

292

The Right say, ‘The conception of the Left’s poem is trite. The comparison of these things (the cicadas’ songs and the mountains’ height) goes against the spirit of the topic.’ The Left have nothing, and no reason, to say anything.

Shunzei agrees: ‘Better than the over-wrought language of the Left’s poem, the Right’s “Both near and far wait but a moment” (ochikochi ni yagate machitoru) suits the topic well. The Right must win.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Summer II: 22

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Left (Win).

夕立の雲の水脈より伝ひきて軒端に落つる瀧の白玉

yūdachi no
kumo no mio yori
tsutaikite
nokiba ni otsuru
taki no shiratama		 An evening shower:
The clouds form channels
Trailing onto
My eaves’ edge and dropping
A cataract of silver droplets.

Lord Ari’ie.

283

Right.

鳴神の空かきくらす夕立にかゝらぬ里もありとこそ聞け

narukami no
sora kakikurasu
yūdachi ni
kakaranu sato mo
ari to koso kike		 Thunder
Darkens the sky;
This evening shower:
A dwelling where it falls not
There is, I’ve heard…

Lord Tsune’ie.

284

The Right have no criticisms to make of the Left’s poem, while the Left merely wonder, ‘Where is the dwelling where the shower “falls not”?’

Shunzei: ‘“The eaves’ edge and dropping a cataract of silver droplets” is particularly well-formed. It must win.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Summer II: 19

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Left.

入日さす外山の雲は晴れにけり嵐にすぐる夕立の空

irihi sasu
toyama no kumo wa
harenikeri
arashi ni suguru
yūdachi no sora		 Setting sun shines
Upon the clouds atop the mountains,
Cleared by
Storm winds ‘cross
A sky of evening showers…

A Servant Girl.

277

Right (Win).

谷川の流れを見ても知られけり雲越す峰の夕立の空

tanikawa no
nagare o mitemo
shirarekeri
kumo kosu mine no
yūdachi no sora		 The valley’s streams’
Swift flow, I glimpse and
Realise:
The peak crossing clouds are
A sky of evening showers.

Jakuren.

278

Neither team finds anything to object to in the other’s poem.

Shunzei states simply, ‘Both poems have particularly find latter sections. However, the Left is finer, I feel.

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Summer I: 18

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Left.

雲の上を出づる使のもろかづら向かふ日影にかざすけふかな

kumo no ue o
izuru tsukai no
morokazura
mukau hikage ni
kazasu kyō kana		 From above the clouds
The messengers emerge;
Bearing branches, hollyhock decked,
Bent towards the sun-bright power
In adornment on this day.

Lord Sada’ie.

215

Right (Win).

ゆふだすきかけてぞ頼む玉かづらあふひうれしきみあれと思へば

yūdasuki
kakete zo tanomu
tamakazura
aoi ureshiki
miare to omoeba		 With mulberry-cloth
Garlanded, wishing for
A jewelled belt of
Hollyhocks, on this joyful
Festive day…

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

216

The Right have no particular remarks to make about the Left’s poem. The Left, however, comment, ‘“Festival” (matsuri)and “festive” (miare) are somewhat different. They do not refer to events held on the same day.’

Shunzei responds, ‘While the Left’s “Bent towards the sun-bright power” (mukau hikage) certainly provides no evidence of a lack of feeling, in overall form the Right’s poem seems more elegantly flowing [migi utazama, iinagasaretaru yō]. While it is true that the festive days begin two days prior to the festival itself, the term can also apply to the evening of the festival day, and so the two can be seen as synonymous. The Right would seem to win.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Summer I: 17

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Left (Win).

雲井より立つる使にあふひ草幾年かけつ賀茂の川波

kumoi yori
tatsuru tsukai ni
aoigusa
ikutose kaketsu
kamo no kawanami		 From the palace ‘bove the clouds
The messengers descend in
Hollyhocks;
How many years have
They met the ripples on Kamo River?

A Servant Girl.

213

Right.

年ごとのけふのみあれにあふひ草かゝるかざしはあらじとぞ思

toshigoto no
kyō no miare ni
aoigusa
kakaru kazashi wa
araji to zo omou		 Every year
For the festival, today,
Hollyhocks
Apart, decorations
Are there none!

Lord Tsune’ie.

214

The Right remark that, ‘the waves appear somewhat abruptly’ in the Left’s poem, while the Left simply say, ‘from an unusual beginning, the Right’s poem says simply “decorations are there none”, which is obvious.’

Shunzei contents himself with, ‘The Left wins by a small margin.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Spring III: 30

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Left (Tie).

吉野山花の故郷跡たえてむなしき枝に春風ぞ吹く

yoshino yama
hana no furusato
ato taete
munashiki eda ni
haru kaze zo fuku		 Upon Mount Yoshino –
The home of blossom –
Footprints fade away;
Now purposeless, the branches,
Shudder in the winds of spring.

A Servant Girl.

179

Right (Tie).

山の端ににほひし花の雲消えて春の日數は有明の月

yama no ha ni
nioishi hana no
kumo kiete
haru no hikazu wa
ariake no tsuki		 Along the mountains’ edge
The glow of blossom
Clouds has faded;
The numbered days of Spring,
Revealed by the dawntime moon.

Nobusada.

180

Both teams proclaim themselves moved by the other’s poem.

Shunzei, however, has this to say. ‘The Left’s poem contains “purposeless, the branches, shudder in the winds of spring” (munashiki eda ni harukaze zo fuku), and despite the fact that poems on Mount Yoshino have a somewhat old-fashioned air, and that one might wonder on which peaks it is such clouds of blossom remain, even these moss-covered sleeves have become thoroughly soaked with tears at the thought that the Way of poetry has not reached its end; the Right’s poem has “The numbered days of Spring, revealed by the dawntime moon” (haru no hikazu wa ariake no tsuki), and this has moved even this old heart to thoughts of such a dawning sky, so it is impossible to distinguish between the two in quality. Of old, Spring poems had style, indeed, and to think that such form and spirit still combine to torment the soul is something for which I am thoroughly grateful. Truly, these moss-covered sleeves have been drenched by both Left and Right!’