Gazing at snow on the mountain pines in the morning (秋山望松雪)
Left
おりもせず雲もかからぬ山のはに松の上なる雪をこそみれ
ori mo sezu kumo mo kakaranu yama no Fa ni matu no uFe naru yuki koso mire Not descending The clouds cling not To the mountains’ edge where Upon the pines I clearly see the snow.
8
Right
山のはのさやかに照れる朝には松にかかれる雪もみえける
yama no Fa no sayaka ni tereru asita ni Fa matu ni kakareru yuki mo miekeru The mountains’ edge is Brightly shining In the morning: Clinging to the pines I can see the snow.
9
Shinpen kokka taikan no. Heian-chō uta’awase taisei no. 12 Title 或所歌合 Romanised Title Aru tokoro no uta’awase Translated Title Poetry Contest held in a Certain Place Alternative Title(s) Date Night, 15/8 Shōtai 4 [30.9.901] Extant Poems 2 Sponsor Identifiable Participants Judgements N Topics Autumn
Only the date of this contest remains, along with two of its poems. Given the season, it would clearly have been an autumn-themed event and, as the 15th day of the Eighth Month was when conventionally the moon was at its brightest, it is not surprising that it seems to have been held at night, and contained at least some poems where the moon was a theme.
Of the two surviving poems, one was included in Fubokushō (XIV: 5840) , while the other is only recorded here.
いそのかみふるのやしろにはふくずもあきにしなれば色かはりけり
isonokami Furu no yasiro ni haFu kuzu mo aki ni shi nareba iro kaFarikeri In Isonokami At the ancient shrine of Furu Even the creeping kudzu vine When the autumn comes Does change its hues.
1
Right
山のはももみぢてちりぬ月影のかくるるところなくなりぬべし
yama no Fa mo momidite tirinu tukikage no kakururu tokoro nakunarinubesi Along the mountains’ edge Scarlet leaves have scattered In the moonlight A place concealed Is there none, at all.
2
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the reign of the Kanpyō emperor.
水の面にあやをりみだる春雨や山のみどりをなべて染むらん
mizu no omo ni ayaori midaru harusame ya yama no midori o nabete somuran Upon the water’s surface A confusing pattern paints The rain of spring— Will it now the mountains All dye with green, I wonder?
Ōchikōchi no Mitsune
A poem from the Poetry Contest at Prince Koresada’s house.
秋なれば山とよむまでなく鹿に我おとらめやひとり寝る夜は
aki nareba yama toyomu made naku sika ni ware otorame ya Fitori nuru yo Fa When the autumn comes Until the very mountains resound Do bell the stags, but Are their cries any less than mine, Sleeping alone tonight…
Anonymous
Monkeys 猿 あさまだきならのかれ葉をそよそよと外山をいでてましら鳴くなり
asa madaki nara no kareba o soyosoyo to toyama o idete mashira nakunari ‘Tis not yet morn, but The withered oak leaves Rustle, as To the distant mountains go The monkeys hooting.
Akinaka
Ponds 池
いせならばひがごとぞとやおもはまし山となるてふみまさかの池
ise naraba higagoto zo to ya omowamashi yama to naru chō mimasaka no ike Is an imitation Something so wrong I would wonder; For into mountains have turned The ponds of Mimasaka!
Tadafusa
Love Separated by Distant Roads 隔遠路恋
白雲の八重なる山はかさぬともこころは空にかよへとほづま
shiragumo no yae naru yama wa kasanu tomo kokoro wa sora ni kayoe tōzuma Clouds of white, Eightfold upon the mountains Do not lie, yet My heart, into the skies Fly back and forth, to my distant love!
Nakazane
Kindling 薪
おく山のならひとなればあなしげの雪よりさきに薪こりつめ
oku yama no narai to nareba ana shige no yuki yori saki ni takigi koritsume Deep with the mountains, A custom it has become, so Before the fearful fall of Snow does come, Go cut kindling!
Nakazane
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
吹風と谷の水としなかりせば深山がくれの花を見ましや
Fuku kaze to tani no midu to si nakariseba miyama gakure no Fana wo mimasi ya The gusting wind and The valley’s waters Were there none, then Hidden in the mountains’ depths These blossoms – would any wish to see them?
Tsurayuki
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
霞立春の山辺はとをけれど吹くる風は花の香ぞする
kasumi tatu Faru no yamabe Fa towokeredo Fukikuru kaze Fa Fana no ka zo suru Hazes rise Round the mountains’ sides, So far away, and yet The gusting breeze comes Bearing the scent of blossom.
Ariwara no Motokata
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