Tag Archives: Tanabata Rites

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 12

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Left (Win).

定め置く星合の空のしるしとて秋の調べに琴柱たつ也

sadameoku
hoshiai no sora no
shirushi tote
aki no shirabe ni
kotoji tatsu nari		 Set,
The stars meet within the heavens
Signified by
The rhythms of autumn
Sounding ‘cross the zithers’ bridge.

Kenshō.

323

Right.

七夕の逢ふ夜の庭に置く琴のあたりにひくはさゝがにの糸

tanabata no
au yo no niwa ni
oku koto no
atari ni hiku wa
sasagani no ito		 At Tanabata,
On the night of meeting, in the garden
Are the zithers placed;
All around for plucking are
Strands of spiders’ webs.

Jakuren.

324

The Right say, ‘“Set” (sadameoku) just does not sound very good.’ The Left: ‘ “Spiders” (sasagani no) seems to appear rather abruptly in the poem.’

Shunzei: ‘“Spiders’ webs” (sasagani no ito) would seem to be being used to evoke the playing of the zithers. Is “set” really all that bad in form? The Left’s “rhythms of autumn” (aki no shirabe) gets the victory.’

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

Autumn I: 10

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Left (Win).

秋ごとに絶えぬ星合のさ夜更て光傡ぶる庭の灯し火

akigoto ni
taenu hoshiai no
sayo fukete
hikari naraburu
niwa no tomoshibi		 Each and every autumn,
For the eternal meeting of the stars
Night falls, and
Lights align with
The palace garden lanterns.

Lord Sada’ie.

319

Right.

露深き庭の灯し火數消ぬ夜や更ぬらん星合の空

tsuyu fukai
niwa no tomoshibi
kazu kienu
yo ya fukenuran
hoshiai no sora		 Deep dewfall
Upon the garden lanterns
Extinguished a number;
Has night fallen, I wonder,
Upon the sky wherein stars meet?

Ietaka.

320

The Right have no comments to make about the Left’s poem this round, while the Left simply say the Right’s poem has ‘major faults’. (Criticising the use of the completive marker nu twice in quick succession: kienu, fukenuran.)

Shunzei ignores this point, simply saying, ‘The expression “Has night fallen, I wonder, upon the sky wherein stars meet?” (yo ya fukenuran hoshiai no sora) is splendid, but there is no reason for beginning the poem with “deep dewfall” (tsuyu fukaki). The Lefts’ poem has no faults – thus, it must win.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 9

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Left (Tie).

七夕は今日貸す琴は何ならで逢ふにのみこそ心ひくらめ

tanabata wa
kyō kasu koto wa
nani narade
au ni nomi koso
kokoro hikurame		 For the Weaver Maid
That this day the zithers play
Means nothing;
‘Tis her meeting, alone,
That plucks upon her heart.

Lord Ari’ie.

317

Right (Tie).

薫物の匂ひも貸しつ七夕に思ふ思を空に知れとて

takimono no
nioi mo kashitsu
tanabata ni
omou omoi o
sora ni shire tote		 Incense
Scent I proffer
To the Weaver Maid;
The burning thoughts within my heart,
Let it carry to the heavens!

Lord Takanobu.

318

The Right state that ‘the expression “alone” (nomi) in Left’s poem is grating,’ while the Left have no particular criticisms of the Right.

Shunzei simply remarks, ‘The Left has a zither plucking the heart; the Right, the scent of burning incense carrying thoughts. Equally good word association. A tie.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 8

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Left (Win).

呉竹に過ぐる秋風さ夜更けて奠るほどにや星合の空

kuretake ni
suguru akikaze
sayo fukete
matsuru hodo ni ya
hoshiai no sora		 When the black bamboo
Is brushed by autumn breeze, and
Night falls,
Is it time to celebrate?
Stars meeting in the heavens…

Lord Kanemune.

315

Right.

九重に今日奠るをば七夕のたゞ一夜にも嬉しとや見る

kokonoe ni
kyō matsuru oba
tanabata no
tada hito yo ni mo
ureshi to ya miru		 Within the Ninefold Palace walls
This day we celebrate,
The lovers on
Just a single night:
Are they pleased, I wonder?

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

316

The Right state, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” (matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora) – the one does not seem to follow from the other. The Left wonder, ‘why we have an annual rite describe as “a single night” (tada hito yo), and not “but one night a year” (toshi ni hito yo)?’

Shunzei merely remarks, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” – this certainly does follow on, and there is nothing wrong with it. The point about “a single night” is well made. The Left wins.’

Poetry Competition in Six Hundred Rounds

Autumn I: 7

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Left.

宿ごとに影を映せば七夕の逢ふ瀬は繁し天河波

yado goto ni
kage o utsuseba
tanabata no
au se wa shigeshi
ama no kawanami		 When in every house
Light shines,
The lovers’
Meet within the waters, numberless as
The waves on the River of Heaven.

Lord Suetsune.

313

Right.

誰もみな今日七夕を奠りつゝ祈る心は空に知るらん

tare mo mina
kyō tanabata o
maturitsutsu
inoru kokoro wa
sora ni shiruran		 Everyone, without exception,
Today, the lovers’ meeting
Celebrates;
Are all the secret prayers of all those hearts,
Heard within the heavens?

Lord Tsune’ie.

314

The Right state that the Left’s poem, ‘lacks a spirit of celebration. In addition, we are unable to grasp the point of “meet within the waters, numberless” (au se wa shigeshi).’ The Left merely say that the Right’s poem has a ‘striking spirit of celebration.’

Shunzei, however, states, ‘In his Tanabata poems, Okikaze said “once in a single year” (toshi ni hitotabi), and Mitsune “the numbers of nights sleeping” (nuru yo no kazu zo) – in the current poem of the Left, “meet within the waters, numberless”, seems to resemble these in conception. Furthermore, does one not get a sense of celebration from “light shines” (kage o utsuseba)? Does the Right’s poem evoke the relationship? It has been called incomprehensible, but the Left’s poem should win!’