The Garden Match held by the Chancellor at the Eastern Mansion

When His Lordship, the Chancellor, was having the Eastern Mansion refurbished, he divided his sons into teams and having a large number of charming plants grown in pots on the eastern and western sides of the main hall, he matched poems composed on the names of these plants. These poems are as follows.

Left – Pine

あだしきのちるにもさらににぬまつはちとせこえふるしるべなりけり

adashiki no chiru ni mo sara ni ninu matsu wa chitose koefuru shirube narikeri

The other trees’ Scattering is e’en more Unlike the pines— Passing through a thousand years Is their singular sign.

1a

あたらしき春にもさらににぬまつはちとせこえこぬしるべなりけり

atarashiki haru ni mo sara ni ninu matsu wa chitose koekonu shirube narikeri

A new Spring is e’en more Unlike the pines— That it last not a thousand years Is a singular sign.

1b

Right

たれもみなちとせこえくるまつにのみひさしきことはならへとぞ思ふ

tare mo mina chitose koekuru matsu ni nomi hisashiki koto wa narae to zo omou

Every single one, without exception, Passes through a thousand years— That the pines, alone, Are eternal: Learn that! Or so I feel…

2