On the day of an imperial visit to the Naniwa Palace, in Kyōun 3 [706].
あし辺ゆくかものはがひにしもふりてさむきゆふべのことをしぞおもふ
| ashibe yuku kamo no hagai ni shimo furite samuki yūbe no koto o shi zo omou | Huddled in the reeds Upon the ducks’ folded wings Frost falls and In the evening’s cold My mind is full of thoughts. |
The Tawara Emperor
逢ふ事やこよひこよひとかよふまに空忘れして月日へにけり
| au koto ya koyoi koyoi to kayou ma ni sora wasureshite tsukihi henikeri | I wonder will we meet Tonight, maybe tonight, I think, and While I’m on my way, Forgetful of the skies, Days and months have passed me by. |
Kuninobu, the Minamoto Middle Counsellor
5
In reply.
あや莚をとなるまでも恋ひずしてまだきに床を忘るべしやは
| ayamushiro oto naru made mo koizushite madaki ni toko o wasurubeshi ya wa | My patterned blanket Lies far away, and yet Lacking love How swiftly my bed Might you be able to forget? |
Daishin, in service to His Former Majesty
6
The same Major Counsellor, writing vertically upon delicate scarlet paper.
年ふともいはで朽ちぬる埋木の下の心はふりぬ恋かな
| toshi futomo iwade kuchinuru umoregi no shita no kokoro wa furinu koi kana | The years pass by, yet Without a word, has rotted The drowned tree— Beneath it, my heart Has grown old with love! |
3
In reply
ふかからぬ水無瀬の川の埋木はしたの恋路は年ふりぬとも
| fukakaranu minase no kawa no umoregi wa shita no koiji wa toshi furinu tomo | There’s no depth to The River Minase, where Drowned trees lie— Beneath, the paths of love Have grown old in years, and yet… |
Chikuzen, Daughter of Prince Yasusuke
4
| Shinpen kokka taikan no. | 128 |
| Heian-chō uta’awase taisei no. | 244 |
| Title | 堀河院艶書合 |
| Romanised Title | Horikawa’in enjo awase |
| Translated Title | Former Emperor Horikawa’s Love Letter Match |
| Alternative Title(s) | 内裏艶書合 Dairi enjo awase (‘Palace Love Letter Match’) |
| Date | 2/Intercalary 5/Kōwa 4 [19.6.1102] |
| Extant Poems | 48 |
| Identifiable Participants | Major Counsellor Kinzane 大納言公実; the Suō Handmaid 周防内侍; Chikuzen, Daughter of Prince Yasusuke 筑前康資王女; Kuninobu, the Minamoto Middle Counsellor 源中納言国信; Daishin, in service to His Former Majesty 院の大進; the Major Controller of the Left 左大弁; Yurika, from the Palace of the Junior Consort 女御殿ゆり花; Consultant Middle Captain Tadanori 宰相中将忠教; Kii, in service to the former Kamo Virgin 前斎院紀伊; Higo, from the Palace 殿の肥後; Toshisane, the Minister of Justice 刑部卿俊実; Kai from the Shijō Palace 四条宮の甲斐; Toshiyori, Master of the Left Capital Office 左京大夫俊頼; Kazuza, in service to the Empress 中宮上総; Middle Captain Toshitada 俊忠中将; Fourth Rank Middle Captain Morotoki 四位中将師時; Lady Aki, in service to the Imperial Lady 女院安芸君; Chikuzen 筑前; the Assistant Captain of the Middle Palace Guards, Left Division 左兵衛佐; Ichijō no Kii 一条紀伊; the Governor of Mimasaka 美作守; Lady Tsu, in service to the former Kamo Virgin 前斎院つの君; the Supernumerary Master of the Left Capital Office 左京権大夫; Kodaishin 小大進; Supernumerary Middle Counsellor Toshitada 権中納言俊忠; Lady Ki 紀の君; Supernumerary Minor Captain Morotoki 権少将師時; Kunizane くにざね; Tadanori ただのり; Tamekata ためかた; Chamberlain Ietoki 蔵人いへとき; Chamberlain Masakanu 蔵人まさかぬ |
| Judgements | N |
| Topics | Love (koi 恋) |
Go to the beginning of the contest here.
This match took place when, hearing that his courtiers were composing poetry, His Majesty ordered them to compose love poems to the ladies in attendance.
おもひあまりいかでもらさんおく山の岩かきこむる谷の下みづ
| omoi’amari ikade morasan okuyama no iwa kakikomuru tani no shitamizu | My passion’s full, so How should it o’erflow? Deep within the mountains Hemmed in by crags are The waters of the valley floor… |
Major Counsellor Kinzane
1
In reply
いかなれば音にのみきく山川の浅きにしもはこころよすらん
| ika nareba oto ni nomi kiku yamakawa no asaki ni shimo wa kokoro yosuran | For some reason, I simply hear the sound Of a mountain stream; Into the shallows, indeed, has Your heart been swept, it seems! |
[Nakako,] The Suō Handmaid
2
