Category Archives: Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase

Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase 11

The Gentlemen of the Right. These, too, had the sons of the Courtiers Fujiwara no Shigetoki and Hirokage, the Governor of Awa, construct an extremely large suhama upon which all the chrysanthemums were grown together; because the area was cramped when they brought it in, they made preparation to bring it in all at once, attaching wheels to sections, thinking to do it in one, but were startled by the Gentlemen of the Left bringing in their blooms one by one – when all were brought in and assembled together, they made a single charming spectacle, yet though assembled, they were separated and thus seemed incomplete. The initial poem became mixed in with all the others.

山深く入りにし身をぞいたづらに菊の匂ひに憩へ来にける

yama Fukaku
irinisi mi wo zo
itadura ni
kiku no nioFi ni
ikoFekinikeru
Deep within the mountains
Have I entered in;
Idly has
The chrysanthemums’ scent
Brought me to my ease.

11

Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase 8

A chrysanthemum from the beach at Fukiage in the province of Ki.
秋風の吹上に立てる白菊は花かあらぬか波のよするか

akikaze no
Fukiage ni tateru
siragiku Fa
Fana ka aranu ka
nami no yosuru ka
In the autumn breeze
Gusting at Fukiage
Are the white chrysanthemums
Blooms, or are the not, and just
The breaking waves?

The Suga Prime Minister [Sugawara no Michizane]
8

This poem was included in Kokinshū (V:272), where it has a somewhat longer and more explanatory headnote.

Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase 5

The isle of Tamino in Tsu province. Below the chrysanthemum on the suhama was the shape of a woman gathering shellfish, sheltering beneath her sleeves.
田蓑ともいまは求めじたちかへり花の雫にぬれむと思へば

tamino tomo
ima Fa motomezi
taikaFeri
Fana no shiduku ni
nuremu to omoFeba
At Tamino
Shall I seek no more, but
Rise and return;
For droplets from this bloom
Shall soak me I fear.

5

Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase 4

A chrysanthemum from Tonase in Ōi. Blended with silver, dropped from a waterfall. Although it falls from a great height, it makes no sound.
滝つ瀬はただ今日ばかり音なせそ菊一花に思ひもぞます

taki tu se Fa
tada keFu bakari
oto na se so
kiku Fitobana ni
omoFi mo zo masu
O, rushing waters of the cataract
Just on this day alone
Make no sound!
That a single chrysanthemum bloom
May completely fill my thoughts.

4

Kanpyō no ōntoki kiku awase 2

From the pond at Ōsawa in Saga. From this point on, poems refer to flowers on the suhama.
人本と思ひしものを大沢の池の底にも誰か植ゑけむ

Fitomoto to
omoFisi mono wo
oFosaFa no
ike no soko ni mo
tare ka uwekemu
A single bloom
Did I think it was, but
In Ōsawa
Pond’s depths
Who might have planted it there?

Tomonori
2

A variant of this poem occurs in Kokinshū (V:275).