In this short video I discuss the images and techniques in the poems on the topic of ‘Cormorant Fishing on the River’ (ukawa).
Tag Archives: Cormorants on the River
Eikyū hyakushu 186
Eikyū hyakushu 185
Eikyū hyakushu 184
Eikyū hyakushu 183
Summer I: 24
Left (Win).
夜川たつ五月來ぬらし瀬瀬を尋め八十伴の男も篝さすはや
| yogawa tatsu satsuki kinurashi sese o tome yasotomo no o mo kagari sasu wa ya |
The night fishing Fifth Month has come, and to Rapid after rapid go Eighty gentlemen Bearing fishing fires… |
227
Right.
鵜飼舟高瀬さし越すほどなれやむすぼゝれゆく篝火の影
| ukaibune takase sashikosu hodo nare ya musubōreyuku kagaribi no kage |
The cormorant boats: O’er the risen rapids Will they pass this time? All in tangles are The lights of the fishing fires… |
228
The Right state simply that the Left’s poem is ‘grating on the ear’, and the Left are equally blunt: ‘It is unconvincing to state that fire tangles.’
Shunzei states, ‘“Night fishing” (yogawa tatsu) seems to me to be an extremely overblown expression. And, “All in tangles are the lights of the fishing fires” (musubōreyuku kagaribi no kage) – this is, indeed, something that can be seen when crossing rapids where the water is high. The Left’s poem is certainly unmelodious, however, having such a dichotomy between the beginning and end of a poem, as in the Right’s case is, I think, insupportable. Thus, for this reason, the Left should win, I think.
Summer I: 23
Left (Tie).
大井川なを山陰に鵜飼舟いとひかねたる夜半の月影
| ōikawa nao yamakage ni ukaibune itoikanetaru yowa no tsukikage |
Upon the Ōi River, Yet beneath the mountain’s shadow are Cormorant boats, Impossible to avoid, Within the midnight moonlight. |
225
Right (Tie).
松浦河七瀬の淀を鵜飼舟くだしもはてゞ明けぬこの夜は
| matsuragawa nanase no yodo o ukaibune kudashi mo hatede akenu kono yo wa |
Down Matsura River’s Seven swifts and stills The cormorant boats, Descent unfinished, Find dawn ending night. |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
226
The Right have two criticisms of the Left’s poem: ‘First, are cormorants used on moonlit nights? Moreover, why continue on from the “mountain’s shadow” (yamakage) with a moonlit night?’ In turn, the Left query, ‘Why continue on from “seven swifts and stills” (nanase no yodo) with cormorant boats?’
Shunzei comments, ‘The defects of the Left’s poem have already been adequately identified by the gentlemen of the other team. The Right’s sequence “Seven swifts and stills the cormorant boats” certainly seems poor. Furthermore, “dawn ending night” (akenu kono yo wa) has a somewhat pretentious air. There is nothing much to distinguish between them, and the round should tie.’
Summer I: 22
Left (Win).
篝火の影だにあらじ後の世の闇をも知らぬ鵜飼舟かな
| kagaribi no kage dani araji nochi no yo no yami o mo shiranu ukaibune kana |
Not even the fishing fires’ Light will reach The world to come Darkness all unknowing are The cormorant boats. |
223
Right.
大井川幾瀬のぼれば鵜飼舟嵐の山の明わたるらん
| ōikawa ikuse noboreba ukaibune arashi no yama no akewataruran |
Ōi River Rapids running up are The cormorant boats; To the Mount of Storms Does dawn return? |
224
The Right state merely that, ‘The Left’s poem has nothing to apologise for,’ while the Left comment, ‘stating that “dawn” (ake) returns to a mountain to the west is illogical. Moreover, in the three lines “The cormorant boats; To the Mount of Storms Does dawn return?” (ukaibune arashi no yama no akewataruran) the meanings of each line are different and fail to follow on one from the other.’
Shunzei is in general agreement: ‘The gentlemen of the Right have already allowed that the Left’s poem has nothing to apologise for. The have also stated that it is not the case that night lightens from the west, but it is certainly the case that it is possible to see the dawn light growing upon the western mountains. However, the cormorant boats’ practice is normally to run down the rapids, and saying “rapids running up” (ikuse noboreba) suggests that this is happening after they have gone down. Dawn is then exceptionally late. In any case, the Right’s poem has a number of doubtful sections, while the Left’s is without error, as has already been stated. It must win.’
Summer I: 20
Left.
後の世を知らせがほにも篝火のこがれて過ぐる鵜飼舟哉
| nochi no yo o shirasegao ni mo kagaribi no kogarete suguru ukaibune kana |
The afterlife: Foretold by The fishing-fires, Ever blazing from The cormorant boats. |
219
Right (Win).
ますらおが夜川に立つる篝火に深きあはれをいかで見すらん
| masurao ga yo kawa ni tatsuru kagaribi ni fukaki aware o ikade misuran |
Stalwart men: Upon the night-time river Why do the fishing-fires Such deep sorrow Show? |
220
Again, neither team has any criticisms to make this round.
Shunzei states, ‘The wording after the Left’s “Foretold by the fishing-fires” (shirasegao ni mo kagaribi no) is surely somewhat unsatisfactory. The Right’s “Such deep sorrow” (fukaki aware o) appears much better. It should win.’
Summer I: 19
Left (Tie).
おなじ瀬をのぼる鮎子に大井河くだりぞあらぬ篝火の影
| onaji se o noboru ayuko ni ōigawa kudari zo aranu kagaribi no kage |
At the same swift waters: Sweetfish sprats head up The Ōi River, Waiting, unmoving are The lighted fishing-fires. |
217
Right (Tie).
桂川くだりもあらぬ鵜舟かなこの瀬にのみや鮎子さばしる
| katsuragawa kudari mo aranu ubune kana kono se ni nomi ya ayuko sabashiru |
Upon Katsura River, Waiting, unmoving are The cormorant boats; Is it only at these swift waters, that The sweetfish sprats do race? |
218
Neither team sees any difficulties with the other’s poems this round.
Shunzei comments tersely, ‘Both poems use “sweetfish sprats”, and this old-fashioned term cannot help but give them a less than pleasant air. Neither is worthy of victory.’