Original

ちはやぶるかすがのはらにこきまぜてはなともみゆるかみのきねかな

chihayaburu kasuga no hara ni kokimazete hana tomo miyuru kami no kine kana

On mighty Kasuga plain All blend together Blossom seen with The God’s servitors!

Mitsune
10

Left (Win)

かすがののはなとはまたも見えぬべしいまこむはるのかざしがてらに

kasugano no hana to wa mata mo mienubeshi ima komu haru no kazashigatera ni

Kasuga Plain’s Blossom once more Could be seen, In the spring now lying ahead, As a garland in its hair…

11

Right

はるがすみたちまじりつつゆくからにあだにもはなとみえにけるかな

harugasumi tachimajiritsutsu yuku kara ni ada ni mo hana to mienikeru kana

Amidst the haze of spring Standing Have we come, so It might be untrue, but as blossom Do we seem!

12

The Lady of the Right on this occasion mistook the word ‘plain’ in the original poem and wrote down ‘meadow’ instead. This was challenged by the Lady of the Left, saying, ‘That’s what we heard. When someone composes at variance with the conception of the topic, that’s a loss. Thus, the Lady of the Right loses.’

Tadafusa then said to His Majesty, ‘The character used to write “plain” can, in fact, also be used to write “field”. Even though the Right is inferior, it is still a fine poem, and so I would make this a tie.’

His Majesty responded, ‘The does not correspond to what has been said. You don’t seem to reached a logical conclusion.’

Tadafusa silently bowed his head, and after long while, eventually, said, ‘What the Lady of the Left has said is logical and appropriate.’

‘Well, then, judge again, based on this,’ His Majesty instructed, and the Lady of the Right lost, and was not permitted another composition.