Composed during the reign of former Emperor Ichijō, when His Majesty was presented with a gift of some eightfold cherry blossom from Nara and, being in attendance, he ordered her to composed a poem on this gift of blossom.
いにしへのならの宮このやへざくらけふここのへににほひぬるかな
| inishie no nara no miyako no yaezakura kyō kokonoe ni nioinuru kana | The ancient Capital of Nara had Eightfold cherry blossom, that Today within the ninefold palace Does shine! |
Ise no Taiyū
Poems on the beginning of spring
九重の雲ゐに春ぞ立ちぬらしおほうちやまに霞たなびく
| kokonoe no kumoi ni haru zo tachinurashi ōuchiyama ni kasumi tanabiku | In ninefold layers of Cloud does springtime Seem to rise; Across Ōuchi Mountain[i] Trails haze. |
2
[i] Ōuchi Mountain (ōuchiyama 大内山) lies to the north of the Ninnaji 仁和寺 temple in the north-west of Kyoto, and was the site of a detached palace belonging to Emperor Uda 宇多 (866-931; r. 887-897).
Left (Win).
呉竹に過ぐる秋風さ夜更けて奠るほどにや星合の空
| kuretake ni suguru akikaze sayo fukete matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora |
When the black bamboo Is brushed by autumn breeze, and Night falls, Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens… |
315
Right.
九重に今日奠るをば七夕のたゞ一夜にも嬉しとや見る
| kokonoe ni kyō matsuru oba tanabata no tada hito yo ni mo ureshi to ya miru |
Within the Ninefold Palace walls This day we celebrate, The lovers on Just a single night: Are they pleased, I wonder? |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
316
The Right state, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” (matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora) – the one does not seem to follow from the other. The Left wonder, ‘why we have an annual rite describe as “a single night” (tada hito yo), and not “but one night a year” (toshi ni hito yo)?’
Shunzei merely remarks, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” – this certainly does follow on, and there is nothing wrong with it. The point about “a single night” is well made. The Left wins.’