Tag Archives: ninefold

SKS I: 29

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

A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.
Created with Soan.

Kinkai wakashū 2

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

A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.
Created with Soan.

[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).

Autumn I: 8

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…

Lord Kanemune.

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.’