Tag Archives: tachibana

MYS VI: 1009

A poem composed in winter in the Eleventh Month, by His Majesty, when the Major Controller of the Left, Prince Kazuragi, and others, were granted the name Tachibana.

橘は実さへ花さへその葉さへ枝に霜降れどいや常葉の木

tatibana pa
mi sape pana sape
sono pa sape
e ni simo puredo
iya toko pa no ki
O, orange tree:
Fruit and flowers both,
And leaves, too,
Even should frost fall on your branches
Evegreen will you be!

The above poem was composed in winter, on the 9th day of the Eleventh Month, after Prince Kazuragi, Junior Third Rank, and Prince Sai, Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade, among others, surrendered their membership of the imperial family and were granted the name of Tachibana. At that time Former Emperor [Genshō], the Emperor [Shōmu], and Empress [Kōmyō], were present in the Empress’ quarters, and hosted a banquet at which poems celebrating the name of Tachibana were composed, and sake was presented to the new members of the family. It is alternatively said, ‘This poem was composed by the Former Emperor. In addition, the Emperor and the Empress each composed a single poem. Those poems were lost and cannot now be located.’ If one seeks copies of the documents now, they say that on the 9th day of the Eleventh Month [Tenpyō] 8 [736], Prince Kazuragi and other submitted a request to the throne to be granted the name of Tachibana. On the 17th day the request was granted.

Summer II: 6

Left (Win).

たち花の匂を風のさそい來て昔にかへす夜半のさ衣

tachibana no
nioi o kaze no
sasoikite
mukashi ni kaesu
yowa no sagoromo
Orange blossom
Scent upon the breeze
Urges
Me back to times gone by,
In my night-time garb…

Lord Ari’ie.

251

Right.

軒近き花たちばなに風過てにほひをのこす蝉の羽衣

noki chikaki
hana tachibana ni
kaze sugite
nioi o nokosu
semi no hagoromo
Close by my eaves
The orange blossom
Brushed by the breeze
Leaves its scent upon
The cicada’s gossamer garb.

Lord Takanobu.

252

The Right team have no particular criticisms to make this round. The Left, however, say that, ‘the expression “the orange blossom brushed by the breeze” (hana tachibana ni kaze sugite) sounds old-fashioned. Furthermore, “cicada’s gossamer garb” (semi no hagoromo) seems somewhat unexpected.’

Shunzei seems to agree, simply saying, ‘The Left’s “urges me back to times gone by, in my night-time garb’ (mukashi ni kaesu yowa no sagoromo) seems particularly fine. It must win.’

Summer II: 2

Left (Tie).

脱ぎ代へし蝉の羽衣あつきまでいかになりゆく夏の日數ぞ

nugikaeshi
semi no hagoromo
atsuki made
ikani nariyuku
natsu no hikazu zo
Stripped off to change,
A cicada-silk robe, yet
Why, this heavy hotness
Do I feel?
As the summer days go on…

Lord Kanemune.

243

Right (Tie).

橘のにほひも深し夏衣花ゆへたれかいとひそめけん

tachibana no
nioi mo fukashi
natsugoromo
hana yue tare ka
itoisomeken
Orange blossom
Scent lies thick
Upon my summer garb;
For the cherry blossom’s sake
Should I begin to hate it?

Jakuren.

244

The Right state they find themselves ‘unable to agree’ with the Left’s ‘Why, this heavy heat do I feel?’ (atsuki made ikani nariyuku), while the Left remark that ‘it is perhaps too similar to introduce a poem with “orange blossom” (tachibana) and conclude it with “cherry blossom” (hana).’

Shunzei simply asks, ‘Can the Left’s “do I feel” really be disagreeble? The Right’s “For the cherry blossom’s sake should I begin to hate it?” (hana yue tare ka itoisomeken) recollects the poem on “regret on changing clothes” by Minamoto no Shigeyuki, does it not? Furthermore, it is not implying that summer garb is necessarily fragranced by orange blossom. I question, though,the Left’s use of “heat”. The round should, therefore, tie.’

Sanekata Shū 154

On hearing that a lady had begun conversing with another person, despising a man who visited her only at lengthy intervals.

ほとゝぎす花橘の香をうとみことかたらふと聞くはまことか

Fototogisu
Fana tatibana no
ka wo utomi
koto kataraFu to
kiku Fa makoto ka
Does a cuckoo
The orange blossoms’
Scent disregard and
Sing elsewhere?
I’ve heard it but, can it be true?