Primitive & Mediaeval Japanese Texts / Transliterated into Roman with introductions, notes and glossaries

by Unknown

Maki VI, Kami

Kusagusa no uta.

71

Rauyau (Rôyô) nanatose to ifu toshi midzunoto wi satsuki Yoshinu no totsumiya ni idemaseru toki Kanamura ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Tagi no he no 1

Mifune no yama ni

midzu-ye sashi

shizhi ni ohitaru

tsuganokino 5

iya tsugitsugi ni

yorodzu yo ni

kaku shi shirasamu

Mi-Yoshinu no

Akidzu no miya ha 10

kami kara ka

tafutokaruramu

kuni kara ka

migahoshikaramu

yama kaha wo 15

atsumi-sayakemi

ohomiya to

ube shi kami-yo yu

sadamekerashi mo.

Yama takami 1

shira-yufu hana ni

ochitagitsu

tagi no kafuchi ha

miredo akanu ka mo. 5

1-9 lead up to 10.

For tsuganokino, ochitagitsu see List m. k.

72

Kuramochi no Asomi Chitose ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Umakori 1

aya ni tomoshiki

narukamino

oto nomi kikishi

Mi-Yoshinu no 5

maki tatsu yama yu

mi-kudaseba

kaha no se goto ni

ake-kureba

asa-giri tachi 10

yufu sareba

kahadzu naku nari

himo tokanu

tabi ni shi areba

a nomi shite 15

kiyoki kahara wo

miraku shi woshi mo.

1 umakori = umaki ori, pretty-woven.

1-5 introductory to Yoshinu; 6-12 descriptive; 13 to end, the poet’s reflections.

For umakori, narukamino see List m. k.

73

Zhimuki (Jinki) hazhime toshi kinoye ne kaminadzuki itsuka no hi Ki no kuni ni idemaseru toki Akahito ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Yasumishishi 1

wago ohokimi no

totsu-miya to

tsukahematsureru

Sahika nu yu 5

so-gahi ni miyuru

oki tsu shima

kiyoki nagisa ni

kaze fukeba

shiranami sawaki 10

shiho hireba

tamamo karitsutsu

kami yo yori

shika so tafutoki

Tamatsushima yama. 15

74

(Jinki) futatose satsuki Yoshinu no totsu miya ni idemaseru toki Kasa no Asomi Kanamura ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Ashihikino 1

mi yama mo saya ni

ochi tagitsu

Yoshinu no kaha no

kaha no se no 5

kiyoki wo mireba

kami-he ni ha

chidori shiba-naki

shimo-he ni ha

kahadzu tsumayobu 10

momoshikino

oho-miya hito mo

wochi-kochi ni

shizhi ni shi areba

miru goto ni 15

aya ni tomoshimi

tamakadzura

tayuru koto naku

yorodzu yo ni

kaku shi mo ga mo to 20

ame-tsuchi no

kami wo so inoru

kashikokaredomo.

For ashihikino, momoshikino, tamakadzura see List m. k.

75

Yamabe no Sukune Akahito ga yomeru uta.

Yasumishishi 1

wago ohokimi no

takashirasu

Yoshinu no miya ha

tatanadzuku 5

awo-kaki-gomori

kaha nami no

kiyoki Kafuchi so

haru he ha

hana saki wowori 10

aki sareba

kiri tachi-wataru

sono yama no

iya masu-masu ni

kono kaha no 15

tayuru koto naku

momoshikino

ohomiya hito ha

tsune ni kayohamu.

For yasumishishi, tatanadzuku, momoshikino see List m. k.

76

Yasumishishi 1

waga ohokimi ha

Mi-Yoshinu no

Akidzu no wo-nu no

nu no he ni ha 5

tomi suwe-okite

nu yama ni ha

i-me tate-watashi

asa-gari ni

shishi fumi-okoshi 10

yufu-gari ni

tori fumi-tate

uma namete

mi-kari so tatasu

haru no shige nu ni. 15

77

[Jinki futatose] kaminadzuki Naniha no miya ni idemaseru toki Kanamura ga yomeru uta.

Oshiteru 1

Naniha no kuni ha

ashikakino

furinishi sato to

hito mina no 5

omohi-yasumite

tsure mo naku

arishi ahida ni

umiwonasu

Nagara no miya ni 10

maki-hashira

futo taka shikite

wosu kuni wo

wosame-tamaheba

okitsutori 15

Ajifu no hara ni

mononofuno

yaso tomo no wo ha

ihori shite

miyako to nareri 20

tabi ni ha aredomo.

1-7 introductory to 8.

9-14 erection of country-palace.

15 to end, the yasotomono wo build their abodes round about the palace, and so a City-Royal is established.

For oshiteru, ashikakino, umiwonasu, okitsutori, mononofuno see List m. k.

78

Kuramochi no Asomi chitose ga yomeru uta.

Isanatori 1

hama he wo kiyomi

uchi-nabiki

ofuru tamamo ni

asa-nagi ni 5

chihe nami yori

yufu-nagi ni

ihohe nami yoru

oki tsu nami

iya masu-masu ni 10

he tsu nami no

iya shiku-shiku ni

tsuki ni ke ni

hihi ni migahoshi

ima nomi ni 15

aki-darame ya mo

shiranami no

i-saki-motoheru

Suminoye no hama.

16 aki-darame: aki is written ‘autumn’, but the homophon meaning ‘satiety’ is intended.

For isanatori see List m. k.

79

Akahito ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Ame tsuchi no 1

tohoki ga gotoku

hi tsuki no

nagaki ga gotoku

oshiteru 5

Naniha no miya ni

wago ohokimi

kuni shirasurashi

mi-ke tsu kuni

hi-hi no mi-tsuki to 10

Ahaji no

Nushima no ama no

watanosoko

okitsu ikuri ni

ahabi tama 15

saha ni kadzuki-de

fune namete

tsukahematsuru ka

tafutoshi mireba.

16 kadzuki (kami tsuku), dive.

19 Read mireba tafutoshi.

For oshiteru, watanosoko see List m. k.

80

[Jinki] mitose to ifu toshi hinoye tora nagatsuki towoka mari itsuka no hi Harima no kuni Inami-nu ni idemaseru toki Kanamura ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Nakisumi no 1

Funase yu miyuru

Ahaji shima

Matsuho no ura ni

asanagi ni 5

tamamo karitsutsu

yufunagi ni

mo shiho-yakitsutsu

ama wotome

ari to ha kikedo 10

mi ni yukamu

yoshi no nakereba

masurawono

kokoro ha nashi ni

tawayame no 15

omohi-tawamite

tamotohori

are haso kofuru

fune kaji wo nami.

For masurawono see List m. k.

81

Akahito ga yomeru uta hitotsu [migi ni onazhi miyuki no toki].

Yasumishishi 1

waga ohokimi no

kamu nagara

takashiraseru

Inami-nu no 5

Oho-umi no hara no

arataheno

Fujiye no ura ni

shibi tsuru to

ama-bune sawaki 10

shiho-yaku to

hito so saha naru

ura wo yomi

ube mo tsuri ha su

hama wo yomi 15

ube mo shiho yaku

ari-gayohi

mesaku mo shirushi

kiyoki shirahama.

Inami-nu no 1

asaji oshi-nabe

sanuru yo no

ke nagashiku areba

ihe shi shinubayu. 5

17-19 Read arigayohi mishitamafu mo ichishiruku kiyokute omoshiroki shirahama zo to nari.

3 sanuru = yadori suru.

4 ke = ki-he.

5 shinubayeru.

For yasumishishi, arataheno see List m. k.

82

Karani no shima wo suguru toki Akahito ga yomeru uta.

Umasahafu 1

imo ga mekarete

shikitaheno

makura mo akazu [makazu]

kaniha maki 5

tsukureru fune ni

ma kaji nuki

aga kogi-kureba

Ahaji no

Nushima wo sugi 10

Inamitsuma

Karani no shima no

shima no ma yu

wagihe wo mireba

awoyama no 15

soko to mo miyezu

shirakumo mo

chihe ni narikinu

kogi-tamuru

ura no kotogoto 20

yuki-kakuru

shima no saki-zaki

kuma mo okazu

omohi so aga kuru

tabi no ke nagake! 25

Tamamokaru 1

Karani no shima ni

shima mi suru

u ni shi mo are ya

ihe ’mohazaramu! 5

2 imo ga mekarete = me hanuru, the eye (features, i.e. person) being separated from me.

4 akazu probably should be makazu.

5 kaniha = kaba, birch.

7 nuki, place oars in position, on thole or between rowlocks.

11 Inamitsuma, of tsuma, the meaning is uncertain, perhaps tract or neighbourhood; tsuma, border.

19 tamuru, a weak form of tamotohoru.

22 cape after cape: see K. 80. 345, shima no sakizaki.

23 kuma mo okazu = kuma (sumi) mo ochizu, a not infrequent expression in the Manyôshiu.

24 omohite so aga kuru tabi ga ki-he nagashi.

25 ke = ki-he (kuru-henuru).

1, 2 karu kara, probably a designed jingle.

4, 5 would I were but a cormorant, then I should be free from homesickness.

As to the m. k. shikitahe and umasahafu: shikitahe, spread-cloth, seems originally to have meant a garment worn to sleep in, or a coverlet. It is applied to night, sleeping, night garments, pillows, &c.

Umasahafu is the reading preferred by the Kogi to that in the text, ajisahafu. Of neither can any certain explanation be given. On the whole I am inclined to prefer the one suggested of umasahafu under that word in the Kogi’s list of makura kotoba.—umashi-aha-fu, field of sweet millet; ahafu = millet-field in K. 143, n. 2, fu is perhaps an original form of hafu or hae. The ancient Japanese f (perhaps derived from a lost p) was something like the Highland ‘fwh’ in ‘fwhat’ of which the different elements were prominent in connexion with particular vowel sounds. As significant of numerousness, it is applied to mure (flock, crowd) contracted into me (to which through a homophon meaning ‘woman’ it is applied in the text) as well as sometimes to yoru, night (homophon of yoru, gather together, collect). There are parallel etymologies quoted by the Kogi, but it is needless to detail them here. Umashiahafu would contract into umasahafu; umashi may be written with a character aji, meaning taste, savour—hence ajisahafu, and of this the aji might be confounded with its homonym aji (a kind of teal or widgeon), explaining a common way of writing the expression—teal-marsh-abundant.

For umasahafu, shikitaheno see List m. k.

83

Minume no ura wo suguru toki Akahito ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Mikemukafu 1

Ahaji no shima ni

tada mukafu

Minume no ura no

oki he ni ha 5

fukamiru tsumi

urami ni ha

nanori-so kari

fukamiruno

mimaku hoshikedo 10

nanorisono

onoga na woshimi

ma tsukahi mo

yarazute are ha

ikeru to mo nashi. 15

Suma no ama no 1

shiho-yaki kinu no

narenaba ka

hito hi mo kimi wo

wasurete omohamu. 5

For mikemukafu, fukamiruno, nanorisono see List m. k.

84

(Jinki) yotose to ifu toshi hinoto no u mutsuki ohokimitachi omitachi ni mikotonori shite Jintôryô ni hanachi imashime tamaheru toki ni yomeru uta hitotsu.

Makuzuhafu 1

Kasuka no yama ha

uchinabiku

haru sari yuku to

yama no he ni 5

kasumi tachibiki

Takamato ni

uguisu nakinu

mononofuno

yaso tomo no wo ha 10

karigane no

ki-tsugi konogoro

kaku tsukite

tsune ni ariseba

tomo namete 15

asobamu mono wo

uma namete

yukamashi sato wo

machi-kate ni

aga seshi haru wo 20

kakemaku mo

aya ni kashikoshi

ihamaku mo

yuyushikaramu to

arakazhime 25

kanete shiriseba

chidori naku

sono Saho-gaha ni

iso ni ofuru

suga no ne torite 30

shinubu-gusa

harahite mashi wo

yuku midzu ni

misogite mashi wo

ohokimino 35

mikoto kashikomi

momoshikino

ohomiya hito no

tamahokono

michi ni mo idezu 40

kofuru kono goro.

10-14 the Kogi text is followed.

11 a species of wild goose; also kari ga ne, the scream of the wild geese.

19-20 the spring we have made vain to wait for.

40-41 sankin ni ahite midari ni michi ni idzuru koto dani yezushite.

For makuzuhafu, uchinabiku, mononofuno, momoshikino, ohokimino, tamahokono see List m. k.

Of the above lay the text is more or less uncertain, the syntax is confused, and the meaning in part obscure.

85

(Tempyô) futatose shimotsuki Sakanohe no Iratsume ga Kami no ihe yori michi-dachi shite Tsukushi no michi no kuchi no kuni (Chikuzen) Munakata no kohori Nagoyama wo koyuru toki yomeru uta hitotsu.

Ohonamuji 1

Sukunabikona no

kami koso ha

nadzuke somekeme

na nomi wo 5

Nagoyama to ohite

aga kohi no

chihe no hito he mo

nagusame naku ni.

7 kohi = [miyako wo] kohishiku omofu.

86

(Tempyô) yotose to ifu toshi midzunoye saru Fujihara no Umakahi no mahetsukimi nishi no umi tsu ji no setsudoshi ni tsukahasaruru toki Takahashi no Murazhi Mushimaro ga yomeru uta hitotsu.

Shirakumono 1

Tatsuta no yama no

tsuyu shimo ni

iro-dzuku toki ni

uchi-koyete 5

tabi-yuku kimi ha

ihohe yama

i-yuki sakumi

ata-mamoru

Tsukushi ni itari 10

yama no soki

nu no soki mesedo

tomo no be wo

agachi tsukahashi

yamabikoni 15

kotahemu kihami

taniguku no

sa wataru kihami

kuni-gata wo

meshi-tamahite 20

fuyukomori

haru sari-yukaba

tobutorino

haya kaheri-kone

Tatsuta-ji no 25

Wokabe no michi ni

ni-tsutsuzhi no

nihohamu toki no

sakura-bana

sakinamu toki ni 30

yamatadzuno

mukahe-mawi demu

kimi ga kimasaba.

Chiyorodzu no 1

ikusa naritomo

koto agesezu

torite kinubeki

wotoko to so ’mofu. 5

3 tsuyu shimo ni, by the rime and dew (which cause the ruddy leafage of autumn). But see Glossary. Other explanations are possible, but the above seems most suitable.

3 koto agesezu = ihitatsuru koto naku.

For shirakumono, yamabikoni, fuyukomori, tobutorino, yamatadzuno (not rendered in the translation) see List m. k.

87

Sumera mikoto no setsudoshi no mahetsukimitachi ni ohomiki tamaheru ohomi-uta hitotsu.

Wosukuni no 1

toho no mikado ni

imashira shi

kaku makarinaba

tahirakeku 5

are ha asobamu

te udakite

are ha imasamu

sumera waga

udzu no mite mochi 10

kaki-nade so

negi-tamafu

uchi-nade so

negi-tamafu

kaheri-komu hi 15

ahi nomamu ki so

kono toyomiki ha

10 udzu, precious or sacred; mi-te = mi tahe.

11, 13 kaki and uchi are prefix verbs having an emphatic value; nade = propitiate, negi (negafu), intreat.