[32] Page 56—Taira becomes Hei when compounded with a following character; thus Taira House is Hei-Ke. Similarly “Minamoto” becomes Gen, thus Gen-ji is the Minamoto family.
[33] Page 57—Tōtōmi, the name of one of the provinces through which they came, means “distant bay.” Also to or tou with a different ideagraph means “to ask.” Mikana, the name of another province through which they passed, means “three rivers,” which leads to the idea of bridges. But more than that, Mikana is noted for its eight bridges, spanning over the streams which branch off like the legs of a spider, which is kumo in Japanese; and this idea leads on to that of “clouds,” which are pronounced kumo, though written with a different ideagraph. The idea of “clouds” leads on, finally, to that of the “capital,” where only those of high rank “above the clouds” are dwelling.
[34] Page 59—Kagekiyo takes up Hitomaru’s words, originally used in a simple, physical sense, and applies them to the spiritual world. It is, nevertheless, not supposed to be a dialogue; each is soliloquising.
[35] Page 60—And therefore could play no part in his warlike schemes.
[36] Page 63—The Chinese character for the name of the province means “facing the sun.”
[37] Page 65—Meaning that if she had been a boy he would have welcomed her; but now he takes no account of her hardships and difficulties in reaching him.
[38] The words used give a suggestion of dew-like.
[39] Page 65—Proclaiming herself the child of an exile and beggar, to her social detriment.
[40] Page 66—The word sumu, “to live,” also signifies “clear,” which is associated in poetry with the moon, which in its turn leads to the thought of shadow, Kage leading to Kagekiyo.
[41] Page 66—A mythical animal, of which the nearest translation is perhaps the unicorn. There is a proverb which states that though it is the king of beasts, when old it is worse than a useless horse.