Hyakunin Isshu, Poem 13
Translation and comments by Ad Blankestijn
(version September 2022)
Translation and comments by Ad Blankestijn
(version September 2022)
as the waters falling
from Tsukuba's peak
form the Mina River,
so my desire has grown
into a deep pool
Tsukuba ne no
mine yori otsuru
Minanogawa
koi zo tsumorite
fuchi to narinuru
筑波嶺の
峰より落つる
みなの川
恋ぞつもりて
淵となりぬる
Emperor Yozei 陽成天皇 (868-949)
mine yori otsuru
Minanogawa
koi zo tsumorite
fuchi to narinuru
筑波嶺の
峰より落つる
みなの川
恋ぞつもりて
淵となりぬる
Emperor Yozei 陽成天皇 (868-949)
[Mt Tsukuba]
As time goes by, the poet's love grows deeper, like the deep pools in a river, which starts as a small trickle, but then expands into a wild stream.
In the Gosenshu anthology, this poem is accompanied by a head note reading "Sent to the Princess of the Tsuridono." The "Princess of the Tsuridono" has been identified as Suishi, the daughter of Emperor Koko; the princess indeed did become the wife of Ex-Emperor Yozei, so this poem can be considered as a rare example of a love poem that actually was effective!
In the Gosenshu anthology, this poem is accompanied by a head note reading "Sent to the Princess of the Tsuridono." The "Princess of the Tsuridono" has been identified as Suishi, the daughter of Emperor Koko; the princess indeed did become the wife of Ex-Emperor Yozei, so this poem can be considered as a rare example of a love poem that actually was effective!
Notes
- Tsukubane: Mt Tsukuba stands in central Ibaraki Prefecture and has two peaks, Nantaisan and Nyotaisan. It is already sung about in the 7th c. Manyoshu. As the mountain with its characteristic shape can be seen from afar in mainly flat Ibaraki, it is a famous landmark.
- Minanogawa: The River Mina flows down from Mt Tsukuba, joins the River Sakura, and finally flows into Lake Kasumigaura.
- This poem uses the technique of jo-kotoba, a preface, consisting of the first three lines.
- Koi zo tsumorite: "my love grows stronger"
- Fuchi: a deep pool in a body of water.
"-nuru" is "natte shimatta", indicating completion.
The Poet
The poet, Emperor Yozei (868-949), reigned from 876 to 884, as a child emperor. He was forced to abdicate by Regent Fujiwara no Mototsune and replaced by Emperor Koko, a son of Emperor Ninmyo. The histories transmit several anecdotes about Yozei's cruelty and mental instability, but these should probably be taken with a large grain of salt, for (as so often happened in Chinese and Japanese historiography) they may be fabrications to justify the forced abdication and whitewash the action by the Fujiwara power-monger.
After he had abdicated, Yozei led a very long life (he became 80), and he often organized poetry gatherings. However, the present poem is the sole one with which he is represented in the imperial anthologies.
[Mt Tsukuba Ropeway]
After he had abdicated, Yozei led a very long life (he became 80), and he often organized poetry gatherings. However, the present poem is the sole one with which he is represented in the imperial anthologies.
[Mt Tsukuba Ropeway]
Visiting
(1) Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, particularly well known for its double peaks, Nyotai-san ("female body") at 877 m and Nantai-san ("male body") at 871 m. The peaks are worshipped as kami in the Shinto religion and are believed to bestow marital harmony and conjugal bliss. Many people climb the mountain for the panoramic view of the Kanto plain from the summit. On clear days the Tokyo skyline, Lake Kasumigaura and even Mount Fuji are visible from the summit. At the foot of the southern face lies the main shrine called “Tsukubasan Jinja”. This ancient shrine is a popular destination for tourists and it is from here that the main hiking trails up the mountain begin. One can choose to go straight up the mountain via the Miyukigahara course, which parallels the Swiss-made funicular ("cable car"), to the notch between the peaks. Or one can follow the Shirakumobashi course up to the east ridge, where it joins up with the Otatsuishi course, and then continues on up to Mt. Nyotai. In addition to the funicular there is also an aerial tramway ("ropeway") which follows the east ridge up the mountain, paralleling the Otatsuishi course. At both Mt. Nantai-san and Mt. Nyotai-san are small shrines devoted to their respective gods. Japanese mountains are mostly volcanic, but Mount Tsukuba is non-volcanic granite in origin. Beautiful granites are produced in the northern quarries even today. See the website of Mount Tsukuba Cable Car and Ropeway. More information on Mt Tsukuba and how to get there.
(2) Tomb of Emperor Yozei. Yozei is buried in the Kaguragaoka no Higashi no Misasagi, just NW of Shinnyodo Temple in Kyoto. Take a Kyoto bus to Kinrin Sajko-mae and wlkd 400 m to the west.
(2) Tomb of Emperor Yozei. Yozei is buried in the Kaguragaoka no Higashi no Misasagi, just NW of Shinnyodo Temple in Kyoto. Take a Kyoto bus to Kinrin Sajko-mae and wlkd 400 m to the west.
[Tomg of Emperor Yozei in Kyoto]
References: Pictures of the Heart, The Hyakunin Isshu in Word and Image by Joshua S. Mostow (University of Hawai'i Press, 1996); Traditional Japanese Poetry, An Anthology, by Steven D. Carter (Stanford University Press, 1991); Hyakunin Isshu by Inoue Muneo, etc. (Shinchosha, 1990); Genshoku Hyakunin Isshu by Suzuki Hideo, etc. (Buneido, 1997); Ogura Hyakunin Isshu at Japanese Text Initiative (University of Virginia Library Etext Center); Hyakunin Isshu wo aruku by Shimaoka Shin (Kofusha Shuppan); Basho's Haiku (2 vols) by Toshiharu Oseko (Maruzen, 1990); The Ise Stories by Joshua S. Mostow and Royall Tyler (University of Hawai'i Press, 2010); Kokin Wakashu, The First Imperial Anthology of Japanese Poetry by Helen Craig McCullough (Staford University Press, 1985); Kokinshu, A Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern by Laurel Rasplica Rodd and Mary Catherine Henkenius (University of Tokyo Press, 1984); Kokin Wakashu (Shogakkan, 1994); Shinkokin Wakashu (Shogakkan, 1995); Taketori Monogatari-Ise Monogatari-Yamato Monogatari-Heichu Monogatari (Shogakkan, 1994).
Photo: from Wikipedia.