Tag: Heian
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The Hyakunin Isshu as a Rough Historical Tour
As you may have started to notice, the Hyakunin Isshu anthology provides a subtle historical overview of the classical period in Japanese history. This may have been intention on the part of Fujiwara no Teika, or just reflects the sentiment of his time. Either way, it’s an interesting tour of Japan from the 8th to…
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The End of an Era: Poem 100
The very last poem in the anthology goes along with the previous one in our theme on the end of the Heian Court era: Japanese Romanization Translation 百敷や Momoshiki ya The hundredfold palace! 古き軒端の Furuki nokiba no even in the shinobu grass しのぶにも Shinobu ni mo on its old eaves なほあまりある Nao amari aru I…
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Brooding: Poem Number 99
Since I touched upon the end of the Court-era in Japanese history, I thought it would be fitting to post this poem: Japanese Romanization Translation 人も惜し Hito mo oshi People seem dear and 人も恨めし Hito mo urameshi people also seem hateful あぢきなく Ajiki naku when vainly 世を思ふゆゑに Yo wo omou yue ni I brood about…
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Lonely in Winter: Poem Number 28
Winter’s always a quiet, lonely time: Japanese Romanization Translation 山里は Yamazato wa In the mountain village, 冬ぞさびしさ Huyu zo sabishisa it is in winter that my loneliness まさりける Masari keru increases most, 人めも草も Hitome mo kusa mo when I think how both have dried up, かれぬとおもへば Karenu to omoeba the grasses and people’s visits. Translation…
The Hyakunin Isshu 