The poem from the Manyoshu feels like an ancient Japanese dad-joke. Read it out loud and youโll see what I mean:
| Manyogana | Modern Japanese | Romanization | Rough Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๆทไบบไน | ใใไบบใฎ | Yoki hito no | Men of old |
| ่ฏ่ทกๅ่ฆ่ | ใใใจใใ่ฆใฆ | Yoshito yoku mite | came to Yoshino |
| ๅฅฝๅธธ่จๅธซ | ใใใจ่จใฒใ | Yoshito ii shi | and declared it a good place, |
| ่ณ้ๅ่ฆไธ | ๅ้ใใ่ฆใ | Yoshino yoku miyo | So, good sons, go |
| ่ฏไบบๅๆฅไธ | ใใไบบใใ่ฆ | Yoki hito yoku mi | and take in the view! |
The author of the poem is Emperor Tenmu whom we saw here and here. He is the younger brother of Emperor Tenji of Hyakunin Isshu fame (poem 1, ใใใฎ), and husband/uncle to Empress Jito (poem 2, ใฏใใ).
Yo, yo, yo, this poem has lots of โyoโ words.
The poem was, evidentially, a suggestion by Emperor Tenmu to his sons to visit the beautiful village of Yoshino, near the old capital of Nara, famed for its otherworldly beauty in Spring. The featured image shows Yoshino and its famous cherry trees.
It was also an attempt to foster good relations between Tenmu and his sons through a combination of humor and providing some fatherly advice. Given how complicated family relations were at the time (see links above), and since Tenmu had defeated his own nephew in combat to assume the throne, he had reason to worry.
Sadly, it didnโt work.
After Tenmuโs passing, one son, Prince ลtsu (ลtsu no miko, ๅคงๆดฅ็ๅญ), started a rebellion and was later given the death penalty at the age of 24. Wikipedia implies that the rebellion may be a false charge though brought by Empress Jito so that her own son could ascend the throne. My book on the Manyoshu delves into this at length and comes to the same conclusion.
Still, you canโt blame Emperor Tenmu for trying to heal family divisions, yo.
The Hyakunin Isshu 
