白山にあへば光も失するかと
鉢を捨てても頼まるるかな
鉢を捨てても頼まるるかな
- Roma-ji
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Shirayama ni aeba hikari mo usuru ka to
hachi o sutete mo tanomaruru kana - English Translation
-
Before Mount White, might even light be lost?
Though I cast away the bowl, I still place my hope.
- Meaning
- Before your Mount White–like brilliance, might even light be lost? Even after casting away the bowl and forgetting my shame, I still place my hopes in you.
- Commentary
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Prince Ishitsukuri’s reply to Princess Kaguya’s poem, “Even the light of resting dew might well lodge—
on Mount Ogura, what was it you sought?”
“Mount White” is set against Mount Ogura and is an oblique metaphor for Princess Kaguya’s radiant beauty.
Having been seen through for presenting a false Buddha’s stone begging bowl, the prince cast the bowl away and composed this poem; yet Princess Kaguya would never answer his hopes.
- Source
- Taketori Monogatari
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