いたづらに身はなしつとも玉の枝を
手折らで更に帰らざらまし
手折らで更に帰らざらまし
- Roma-ji
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Itazura ni mi wa nashitsu tomo tama no e o
taorade sara ni kaerazaramashi - English Translation
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Though idly I would cast my life away,
Had I not plucked the jeweled branch,
I would not have returned.
- Meaning
- Even if I had cast my life away in vain, had I not plucked the jeweled branch of Hōrai, I would not have returned. (Because I have brought back the jeweled branch of Hōrai, I will not return until my suit is answered.)
- Commentary
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One of the five suitors who sought Princess Kaguya, Prince Kuramochi was set the impossible task of bringing back “the jeweled branch of Hōrai” as the condition for marriage.
This poem was attached to the counterfeit branch, exquisitely made by six craftsmen in the prince’s employ.
Hōrai is the legendary land of immortals said to lie on an island in the eastern seas of China.
The jeweled branch of Hōrai is described as having roots of silver, branches of gold, and fruit of pearls.
Clever in stratagems, Prince Kuramochi told Princess Kaguya that he was going to fetch the jeweled branch from Hōrai, then built a house into which no one could approach and had craftsmen make the counterfeit.
- Source
- Taketori Monogatari
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