散りぬれば後はあくたになる花を
思ひ知らずもまどふてふかな
思ひ知らずもまどふてふかな
- Roma-ji
-
Chirinureba nochi wa akuta ni naru hana o omoishirazu mo madou chō kana
- English Translation
-
Once they have fallen,
they turn to dust and litter—
yet about these flowers,
knowing nothing of their fate,
how the butterfly flits in confusion!
- Meaning
- These are flowers that, once fallen, become nothing but dust and litter—yet, knowing nothing of this, the butterfly flutters about them, lost in its longing.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Names of Things 435
Headnote: "Kutani"
This poem sighs over the butterfly that flutters about the flowers, unaware that once they fall they become mere litter. The title "kutani" is hidden in "akuta ni naru" in the second line. Kutani is thought to be a plant name, identified variously as gentian or peony, with no settled view. Picturing a butterfly clinging to fleeting blossoms, it shows a contemplation of impermanence fitting for a monk.
The poet, "Sōjō Henjō," is Henjō. His lay name was Yoshimine no Munesada, and he was a grandson of Emperor Kanmu. He took the tonsure on the death of Emperor Ninmyō and later became a Sōjō, the highest rank of the clergy. He is one of the Six Poetic Immortals.
First line "Chirinureba" means "once they have fallen," with "nure" the perfective form of the auxiliary "nu."
Second line "nochi wa akuta ni" means "afterwards into dust and litter," and the title "kutani" is hidden in "akuta ni."
Third line "naru hana o" uses "o" with a concessive force, implying "flowers that become so, and yet."
Fourth line "omoishirazu mo" means "without realizing it."
Fifth line "madou chō kana" means "the butterfly flitting in confusion," closing with a sigh. "Chō" is written "tefu," the old kana spelling of butterfly.
- Author
- Henjō
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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