いなだきにきすめる玉は二つなし
かにもかくにも君がまにまに
かにもかくにも君がまにまに
- Roma-ji
-
Inadaki ni kisumeru tama wa futatsu nashi ka ni mo kaku ni mo kimi ga manimani
- English Translation
-
On the crown of the head,
the jewel stored away with care—
there is not another;
however it may be, then,
it is yours to do as you will.
- Meaning
- The jewel treasured in the knot atop my head—there is no other like it. Do with it, one way or another, as you please.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Allegorical Poems 412
Headnote: "A poem by Prince Ichihara"
This poem belongs to the section of Allegorical Poems in Book Three. The jewel kept safe in the topknot is like no other, yet whatever becomes of it is left to your will. It is read as an allegory in which the jewel stands for a cherished daughter or for the poet's own sincere heart, entrusted wholly to another, but it has long been considered obscure. One view holds that it draws on the Buddhist parable of a king who will not lightly give away the bright jewel in his topknot.
The poet, Prince Ichihara, was a son of Prince Aki and a royal of the Nara period who served as Director of the Office for Building Tōdaiji, among other posts.
First line "On the crown of the head": inadaki means the top of the head.
Second line "the jewel stored away with care": kisumu means to keep something precious hidden away.
Third line "there is not another" breaks the sentence.
Fourth line "however it may be, then": ka ni mo kaku ni mo means "one way or another."
Fifth line "it is yours to do as you will" ends by entrusting everything to the other.
- Author
- Prince Ichihara
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
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Wagimoko ga yado no tachibana ito chikaku ueteshi yue ni narazu wa yamaji
- Next Poem
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Suma no ama no shioyakiginu no fujigoromo madō ni shi areba imada kinarezu