ももしきの大宮人の罷り出て
遊ぶ今夜の月のさやけさ
遊ぶ今夜の月のさやけさ
- Roma-ji
-
Momoshiki no ōmiyabito no makaridete asobu koyoi no tsuki no sayakesa
- English Translation
-
The courtiers
of the hundred-stoned palace
have taken their leave,
and on this night of revels
how clear the moon is shining
- Meaning
- How clear the moon shines tonight, as the courtiers of the great palace, released from their duties, gather to take their pleasure.
- Commentary
-
Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1076
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On the Moon"
This poem praises the brightness of the moon on a night when courtiers, having left the palace after their duties, enjoy themselves beneath it. It conveys the festive air of an elegant moon-viewing among the people of the court.
Within the group on the moon, this is a bright, cheerful poem set against a gathering of courtiers rather than private sorrow or love. The poet is unknown.
The first line uses "momoshiki," a pillow word for "ōmiya" (great palace).
The second line, "The courtiers," refers to the officials who serve at court.
The third line, "have taken their leave," means withdrawing from the palace, showing that this is a time of ease away from official business.
In the fourth line, "on this night of revels," "asobu" means to take refined pleasure in poetry, music and the like.
The final line, "how clear the moon is shining," ends with a noun formed from the stem of "sayakeshi" (clear) and the suffix "sa," expressing wonder at the moon's pure brightness.
- Source
- Manyoshu
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