天の原行きて射てむと白真弓
引きて隠れる月人壮士
引きて隠れる月人壮士
- Roma-ji
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Ama no hara yukite itemu to shiramayumi hikite komoreru tsukihitootoko
- English Translation
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On the plain of heaven,
thinking he will go and shoot,
his white wooden bow
drawn, he hides himself away,
the young man of the moon.
- Meaning
- Meaning to go out on the plain of heaven and shoot, the young man of the moon draws his white bow and hides himself away.
- Commentary
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Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2051
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem sings of the moon, likened to a young man who seems to hide with his bow drawn, intending to go out on the plain of heaven and shoot. It is a witty expression likening the shape of a bow-shaped moon to a young man drawing his bow. Following 2010 and 2043, it is another poem on the "young man of the moon," as the moon's form is variously depicted in the Tanabata night sky.
The first line, "the plain of heaven," names the wide sky.
The second line, "meaning to go and shoot," gives his intent.
The third line, "shiramayumi," a bow of white wood, evokes a bow-shaped moon.
The fourth line, "drawing it, he hides," shows the moon hiding behind the ridge of a mountain.
The last line, "tsukihitootoko," is the same ending as 2010 and others.
- Source
- Manyoshu
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