天地と相栄えむと大宮を
仕へまつれば貴く嬉しき
仕へまつれば貴く嬉しき
- Roma-ji
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Ametsuchi to aisakaemu to ōmiya o tsukaematsureba tōtoku ureshiki
- English Translation
-
With heaven and earth
so to flourish evermore,
in the great palace
I serve, and in my service
how precious, how joyful
- Meaning
- Serving in the great palace, that we may flourish forever with heaven and earth, is a precious and joyful thing.
- Commentary
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Book Nineteen 4273
Headnote: "Six poems composed at imperial command at the banquet of the Niiname Festival on the twenty-fifth day"
The first of six poems composed at imperial command at the Niiname banquet, it expresses the joy of serving at court: serving in the great palace to flourish eternally with heaven and earth is truly precious and gladdening.
This is one of six poems offered at imperial command at the banquet held after the Niiname Festival on the twenty-fifth day of the eleventh month of 752. The Niiname is an important court rite in which the year's new grain is offered to the gods and partaken of by the sovereign. The left note says, "The above poem: Grand Counselor Kose no Ason."
The poet, Kose no Natemaro, was a Nara-period noble who was Grand Counselor at this time. As an elderly senior minister, he composed the first of the six.
First line, "ametsuchi to" (with heaven and earth), conveys eternity.
Second line, "aisakaemu to" (to flourish together), wishes for the reign to endure.
Third line, "ōmiya o" (the great palace), refers to the imperial residence.
Fourth line, "tsukaematsureba" (when I serve), expresses service as a subject.
Fifth line, "tōtoku ureshiki" (precious and joyful), is hypermetric and ends in the attributive form, leaving the joy lingering.
- Author
- Kose no Natemaro
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Ametsuchi ni tarawashi terite waga ōkimi shikimaseba kamo tanoshiki osato
- Next Poem
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Ame ni wa mo iotsutsuna hau yorozuyo ni kuni shirasamu to iotsutsuna hau