澄む水にさやけき影の映ればや
今宵の月の名に流るらん
今宵の月の名に流るらん
- Roma-ji
-
Sumu mizu ni sayakeki kage no utsureba ya koyoi no tsuki no na ni nagaruran
- English Translation
-
In the clear water
is it since the bright light
is mirrored there
that tonight's moon has its name
flowing far through the world?
- Meaning
- Is it because its bright light is mirrored in the clear water that the name of tonight's moon flows so far through the world?
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems II 336
Headnote: "Composed at a moon-viewing banquet on the thirteenth night of the ninth month in the reign of Emperor Go-Reizei"
Composed at a moon-viewing banquet on the thirteenth night of the ninth month in the reign of Emperor Go-Reizei. Is it because its bright light is reflected in the clear water, the poet asks, that tonight's moon has its name flowing far through the world? With the word "nagaru," to flow, he binds the beauty of the moon on the water to the renown of the moon of the thirteenth night.
The author, "Ōmiya Udaijin," is Fujiwara no Toshiie, son of Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Yorimune and grandson of Fujiwara no Michinaga, who rose to Minister of the Right.
The moon of the thirteenth night of the ninth month was counted a famous moon together with that of the fifteenth night of the eighth. The next poem, 337, also sings of the moon of the thirteenth night.
First line, "sumu mizu ni": "in the clear water," where the moon is reflected.
Second line, "sayakeki kage no": "sayakeshi" means bright and pure, and "kage" is moonlight.
Third line, "utsureba ya": "ba" with the interrogative "ya," "is it because it is reflected?", guessing at the cause. "Ya" closes with the attributive "ran" in the last line.
Fourth line, "koyoi no tsuki no": the moon of the thirteenth night of the ninth month. The next poem, 337, also sings of "koyoi," tonight.
Fifth line, "na ni nagaruran": "na ni nagaru" is for one's fame to spread through the world, and "nagaru," to flow, is an associated word for "mizu," water, in the first line. "Ran" is the present conjecture "ramu."
- Author
- Fujiwara no Toshiie
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
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