鷲の山上暗からぬ峰なれば
あたりを払ふ有明の月
あたりを払ふ有明の月
- Roma-ji
-
Washi no yama ue kurakaranu mine nareba atari o harau ariake no tsuki
- English Translation
-
The Vulture Peak is
a summit where it is never
dark above, and so
the moon that lingers into dawn
sweeps the darkness all around.
- Meaning
- Since the Vulture Peak is a summit never dark above, the moon that lingers into dawn sweeps away the darkness all around.
- Commentary
-
Miscellaneous Poems 895
Headnote: "Composed on the theme of supreme enlightenment"
The topic is supreme enlightenment, the awakening beyond which there is nothing higher. Since the Vulture Peak is a summit never dark above, a peak of supreme enlightenment, the dawn moon shining there sweeps away the darkness all around, the poet says. Laying 'never dark above' over 'supreme,' he expresses that the highest enlightenment is a light that clears away all delusion.
First line, “washi no yama”: the Vulture Peak.
Second line, “ue kurakaranu”: not dark above, a rendering of 'supreme,' nothing above it.
Third line, “mine nareba”: since it is such a peak.
Fourth line, “atari o harau”: sweeping away the darkness around, a figure for dispelling delusion.
Fifth line, “ariake no tsuki”: ending on a noun, the moon as a figure for the light of enlightenment.
- Author
- Saigyō
- Source
- Sankashu
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