袈裟の色や若紫に染めてける
苔の袂を思ひ返して
苔の袂を思ひ返して
- Roma-ji
-
Kesa no iro ya wakamurasaki ni sometekeru koke no tamoto o omoikaeshite
- English Translation
-
Your surplice's hue,
have you dyed it now in shades
of a young purple,
turning back from your resolve
to wear the moss-hued sleeves?
- Meaning
- Have you dyed your surplice the color of young purple, changing your mind about the moss-colored sleeves of a hermit?
- Commentary
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Miscellaneous Poems 919
Headnote: "The ajari Genken had left the world and was living on Kōya, but went briefly to Ninnaji and did not come back; hearing that he had become a Sōzu, I sent this"
The ajari Genken had left the world and lived on Mount Kōya, but went briefly to Ninnaji and never returned, and hearing that he had been made a Sōzu, the poet sent this. Monks of high rank were permitted to wear purple surplices. Have you dyed your surplice purple, changing your mind about the moss-colored sleeves of the recluse? he asks, teasing and reproaching Genken for leaving Kōya in pursuit of rank.
First line, “kesa no iro ya”: ya is answered by keru in the third line; a line of six syllables.
Second line, “wakamurasaki ni”: in young purple, the surplice worn by high-ranking monks such as a Sōzu.
Third line, “sometekeru”: have you dyed it? The poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “koke no tamoto o”: the sleeves of a moss-colored robe, the humble dress of a recluse, set against the young purple.
Fifth line, “omoikaeshite”: thinking better of it, inverted to follow the third line.
- Author
- Saigyō
- Source
- Sankashu
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