Hyakunin Isshu Oracle

No.73 権中納言匡房(大江匡房)「高砂の 尾の上の桜 咲きにけり 外山の霞 立たずもあらなむ」

高砂の 尾の上の桜 咲きにけり 外山の霞 立たずもあらなむ

権中納言匡房(大江匡房)

the far ridge is in bloom — mist, stay down a little longer

the far ridge is in bloom — mist, stay down a little longer

キーワードKeywords

Distant BlossomHazeDo Not RiseSightlineFragile View
Nature/Seasons Spring

権中納言匡房(大江匡房)Ōe no Masafusa — No. 73 公卿Court Noble

A noble of high scholarly reputation who served Retired Emperor Shirakawa in both government and learning.

たかさごの をのへのさくら さきにけり とやまのかすみ たたずもあらなむ

Takasago no Onoe no sakura Saki ni keri Toyama no kasumi Tatazu mo aranan

現代語訳Modern Japanese

コンセプトConcept

情景The Scene

Telephoto, hazy spring morning. Far off on a high ridge the cherries have opened — a pale smudge you can only just resolve. Between you and them, a nearer hill where mist is starting to gather. The whole poem is one request addressed to weather: not yet.

日本の美意識Japanese Aesthetic

Mono no Aware (Beauty You Cannot Hold)

The subject is never approached, only protected from interference. Sometimes the strongest move is to keep something distant and beg the conditions to hold. Guard the sightline instead of zooming in.