Hyakunin Isshu Oracle

No.86 西行法師「嘆けとて 月やは物を 思はする かこち顔なる わが涙かな」

嘆けとて 月やは物を 思はする かこち顔なる わが涙かな

西行法師

the moon did not ask for this — still, my tears blame the moon

the moon did not ask for this — still, my tears blame the moon

キーワードKeywords

Blaming the MoonTearsFalse CauseSelf-KnowledgeNight Alone
Love

西行法師Saigyō Hōshi — No. 86 僧・法師Monk

A warrior who gave up his rank to take vows and wander the provinces, leaving the collection Sankashū.

なげけとて つきやはものを おもはする かこちがほなる わがなみだかな

Nageke to te Tsuki ya wa mono o Omowasuru Kakochi-gao naru Waga namida kana

現代語訳Modern Japanese

コンセプトConcept

情景The Scene

One figure at a window, the moon doing nothing in particular. He is crying, and he has decided the moon is responsible — then catches himself in the act of the excuse. The tears keep coming anyway, wearing the moon’s face as an alibi.

日本の美意識Japanese Aesthetic

Mono no Aware (Seen Through)

A feeling is projected onto a landscape and then the projection is named out loud. Admitting the device does not weaken the emotion; it makes the listener trust you. Confess the reverb and the room becomes real.