Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) Crimson red . . . We met In the purple fields . . . You wave, but oh! The guards might see. “Crimson red” is symbolism for the morning sun. “Purple” is symbolism for royalty. So this …
Read MoreLift Your Veil
Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) Why Do the clouds Cover Miwa Mountain? Show some pity And lift your veil! Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 額田王 額田王 Nukata no Ookimi 三輪山乎 三輪山を Miwa-yama wo 然毛隠賀 しかも隠すか Shikamo kakusuka 雲谷裳 雲だにも Kumo dani mo …
Read MoreThe Scent of Wine and Miwa Mountain
Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) The scent of wine And Miwa mountain— Pleasant, green, And hidden from Nara’s sight. So many twists Along the paths Of my devotion— I long to see it Again and again. My heart Will never abandon This …
Read MoreI Am With the Autumn Mountains
Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) Winter hides And spring has come. The birds that haven’t chirped Begin to sing And the closed up flowers Begin to bloom. The mountains grow with thicket And I can join, but do not want to; The …
Read MoreYou stood beneath a holy oak [Manyoshu Vol 1, No 9]
Emperor Nukata no Okimi Broken silence Beneath the Big Dipper— My dear, You stood at the roots Of holy oaks. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 額田王 額田王 Nukata no Okimi 莫囂圓隣之 莫囂円隣之 [unknown] 大相七兄爪謁氣 大相七兄爪謁気 [unknown] 吾瀬子之 我が背子が Waga seko ga 射立為兼 い立たせりけむ Itata serikemu …
Read MoreWhere Once I Stayed
Nukita no Ookimi I cut the grass of autumn’s meadow— remembering the thatched roof of Uji palace, where once I stayed. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 額田王 額田王 Nukata no ohkimi 金野乃 秋の野の Akino No no 美草苅葺 み草刈り Mikusa kari 屋杼礼里之 葺き宿れりし Fukiyado rerishi 兎道乃宮子能 …
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