Poem *Man’yōshū* (万葉集)
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Writer AndyKim
Hit 555 Hits
Date 25-01-23 15:54
Content
The *Man’yōshū* (万葉集), or "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves," is the oldest existing anthology of Japanese poetry, compiled during the Nara period (ca. 759 CE). It contains 4,536 poems written in a mix of classical Chinese characters and phonetic transcription (known as *Man'yōgana*). Due to its historical and linguistic significance, the original Japanese text is highly complex, and translating it into English requires interpreting its nuances and poetic structure.
Below is an example of one of the most famous poems from the *Man’yōshū*, along with its original text and a typical English translation:
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### **Poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (柿本人麻呂)**
*(Book 2, Poem 199)*
#### **Original Text in *Man'yōgana***:
東(ひむがし)の 野に炎(かぎろひ)の 立つ見えて
かへり見すれば 月傾(かたぶ)きぬ
---
#### **Modern Japanese Reading (Kana/Modern Kanji):**
東(ひがし)の 野にかぎろいの 立つ見えて
帰り見すれば 月傾きぬ
---
#### **English Translation**:
"In the eastern fields, the shimmering heat haze rises,
When I turn and look back, the moon has set."
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### **Notes on Translation**:
- **"Kagirohi" (かぎろい):** This term refers to the glow of the rising sun or shimmering heat waves, emphasizing natural beauty and impermanence.
- **Imagery:** The poem juxtaposes the rising heat haze with the setting moon, symbolizing the passage of time and life's fleeting nature.
---
The *Man’yōshū* encompasses many poetic forms, including *chōka* (long poems), *tanka* (short poems), and *sedōka* (repeating poems). Its content ranges from personal emotions and love to nature, politics, and lamentations for the dead.
If you're looking for specific *Man’yōshū* poems, I can translate and interpret them further or provide more examples!
Below is an example of one of the most famous poems from the *Man’yōshū*, along with its original text and a typical English translation:
---
### **Poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (柿本人麻呂)**
*(Book 2, Poem 199)*
#### **Original Text in *Man'yōgana***:
東(ひむがし)の 野に炎(かぎろひ)の 立つ見えて
かへり見すれば 月傾(かたぶ)きぬ
---
#### **Modern Japanese Reading (Kana/Modern Kanji):**
東(ひがし)の 野にかぎろいの 立つ見えて
帰り見すれば 月傾きぬ
---
#### **English Translation**:
"In the eastern fields, the shimmering heat haze rises,
When I turn and look back, the moon has set."
---
### **Notes on Translation**:
- **"Kagirohi" (かぎろい):** This term refers to the glow of the rising sun or shimmering heat waves, emphasizing natural beauty and impermanence.
- **Imagery:** The poem juxtaposes the rising heat haze with the setting moon, symbolizing the passage of time and life's fleeting nature.
---
The *Man’yōshū* encompasses many poetic forms, including *chōka* (long poems), *tanka* (short poems), and *sedōka* (repeating poems). Its content ranges from personal emotions and love to nature, politics, and lamentations for the dead.
If you're looking for specific *Man’yōshū* poems, I can translate and interpret them further or provide more examples!