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This is a Sokyoku piece in the Kumiuta style from the Ikuta Ryű school . This piece was composed for koto by Tsuguyama Kengyo .

History (from Tsuge Gen'ichi)
This song cycle was a secret piece (hikyoku) of the Tsuguyama School, founded by Tsuguyama Kengyo (d. 1697). Therefore, it is generally assumed that he is the composer.

The text of each of the four songs is based on a typical scene from 'The Tale of Genji' representing one of the four seasons. Spring is from the 'Butterflies' (Kocho) chapter, summer from 'The Orange Blossoms' (Hanachirusato), autumn from 'The Typhoon' (Nowaki) and winter from 'The Morning Glory' (Asagao). Although the text is identical with that of Koryu Shiki-Genji the music of Otsu no kyoku is entirely different. An instrumental interlude (gaku) is inserted between the second and third songs.

Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
On the lake
Of the spring garden,
Colorful boats
In the Chinese fashion
Rowed in the bright spring sun.
Flowers scent our sleeves
Soaked with waterdrops
From the oars.

A koto
Harmonizes
With the breeze from
A lunar laurel tree.
Irresistible music!
Just
For the occasion,
The cuckoo sings.

Morning and evening dew
Glitters
In unearthly colors,
Shines like a
Jeweled garden.
An autumn wind
Rends the trees and
Flowers into a thousand pieces.

Snow
On the hedge of a
Neglected palace-
Like orange blossoms in full bloom,
Or white-crested waves-
No matter how often
I sweep it away,
New flurries pile up.

Through countless ages
The imperial grace
Shall never end.
Blessed with his mercy-
As great as Mt. Tsukuba,
As dense as foliose hills-
The houses of all his people
Shall be prosperous.