Shin Nanakusa
新七草
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [School] | Yamada Ryū - 山田 |
| [Composed] | Yamato Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| This lovely song was composed by Yamato Kengyo, the leading disciple of Yamada Kengyo. The text appears in the second edition of Azumakoto-uta, published in 1824. The 'ancient poet' referred to is Yamanoe no Okura (660?-733?), a celebrated poet whose verses have been preserved in the Man'yoshu. The title Shin-nanakusa ('New Seven Autumn Flowers') means a new set of 'Seven Wild Flowers' (nankusa), different from Okura's 'Seven Flowers' which are universally known in Japan. (See Aki no nanakusa). |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| A certain ancient poet Looking over an autumn field Once selected The seven best wild flowers. But no less beautiful In hue and fragrance Is the white dandy flower (1) Which, in the presence Of wild moonlit chrysanthemums (2), Makes a vow Of eternal love To a gentian (3), Whose blossoms last the longest. The graceful aster (4) Bends in the breeze Toward the bell flower (5). 'In the future I, too, will be as light-spirited As pampas grass (6),' Says the bashful brunette (7). Truly a sight. To make love bloom In the hearts Of lovers: The seven flowers of autumn. (1) Otokoeshi or patrinia villosa. (2) Nogiku. (3) Rindo or gentiaea scabra. (4) Shion. (5) Kichiko or kikyo. (6) Karukaya or anthistiria arguens. (7) Waremoko. | (maebiki) Inishie no yoshi aru hito no aki no no ni kazoeshi hana no iroka nimo izure otoranu otokoeshi sakari hisashiki rindoo no tsuki no nogiku no chiyo kakete chigiru enishi wa kichikoo ni (ai) nabiku shion no yasasugata nochi wa kokoro mo karukaya to ware kara hazuru waremokoo yomu hanakazu mo yotsu to mitsu mutsumashi-doshi no uchitsurete miru koso hito no hana nareya |