Hana no En
花の宴
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Ishizuka Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| ‘Hana no en’ was composed by Ishizuka Kengyo, a student of Yasumura Kengyo (d. 1779). This song cycle is based on a chapter of the same title, ‘The Festival of the Cherry Blossoms’ (Hana no en), from ‘The Tale of Genji.’ The six song-texts are based on three episodes when prince Genji was twenty years old; the festival of the cherry blossoms in the Grand Hall, held in the Second Month; the wisteria banquet given at the mansion of the Minister of the Right in the Third Month; and an amorous adventure Genji has with Oborozukiyo (‘Lady of a Misty Spring Moon’), and imperial palace attendant and a younger sister of Kokiden who later causes Genji’s exile to Suma. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Spring after spring The cherry blossoms Of the Grand Hall Increase in beauty. Even the heavenly wind Cannot compete With the clouds of blossoms Here in the palace. When the prince dances With a sprig of blossoms In his cap, The sheen Of his purple sleeves Reflects the color Of the setting sun Over Mt. Ouchi In the evening Through a faint mist- Who is playing On strings and pipes? To a man Full of love Even music made for another Stirs the heart. From the Plum Court Float a fragrance Carried by the breeze. Does it slip Through the bamboo blind, Or come from the blossoms Of the plum In the evening dark? Who are they Standing in the shadow Of the gallery At the Kokiden Pavilion? Lady Oborozukiyo, Head of the maids of honor, And the Shining Genji, Captain of the Palace Guards. Now more than ever- ‘Late at night We discover our fate, The bond between us Is not misty Like the setting moon.’ I know How deep is our bond. | Ikuharu mo koko ni nao mihashi no sakura iro masari kumoi no hana wa hisakata no sora fuku kaze mo oyobaji Kumo no uebito kazashi shite iro wo arasoo murasaki no sode no kaori wa uchihayuru oouchiyama no yuuzukuhi Yuugure no usugasumi taga narasu itotake omoi amaru mi niwa tada yoso no shirabe mo natsukashi Umetsubo no atari yori kosu no hima ni morekuru kaze no kaori wa yoi no ma no yami wa itodo ayanashi Kookiden no hosodono ni tatazumu wa taredare oborozukiyo no naishi-no-kami hikaru genji no taishoo Itodo nao fukaki yo no aware wo shiru mo iru tsuki no oboroge naranu chigiri koso ima mi ni omoi shirarure |
Hana no En appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 3 |
Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko |