Sunday, January 3, 2021

Murasaki Shikibu's poem about the infant Crown Prince Atsuhira, uttered in fright on the spot at Michinaga's demand upon finding her and another lady hiding, date between 1008 and 1010

Sources:

The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu (Murasaki Shikibu Nikki), written from circa 1008 to 1010

Original version, edited by Hokiichi Hanawa:


Modernised edition, edited by Eiichi Shibuya:


English translation in Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan (1920), compiled and translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi



Above: Murasaki Shikibu in a portrait by Satake Eikai.

The poem:

いかにいかゝ數へやるへき八千歲の餘り久き君かみよをは

Romaji transliteration (in reconstructed Early Middle Japanese):

Ikani ikaga ka kadzu e yarubeki yatitose no amari hisasi ki kimi ka mi yo wo fa

In modernised spelling:

いかにいかがかぞへやるべき八千歳の   あまり久しき君が御代をば

Romaji transliteration:

Ikani ikaga kazu e yarubeki yachitose no amari hisashiki kimi ga mi yo o ba

English translation:

How can I number the years of the Prince!
One thousand, nay, eight thousand, may he live, and more.

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