バレンタインデー St. Valentine's Day
ローマ時代のキリスト教殉教者ヴァレンチヌス（生没年未詳、２世紀頃のキリスト教の聖人）の祝日。２月14日がこれにあたり、この日には友人や恋人の間でカードを交換したり、贈物をする習慣がある。この習慣は古代ローマの豊穣祈願祭ルペルカリアと関連があると思われるが、ヴァレンチヌスとは元来無関係であった。ドイツでは運命の日。求愛の日とする国もあるが、彼とは無関係らしい。
──『ブリタニカ国際大百科事典』
Yukihira Ariwana was the Governor of the Province of Inaba, and half-brother of the writer of the nest verse; he died in the year 893, aged 75.
The word matsu in the original may mean ‘a pine tree’, but it may also men ‘waiting and longing for’. This is an instance of a ‘pivot-word’, imitated to certain extent in the translation, although in English we have to employ the word twice over, while it only appears once in the Japanese.
[The illustration shows the pine tree on the mountain, and the poet standing undrer it with two attendants.]
English: from "A Hundred Verses from Old Japan: a translation of the hyaku-nin-isshu" by William N. Porter (TUTTLE PUBLISHING, 1979, first edition 1909 by The Clarendon Press, London)
Ｊ…解説 explanation of the verse
同上
same as above
Ｋ…作者について about the poet
Sorry.
No English.
Some have description by Mr. William N. Porter in J section.
Kwoko was raised to the throne by the Fujiwara family, when the mad Emperor Yozei was deposed; he reigned A.D. 885-887, and is said to have composed this verse in honor of his grandmother.
Wakana, literally ‘young leaves’, is a vegetable in season at the New Year; a koromo is rally a priest’s garment, but is used here for the Emperor’s robe.
[In the picture we see the Emperor gathering the fresh green leaves, and the snow falling from the sky.]
English: from "A Hundred Verses from Old Japan: a translation of the hyaku-nin-isshu" by William N. Porter (TUTTLE PUBLISHING, 1979, first edition 1909 by The Clarendon Press, London)
Ｊ…解説 explanation of the verse
同上
same as above
Ｋ…作者について about the poet
Sorry.
No English.
Some have description by Mr. William N. Porter in J section.
The old capital of Kyoto was divided into right and left districts, and the above is only an official title; the poet’s name was Toru Minamoto, and he died in the year 949. At Michinoku, in the Province of Iwashiro, in old times a kind of Figured silk fabric as made, called moji-zuri, embroidered with and intricate pattern, which was formed by placing vine leaves on the material, and rubbing or beating them with a stone until the impression was left on the silk. There is a hill close by, called Mount Shinobu, and a small temple, called Shinobu Moji-zuri Kwannon. Shinobu can also mean ‘a vine’, ‘to love’, or to ‘conceal (my love)’. The meaning of this very involved verse appears to be, that his thoughts are as confused with love as the vine pattern on the embroidered fabric made at Mount Michinoku. [The picture seems to show the lady with whom the poet was in love.]
河原左大臣
かわらのさだいじん
THE MINISTER-OF-THE-LEFT OF THE KAWARA (DISTRICT OF KYOTO)
English: from "A Hundred Verses from Old Japan: a translation of the hyaku-nin-isshu" by William N. Porter (TUTTLE PUBLISHING, 1979, first edition 1909 by The Clarendon Press, London)
Ｊ…解説 explanation of the verse
同上
same as above
Ｋ…作者について about the poet
Sorry.
No English.
Some have description by Mr. William N. Porter in J section.
Risshun (the first day of spring) comes between Toji (the Winter Solstice) and Shunbun (the Vernal Equinox). Risshun arrives around Febrary 4 in the solar calendar. Setsubun is the day preceding Risshun. On Setsubun night, roasted soybeans are scattered both inside and outside the house with cries of, “Out with the demons, in with good fortune!” Afterward, people eat the same number of beans as their age. Setsubun bean throwing is also celebrated at large temples and shrines.
──『心にひびく日本のしきたり TIES WITH THE PAST; Japanese Customs, Traditions and Manners』酒井信彦・監修（講談社バイリンガル・ブックス／2011年）
