Classic Ukiyo-e Woodprint
Former High Priest Jien (1155-1225)
Receiving not
The people of this floating world
A burden I carry...
Cut off from former times
My black sleeves, a cold shoulder.
Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
前大僧正慈円 | Saki no Daisojo Jien |
おほけなく | Ookenaku |
うき世の民に | Ukiyo no tami ni |
おほふかな | Oou kana |
わがたつそまに | Waga tatsu soma ni |
墨染の袖 | Sumizome no sode |
Literal Notes
Receive/catch not
[floating/merry/gossip/rumor/scandal/bad-reputation/rainy-season] [world/society/age] ’s [citizen/people/nation] to
[Chase/cover/hide/conceal/bear/drive/expel/carry-on-back] how!/alas!
[Me/I/harmony/peace] [stand/build/pass/elapse/sever/cut-off/abstain] [while/during/sparse-time/former-times]
Black-ink dye/color/stain/print ’s sleeve/give-someone-cold-shoulder
“Ukiyo” is a “floating world” or the merry, pleasure seeking urban life, but also has the connotation of being empty, seeking pleasures in a fleeting and transient life. Here, “uki” is written in the hiragana alphabet rather than in the kanji graphic character, leaving it open to other meanings, including scandal, bad reputation, and rainy season.
“Black sleeves” denotes the black garb of priests. He is referring to turning away from the meaningless, pleasure-seeking world of society and his former life and going on a more spiritual path.
Year:
2012
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