My Translation
By Lady Ise no Osuke (~ 989-1060)
From the ancient
Capital of Nara—
The scent of
An eight-fold cherry tree
Arises in our Nine-Fold Palace
| Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
| | |
| 伊勢大輔 | Ise no Osuke |
| | |
| いにしへの | Inishie no |
| 奈良の都の | Nara no miyako no |
| 八重桜 | Yae-zakura |
| 今日九重に | Kyou kokonoe ni |
| 匂ひぬるかな | Nioi nuru kana |
Literal Notes
Antiquity/ancient time ’s
Nara ’s metropolitan/capital ’s
Eight-fold cherry tree
Today [ninefold/imperial palace]
[Odor/scent/smacks of] [arises/ends up] how!/alas!
The Emperor ordered this poem written to commemorate a gift of eight-fold cherry trees from Nara. Nara was the former capital of Japan, which moved to Kyoto. The Imperial Palace was called the nine-fold palace because of its nine walls.
Year:
2012
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