life manoeuvres
in-between columns of green —
mountain rose
in-between columns of green —
mountain rose
Yamabuki adorn the mountains and riversides of Japan during spring. The size of coins and the colour of gold, their appearance led to an expression during the Edo period – yamabuki iro – the colour of gold and bribes.
Ide Tamagawa, a river near Kyoto, was renowned for costly flower-viewing excursions. Those who spent their time pursuing such activities were said to be “scattering gold coins as the yamabuki scatters golden petals.”
koma tomete nao mizu kahan yamabuki no
hana no tsuyu soo Ide no Tamagawa
hana no tsuyu soo Ide no Tamagawa
Pulling up my horse
after having passed the banks
I see the petals
of Yamabuki roses
in Ide’s Tamagawa
after having passed the banks
I see the petals
of Yamabuki roses
in Ide’s Tamagawa
Fujiwara no Shunzei 藤原俊成 (1114 – 1204)
