The third and the fourth poem in Man'yoshu are well known. In general, it is said to be these poems which is presented to Great King Jomei by Hashihito Oyu at Ucti in Yamato. Therefor, these poems have a variety of interpretations as shown below, and have many questions.

Fig.1. the third and the fourth poem(Japanese)

3 and 4
Poem which Princess Nakatsu had Hashihito Oyu
present when the Emperor went hunting
on the fields of Uchi

Our Lord, sovereign
of the earth's eight corners,
in the morning
held and caressed
his catalpa bow.
In the evening
he stood beside it.
I can hear its golden tips resound.
Now he must be setting out
on his morning hunt.
Now he must be setting out
on his evening hunt.
I can hear the golden tips
of his catalpa bow resound.

Envoy

Lining his steeds
on the plain of Uchi,
he must be walking
over morning fields--
those fields so rank with glass!
(Translated Ian Hideo Levy)

 

[ I: 3-4 ]

Presented to the Emperor Jomei by a messenger, Hashibito Oyu, on the occasion of his hunting on the plain of Uchi. *1)

I HEAR the twang of the mid-string *2)
Of his royal birchwood *3) bow,
Which my Sovereign, ruling in peace,
Loves to handle at break of day,
And fondly leans against with dusk.
Now he must be out for his morning hunt,
Now he must be out for his evening chase;
I hear the twang of the mid-string
Of his loved birchwood bow!

Envoy

With horses drawn abreast
On the open waste of Uchi,
This morning he must be trampling
That grassy land!
(The Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai Translation of ONE THOUSAND POEMS )

*1) In Uchi District, Yamato Province.
*2) An alternative reading of the text is ' nagahazu' (long notches)
*3) Azusa, a kind of birch, chiefly used for making bows in ancient times.
Fig.2. the third and the fourth poem(all)

1) we have not yet understanding in its interpretations which are many trouble.

First, "ashita niwa, in the morning," is not reading so at other poems in Man'yoshu. This word of almost all poems is only reading to "tyotei,mikado niwa, Court for Emperor, " including itself. As "Court, " is only used to term for "Emperor" in East Asia. In no case should "Court, " referred to as being place for Great King. To date no process has been reported. *1)*

Second, the basic meaning of the Japanese word "iyori tatashishi, " is an expression of which the female too close-fitting circled in the male, or in what male has in Man'yoshu. Therefore, in the morning Great King Jomei may be played a role in male, and in the evening may be played a role in female. In no event should the interpretation be other poems in Man'yoshu.

Third, " Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto " is unspecified for the role and the historical person as reported to Fig.1. Naka(tsu) is only award to these poems.
But, this poem is all for the interpretation that Hashihito Oyu present to directly Great King Jomei. Naka is existence without the role, regardless of whether Naka is male or female. It was by no means other poems in Man'yoshu.

Fourth, the place name is unlimited. Only Uchi can be inferred in Yamato, it may or may not be true. Therefore, there is little chance of which the poem was composed in Yamato.

Not all conventional interpretations are understanding to these poem.

 

2) It is necessary for us to put new point of view provided that the conventional interpretations are not trust. The existence of the word for " Tyotei, Court for Emperor, " permits a subsequent understanding with us.

First, given to the existence of the Court for Emperor of this poem, this poem shows on the presence of both Great Emperor and Great King Jomei. Consequently, it is a problem what person is "The Great Deity of Nakatsu, Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto, ." This term of second word " Sumera, Sumerogi," means Great Emperorwhich govern in the world as to the highest existence in fact. This term of last word " Mikoto, " means Deity which commonly not used to revered for living individual. We propose that " Naka," is place name where he is born and grow up. "Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto " is the most revered name for living individual. " The Great Deity of Naka, Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto," is the other name of "Great Emperor, Koutei," as Sons of Heaven . "Emperor, Tennou," is the second greatest Emperor that one of many Great King controlled in a certain area is strong.

This interpretation is understanding for the fist phrase partly and first note in this poem. The Great Deity of Naka is accompanied by Great King Jomei.

 

Second, coming to an understanding for this term, on the other hand it is possible for us to understand "kisaki niwa, in Court for Empress," with a pair word for flattering express.
By the Chinese character for the Japanese term of Tyotei, pronounced of Mikado niwa, would means in court for Emperor, the Chinese character for the Japanese term of Yutei, pronounced of kisaki niwa, can means in Court for Empress. Emperor and Empress usually get on well together.

Partly Poem & Forward
This poem had the Great Deity of Nakatsu presented poems by Hashihito Oyu. Nakatsu went hunting on the fields from Uchino to Ono with Great King Jomei.

Yasumishishi wago ohokimi no
Mikado niwa torinade tamahi
Kisaki niwa iyori tatashishi

Our Lord, sovereign of the earth's eight corners,
Our Lord for Emperor in court.
Emperor held and caressed his catalpa bow.
Empress stood beside him in court.

This in one of the most advanced interpretation that have ever been available.

Fig.3. Chikushi & Dazaifu Map
3) the presence of four place name, specially for "Naka, ," favor to understand where this poem was composed at Dazaifu in Kyushu.

First, there are the presence of corresponding to three place name, Ohno, Mashiki, and Uchinoby closing Dazaifu as hunting fields.
(At present, it is a unit with Distinct of Thikuho .)
Second, given to understanding of a place mame specially for "Naka, ," allow us to recognize to this poem.
The term, pronounced Naka, refer to as the place name where he was born and grow up, interpreted as either "center," and "caress, ." One of Chinese character for the Japanese term " Naka, " literally mean to center. And, one another Chinese character for the Japanese term " Naka, " literally mean to caress. The concept of Naka can also be observed with Naka-hazu . *2)* The Japanese term of Naka-hazu refer to as bow with end notches by made in Naka. It should be noted that the twang of string resounds to boast of ruling in peace and caressing from center of Dazaifu with Court to eight corner.

Partly Naka-hazu poem
I can hear the twang of string with end notches made in Naka
Now he must be setting out
on his morning hunt.
Now he must be setting out
on his evening hunt.
I can hear the twang of string with end notches made in Naka

It is a change drastically in the mean of this poems.

Fig.4. Hunting fields

(Distinct of Chikuho)

Fig.5. Dazaifu & Naka

4) By present to the Great Emperor as Sons of Heaven in this poem, it is apparent to an existence of Kyushu Dynasty before Yamato Dynasty at Dazaifu.

This approach has three advantages:
1. It is a presence of old place name which there are Dairi , Dairi-oka, Shishinden, and Suzakumon in Dazaifu city.
Dairi that written Chinese characters literally means in Court for the Empress. Dairi-oka that written Chinese characters literally means Dairi-hill. Shishinden that written Chinese characters literally means in Court for the Emperor. Suzakumon that written Chinese characters literally means South Front Gate for formula.
Therefore, Totokufu that written Chinese characters literally means Headquarters. Dazaifu itself is expressed to capital city that written Chinese characters literally means Government-General Headquarters.
Their value lie in the fact to what is old place name itself. The presence of old place name at Dazaifu is responsible for the existence of Kyushu Dynasty.

2. By the Chinese record with old T'ang History, Japan islands was presented of two different state, Wa and Nippon. And by the Chinese record for Sui shu, a person of Ama Tarishihoko took the same official name as the Chinese Emperor on Sons of Heaven A.D.600. According to the Sui shu, once a diplomatic mission from the Sui dynasty reached the capital city. And in this record, the location of the capital city is evaluated from being in Chikushi. 3) By decisive of evidence to the capital city being Chikushi, a diplomatic mission observed an activtic erupting volcano of named Mt. Aso in Kyushu.
By report on two Chinese records, it showed that it is the existence of Kyushu dynasty before seven entry. The presence of old place name in Dazaifu result in a existence of capital city in Kyushu dynasty.

3. By reasoning rightly described in the preceding paragraphs, it would be best accommodated to archaeological technologies by both the Dendro chronology and the Radiocarbon dating .
For example, the measuring at a carbon-14 dating did indicated in the rang to A.D.400-A.D.460 to be a piece of wooden groove found of a moat in Mizuki for defence of Dazaifu. Also, the measuring at a carbon-14 dating did indicated in the range of A.D.540-A.D.640 and A.D.590-A.D.650 with a part of embankment at Kaneda Fortress with beacon-fire in Tsushima. Similarly, the measuring at a carbon-14 dating did indicated in the range of A.D.385-A.D.475, A.D.465-A.D.555, A.D.515-A.D.605A, and A.D.565-A.D.655 to be pieces of wooden groove found of a moat at Korokan with build in for a diplomat mission at beach in Hakata Bay. While the Radiocarbon dating is not sophisticated as Dendro chronology, almost all of these value for the age of build in of these structure shifted before the Battle of Hakusonko.
Evidently, a archaeological Age of pottery recently has been shifted a hundred years by Dendrochronology. For example, the Yayoi Middle Period can be shifted from A.D.100-100B.C. to A.D.1-200B.C. Similarly, Gunga period of ruins with eighth century has been shifted before the sixth and seventh century.
As shown above, it is become clear that Mizuki had constructed at before the sixth century for defence of Dazaifu. Similarly, it is provide evidence that the build in date of beacon-fires placed in the island of Tsushima and Iki is certainly the sixth century before the Battle of Hakusonko.
These analyses are good agreement the existence of Kyushu Dynasty, imply that this interpretation proposed above is reasonable.
By these measuring, there is no reason to suppose that the description of Chronicles of Japan is correct. Obviously as the event of be defeated after a battle of Hakusonko, while T'ang's occupation force is in Chikushi in Kyushu, it is out of date to build in Mizuki (Water Fortress) against invasion from T'ang.

5) Similarly as other poems, the interpretation of this poem allows us to make clear as follows.

1. The interpretation of a poem is made at poem itself, because the poem itself has the first form of a writing.
2. "Tyusyaku, notes of the poem" is not the first form of a writing, has in a suggestion of "interpretation of when make up a book by the author."
We recommend that this poem was composed for the period of Great King Jomei (A.D 593-641).

The interpretation of these poems hereby can provide insight into the existence of Kyushu Dynasty before Yamato Dynasty.

Fig.6. the third and the fourth poem (final)

3 and 4
Poem which the Great Deity of Nakatsu let Hashihito Oyu present he went hunting on the fields from Uchino to Ono with Great King Jomei

Our Lord, sovereign of the earth's eight corners,
Our Lord for Emperor in court.
Emperor held and caressed his catalpa bow.
Empress stood beside it in court.
I can hear the twang of string with end notches by made in Naka
Now he must be setting out
on his morning hunt.
Now he must be setting out
on his evening hunt.
I can hear the twang of string with end notches by made in Naka

Envoy
On the plain of Uchino,
Lining his steeds at Mashiki
he must be walking to Ono
over morning fields--
those fields so rank with glass!
(Translated Yukio Yokota)
---------------------------------------------------
*1) * A detailed description of the term of "tyotei, mikado niwa, Court for Emperor, " was given in Tokyo Furuta-kai News( No.72, 2000.3, Japanese).

*2)* There is a interpretation with making a change from Naka-hazu to kana-hazu. However, this method is falsified. In fact, all of old hand-written copies are written Naka-hazu.

*3) * There are the double capitals or five capitals in seventh century for East Asia. One of these capitals is Dazaifu in Kyushu Dynasty. I have let this age over some years. But recently, I have get an answer something.

(Translated Yukio Yokota)


Work Cites


Man'yoshu
Ian Hideo Levy,
A translation of Japan's premier anthology of classical poetry

University of Tokyo Press
Princeton University Press

Volume one

P38

BOOK ONE
3 and 4

Poem which Princess Nakatsu had Hashihito Oyu
present when the Emperor went hunting
on the fields of Uchi

Our Lord, sovereign
of the earth's eight corners,
in the morning
held and caressed
his catalpa bow.
In the evening
he stood beside it
I can hear its golden tips resound.
Now he must be setting out
on his morning hunt.
Now he must be setting out
on his evening hunt.
I can hear the golden tips
of his catalpa bow resound.

Envoy

Lining his steeds
on the plain of Uchi,
he must be walking
over morning fields--
those fields so rank with glass!

--------------------------------------
THE MAN'YOSHU
The Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai Translation of
ONE THOUSAND POEMS
With a Foreword by Donald Keene
Columbia University Press
New York

P3

4-5

Presented to the Emperor Jomei by a messenger, Hashibito Oyu, on the occasion of his hunting on the plain of Uchi. *1)

I HEAR the twang of the mid-string *2)
Of his royal birchwood*3) bow,
Which my Sovereign, ruling in peace,
Loves to handle at break of day,
And fondly leans against with dusk.
Now he must be out for his morning hunt,
Now he must be out for his evening chase;
I hear the twang of the mid-string
Of his loved birchwood bow!

Envoy

With horses drawn abreast
On the open waste of Uchi,
This morning he must be trampling
That grassy land!

*1) In Uchi District, Yamato Province.
*2) An alternative reading of the text is ' nagahazu' (long notches)
*3) Azusa, a kind of birch, chiefly used for making bows in ancient times.

------------------------------------------
NIHONGI
Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL CHINESE AND JAPANESE
BY W.G. ASTON,

CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY
Rut land, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

BOOK XXVII.
THE EMPEROR AME MIKOTO HIRAKASU WAKE
(TENCHI TENNO.)

TENCHI
XXVII. 10.
A.D.664.
...
...
P283
In this year guards and beacon-fires were placed in the island of Tsushima and Iki and in the Land of Tsukushi.
Moreover in Tsukushi a great embankment was constructed, and water collected. This was called a minoki or water castle.

TENCHI
XXVII. 11.
A.D.665.
...
...
P283
Autumn, 8th month. The Talsol, Tap Pon-chhyun, was sent build a castle in the province of Nagato.
The Talsol, Ong-nyo Pong-nyu and the Talsol, Sa-pi Pok-pu, were send to the Land of Tsukushi, where they built the two castles of Ohono and Woyogi.

TENCHI
XXVII. 22.
A.D.669.
...
...
P292
Moreover, Great Thang sent Kuo Ya-ts' ung and others, more than 2000 men.

TENCHI
XXVII. 28-29.
A.D.671.
...
...
P297-298
11th month, 10th day. The Governor of the province of Tsushima send a messenger to the Viceroy of Tsukushi, saying: " On the day after the moon's birth these four persons, viz., the Buddhist priest Doku, Satsuyama, Tsukushi no Kimi, Sasa, Karashima no Suguri, ad Iha, Nunoshi no Obito, arrived from Thang and reported that the Thang Envoys, Kuo Ya-ts' ung and his suite, numbering 600 persons, escorting Sa-thek Son-teung and his companions, who numbered 1400 persons, the total number being 2000, had embarked in forty-seven ships which came to an anchor together at the island of Hijishima, where they said to one another: - ' The ships of our people are numerous, and if they suddenly arrived thither, engage us in a battle of archery. ' So they have sent on Dobun and others to given some notice in advance of their intention of proceeding to the court.

------------------------------------------------------------
The Cambridge History of Japan
Volume 1 Ancient Japan
Cambridge University Press 1993
Printed in the United States of America

THE CENTRAL OF REFORM
P164

The Sui empire
After the collapse of the Western Chin in A.D. 317, north China was overrun by non-Chinese people and torn by internal strife. For the next 250 year or more, the country was divided by a succession of regional states and kingdoms. Then in 578 a Northern Chou emperor united most of north China, and in 581 a well-connected Northern Chou general ( the famous Yang Chien who is known as Emperor Wen-ti) founded the Sui dynasty. In 589 he conquered the powerful Southern Court of Ch'en and brought the whole of China under on rule. The rise of the new empire was followed by the reestablishment of tributary relation ships with neighboring states and kingdoms throughout most of Asia. Visitors from such foreign lands as Japan were impressed by China's massive building projects, which included a walled palace-city about six miles long and five miles wide and an empirewide canal system. The foreigner's attention was also drawn to other achievement: a complex and effective bureaucracy that reached local communities in distant regions, an extensive revenue system, a huge military organization, and detailed conditions of law. Foreign observers interested in state building could also see that China's imperial rule had been reinforced by a ideology in which Confucian rites honored its emperors as Sons of Heaven. Confucian ethics valued obedience to heads of state, Buddhist texts, depicted rulers as agents law, and Taoist teaching added legitimacy to imperial control. *1

*1) Arthur F. Wright, " The Sui Dynasty, 581-617." in Denis Twitchett, ed., Sui ad T'ang China, 589-906, Part 1, vol. 3 of The Cambridge History of China ( Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,1979), pp.148-9.


to Source Document This Document mixed Japanese.

Back to Home Page


We want several opinions for it, please send E-mail to Yukio Yokota.
E-mail sinkodai@furutasigaku.jp


Created & Maintaince by" Yukio Yokota"