Ah, summer

The family and I have been enjoying a nice summer this year, and I wanted to share this little poem from the old Japanese anthology, the Hyakunin Isshu, that I thought was fitting. This is #2 in the anthology, written by Empress Jitō :

春すぎて haru sugite
夏来にけらし natsu ki ni kerashi
白妙の shirotae no
衣ほすてふ komoro hosu chō
天の香具山 ama no kaguyama

The translation, according to this site is:

Spring has passed, it seems,
And now summer has arrived;
For this, they say, is when
Robes of pure white are aired
On heavenly Mount Kagu.

The mountain of Kaguyama (香具山） is one of three sacred mountains in ancient times in Nara Prefecture (then Yamato Province) that exists southeast of the short-lived capitol of Fujiwara-kyō (late 8th – early 9th century), and this was the time when the Empress composed the poem. According to my Chibi Marukochan book, the other two mountains in this group are 耳成山 (mimi-nashi-yama) and 畝傍山 (unebi-yama). According to ancient legends, Kaguyama Mountain actually descended from heaven, and in the Manyoshō, from this mountain, the Emperor could view the entire kingdom. Actually, it’s not really a large mountain, but as it’s situated in the Nara valley area, it seems to stand tall by comparison.

The image of pure white robes are drying in the summer breeze on a venerable mountain is very refreshing and enjoyable, even if the weather is cloudy where you love. Hope you enjoy.

P.S. For all you JLPT students in the States, online registration for the test began yesterday!

P.P.S. Off-topic post, but I wanted to post sooner than later.