Comments on: Updated: Culture Day in Japan http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/11/03/culture-day-in-japan/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug M http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/11/03/culture-day-in-japan/#comment-4764 Doug M Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:13:35 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=9501#comment-4764 Ha ha ha, I was way off! :-) If you don't mind I'll update the blog accordingly to avoid further confusion (and give credit where due of course!). Thanks very much for the help. Much appreciated. I was surprised to see no English translations available for such a famous place so the efforts are certainly appreciated. :-) Ha ha ha, I was way off! :-)

If you don’t mind I’ll update the blog accordingly to avoid further confusion (and give credit where due of course!). Thanks very much for the help. Much appreciated. I was surprised to see no English translations available for such a famous place so the efforts are certainly appreciated. :-)

]]> By: A-Joe http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/11/03/culture-day-in-japan/#comment-4762 A-Joe Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:47:21 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=9501#comment-4762 Literal translations: Chihayafuru Kami no oshie wo Uketsugite Hito no kokoro zo Tadashikarikeru Passing on the teachings of the gods Corrects the minds of men. Mikagazuba Tama mo Kagami mo Nanika semu Manabi no michi mo Kaku koso arikere Without polishing, will the jewel or mirror be of use? The path of learning is no different from that. Literal translations:

Chihayafuru
Kami no oshie wo
Uketsugite
Hito no kokoro zo
Tadashikarikeru

Passing on the teachings of the gods
Corrects the minds of men.

Mikagazuba
Tama mo Kagami mo
Nanika semu
Manabi no michi mo
Kaku koso arikere

Without polishing, will the jewel or mirror be of use?
The path of learning is no different from that.

]]> By: Doug M http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/11/03/culture-day-in-japan/#comment-4749 Doug M Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:20:51 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=9501#comment-4749 Thanks very much, John! It's also quite possible I picked the <em>wrong</em> translation to match the poem. It was an educated guess, but still just a guess. :p Thanks very much, John! It’s also quite possible I picked the wrong translation to match the poem. It was an educated guess, but still just a guess. :p

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/11/03/culture-day-in-japan/#comment-4748 johnl Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:34:05 +0000 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/?p=9501#comment-4748 玉 も鏡も磨かなければ何にもならない 勉強もそういうもの I googled the Empress's poem and found this 'translation' into more ordinary Japanese. It is a bit easier to understand. This could be: 'A jewel or a mirror, if you don't polish them, are nothing. Studying is the same.' The meaning is pretty clear, but my very literal translation doesn't have any of the 'majesty' of 'their majesties'' poems. 玉 も鏡も磨かなければ何にもならない 勉強もそういうもの
I googled the Empress’s poem and found this ‘translation’ into more ordinary Japanese. It is a bit easier to understand. This could be: ‘A jewel or a mirror, if you don’t polish them, are nothing. Studying is the same.’ The meaning is pretty clear, but my very literal translation doesn’t have any of the ‘majesty’ of ‘their majesties” poems.

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