Manyộshiu (Early Japanese Verse)
This reading from the ancient Japanese anthology, Manyộshiu is an excellent representation of early
Japanese verse. The Manyộshiu, written in 759 A.D., includes stirring narrative, dramatic, and short
lyrical poems which scholars believe were originally written as part of the pre-Buddhist or early Shinto
ceremonial rituals. Poets and their work were revered in ancient Japan and the composition was
undertaken people on all levels of Japanese society. It was believed to play a very important role in
the human experience and was a thing to be cultivated.
Book I, Part I
By the Sovran at his palace of Asákura in Hátsuse whence he ruleth all the land.
O maiden bearing thy little basket,
O fine thy basket—
O maiden bearing
Thy bamboo truel,
O fine thy truel,
Maiden wandering
Upon the knoll-side
Gathering
Wild herbs for sallets—
o’er wide Yamato,
Land of shining mountains,
True lord am I Sovran,
allwhere are men
to me obeisant,
men everywhere
to my will bow them,
wherefore thou’lt husband
call me,
and name and homeplace
tell me.
During the Residence at Wokamoto in Takechi.
2
A Royal Lay upon a View of the Land from Mount Kagu.
Land of Yamato!
Among its hills unnumber’d
Doth Amakagu
Stand forth in perfect beauty—
The high brow climbing
I look forth all the land o’er,
The champaign showeth
Allwhere the smoke upcurling
From a thousand cabins,
Allwhere the seaplain showeth
Flight upon flight
Of busy sea-gulls rising—
O land to love,
Fair land of rich ripe ears,
Yamato, fertile, fruitful!
3
On the occasion of a Royal Hunt on the moor of
Uchi the Princess Nakachi offereth the Sovran this Lay, invited at her request by Hashihito no Murazhi
Oyu.
My Lord and Sovran,
In peace and power who ruleth,
When daybreak showeth
In his trusty bow delighteth,
When dusk is falling
With heed aside he setteth,
And ever yon bow-end,
Bow-end of bow of white-wood
My Sovran loveth,
Full loudly it resoundeth,
For hunt at daybreak
Ay maketh he him ready,
For hunt at even
Still maketh he him ready,
And ever yon bow-end
Of the whitewood bow he loveth—
It echoeth full loudly.
_______
On Utsu’s moorland
(the days of life are number’d)
the horsefolk gather,
and men shall beat the jungle
and rouse the game there crouching
Analysis Questions
1. What does the first selection tell about the nature of Sovran’s rule over the men and women of
his land?
2. How do these selections help us understand how Japanese society viewed its relationship with
nature?