'Ogura Hyakunin Isshu' Summary

Poem No. 1

A poem by Emperor Tenji about the hardships of farmers. Teika chose this poem from the Gosen Wakashū:

秋の田のかりほの庵の苫をあらみ

     わが衣手は露にぬれつつ

aki no ta no kariho no io no toma o arami

waga koromode wa tsuyu ni nuretsutsu

In autumn paddies under the temporary dwelling made of rushes, my sleeves are wet with the dew.

(Gosen Wakashū 6:302)

Poem number 2

A visually-descriptive poem attributed to Empress Jitō. Teika chose this poem from the Shin Kokin Wakashū:

春過ぎて夏来にけらし白妙の

     衣干すてふ天の香具山

haru sugite natsu kinikerashi shirotae no

koromo hosu chō Ama no Kaguyama

Spring has passed, and the white robes of summer are being aired on fragrant Mount Kagu—beloved of the gods.

(Shin Kokin Wakashū 3:175)

The original was likely based from a poem of the Man'yōshū (book 1, poem 28) by the same poet.

Poem number 26

A quite different poem is attributed to Sadaijin Fujiwara no Tadahira in the context of a very specific incident. After abdicating, former Emperor Uda visited Mount Ogura in Yamashiro Province. He was so greatly impressed by the beauty of autumn colours of the maples that he ordered Fujiwara no Tadahira to encourage Uda's son and heir, Emperor Daigo, to visit the same area.

Prince Tenshin or Teishin (貞信公, Teishin-kō) was Tadahira's posthumous name, and this is the name used in William Porter's translation of the poem which observes that "[t]he maples of Mount Ogura / If they could understand / Would keep their brilliant leaves / until [t]he Ruler of this land / Pass with his Royal band." The accompanying 18th century illustration shows a person of consequence riding an ox in a procession with attendants on foot. The group is passing through an area of maple leaves.

Teika chose this poem from the Shūi Wakashū for the hundred poems collection:

小倉山峰のもみぢ葉心あらば

     今ひとたびの行幸またなむ

Ogura-yama mine no momijiba kokoro araba

ima hitotabi no miyuki matanan

Maple leaves on Ogura mountain: if you had a heart, I would have you wait for one more royal visit!

(Shūi Wakashū 17:1128)