{"collection":"shi","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/shi/msj/msj19.htm","path":"shi/msj/msj19.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/shi/msj/msj19.htm","text":"The Master-Singers of Japan, by Clara A. Walsh, [1914]\n(c. 1190-1332)\nAuthor Unknown\nAfter the battle (naval) of Daimoura, A.D. 1185, between the Gen or Minamoto clan, under Yoshitsune, brother of the Shogun Yoritomo, and the Hei-Teira faction, the Mikado Antoku's nurse, on seeing the utter defeat of the Hei, took him, then a boy of eight, in her arms, and plunged with him into the sea, to avoid capture by the victorious Minamoto.\nNote.\u2014For the following, and for \"The Bamboo Flute,\" I am indebted to prose versions in W. G. Aston's \"Japanese Literature.\"\nThen Niidono, the Mikado's nurse,\n Seeing the hopeless fortunes of her Lord,\n Flung o\u2019er her head a sombre-coloured robe,\n Under her arm placing the sacred seal\n And on her thigh girding the sacred sword.\n Then to her breast she clasped the child, and cried,\n \"Though but a feeble woman, yet no foe\n Lays sullying hands on me! nor on my King!\"\n And calmly on the ship's side placed her foot.\nFair was his face, the Sov\u2019reign whom she held;\n Eight lovely springs above his head had passed,\n His black locks clustered loosely on his neck,\n And in his eyes there dawned a faint surprise.\n\"Whither wouldst take me, Amaz\u00e9?\" he cried.\n Weeping, she turned and thus addressed the child:\n \"Dost thou not know, my Lord, that thou wert born\n Ruler of full ten thousand chariots,\n Since in thy previous life the Way was kept?\n But now, the wheel of Fate turns back again,\n And evil triumphs; thy good Fortune fails.\n Turn thy august face, first towards the East,\n Greeting the Shrine of Is\u00e9 in farewell;\n Then to the West, and call upon the Name\n Buddha, the Lord of Light, All-Merciful,\n Whose messengers will meet thee, as we cross\n Into the blessed Regions of the West!\"\nThen the child tied to the Imperial robe,\n Glowing with colours of the mountain dove,\n His shining top-knot, tearfully he joined\n His little lovely hands in simple prayer;\n To Is\u00e9's shrine he turned, and Hachiman's,\n Then to the West, calling on Buddha's Name.\n Niidono then took him in her arms\n And murmuring, \"Beneath the waves there lies\n Pure Land of Perfect Happiness,\" she sprang\n From off the side, and sank in fathoms deep!\n Alas! how pitiful! the winds of Spring\n Scattered the beautiful, the flowery form!\n Billows of severance remorseless roll\n Above that gem of priceless sovereignty.\n(Born A.D. 1203; died 1219)\nSon of the founder of the Shogunate, Yoritomo, of the House of Minamoto. He was assassinated at an early age, descending the steps of a temple, where he had been to return thanks for an additional title conferred on him by the Mikado. His assassin was High Priest of the Temple, and his nephew.\nBy the Shogun Sanetomo\nThough the high mountains should be rent apart,\n Though dry the depths where now the deep seas roar,\n Yet to my Lord I'll bear no double heart,\n Still to my Prince be true for evermore!\n(Written by the Shogun Sanetomo on leaving his Palace, previous to his Assassination)\nIf, issuing hence, I leave my dwelling-place\n Untenanted\u2014and coming days should bring\n Its Lord no more, nor well-remembered face\n Look on its halls, nor echoing footsteps ring\u2014\n Yet thou, loved Plum-tree, shadowing these eaves,\n With boughs whose network fragile tracery weaves,\n Forget not thou the Coming of the Spring!\nA nobleman of the thirteenth century, who compiled the \"Hyaku-nin-Tsshu,\" a collection of the ancient poems of Japan, which contains Tanks, from the seventh to the thirteenth centuries. Compiled about A.D. 1235\nBy Teika\nLonely and desolate\n Stretches the coast line.\n Here and there thatched roofs\n Of fishermen's dwellings.\n Cold gleam the waters.\n Nor soft hue of blossom,\n Nor rich glow of maples,\n To brighten the sadness\u2014\n But twilight autumnal!\nBy Chiyo *\n(Written after the Death of her little Son)\nHow far, I wonder, did he stray,\n Chasing the burnished dragon-fly to-day?\nBy Chiyo\nAll things that seem to be\n But in one mind exist\n And have their being.\nAll round the rope a morning glory clings;\n How can I break its beauty's dainty spell?\n I beg for water from a neighbour's well,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Though all is still,\n Nor one faint breath from icy mountains blown,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet bitter chill\n The night, since thou art gone, and I alone!\nPitiful echoes the wailing,\n Feeble wailing of infant,\n Lonely and sad, and uncared for; p. 101\n But at the stillness of midnight\n Suddenly ceases its crying.\n Dream-like the dead mother passes\n Swift to the side of her babe,\n Bends o\u2019er it, holding it safely,\n Suckles it, murmuring softly\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whispers of mother-love.\n99:* Chiyo was a famous woman Hokku-writer of Kaga.","title":"The Master-Singers of Japan: XVIII.","type":"page"}