花時 / the time of cherry blossoms


花時を過ぎて再び此岸かな
the time of cherry blossoms
has passed,
life resumes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

歳時記の言葉vol.12 "木下闇" / The seasonal words in Japanese Haiku vol.12 "koshita yami"

"木下闇"は直訳すると"darkness under trees"となる、夏を表現する季語です。 夏の日本では、木々の茂みが濃くなり、その下に、昼間でも微かに暗い空間ができるものです。その闇は影でできるもので、漆黒の闇とは異なります。明るいところから森に足を踏み入れると、視界が暗くなるものです。"木下闇"はその暗さ自体と同様に、明るいところとの感覚の違いも表します。芭蕉以前の古来から伝わる言葉です。 The seasonal word "koshita yami" can be translated literally as "darkness under trees", and expresses summer. During the Japanese summer, clumps of trees grow thickly, and form slightly darker spaces under them even in the daytime. The darkness is a shadowy darkness, and differs from pitch-darkness. When we set foot in a forest from a light place, our sight dims the lights. "Koshita yami" refers to the darkness itself and the difference in feeling as well. The word has its origin in ancient times before Basho.
Read more

歳時記の言葉vol.10 "衣更" / The seasonal words in Japanese Haiku vol.10 "koromogae"

衣更は季節に応じて衣服を変えることを指し、初夏を表す季語です。 往時の日本では、陰暦四月と十月の最初の日に、人々は衣装ダンスを入れ替えたものでしたが、それは宮中行事が起源でした。今でも多くの人がその伝統を継承していますが、かつてほど厳格に行われてはいません。現代では、おおむね五月中に衣装ダンスを冬物衣類から夏物に入れ替え、それを衣替と呼んでいて、人の衣類も気持ちも軽くさせてくれます。この時分が、日本では一年を通して最も過ごしやすいかもしれません。 The seasonal word "koromogae" refers to "the seasonal change of clothing", and denotes a early summer.  In ancient times of Japan, on the 1st day of the fourth and the tenth lunar months, people changed their wardrobes. It was originally an event of the Imperial Court. While many people continue with the tradition still now, it is not so strict as it used to be once. In these days, we change our wardrobe from winter wear to summer one in May on the whole, and we call it "koromogae". It makes our clothes and feelings lighter. These days might be the most delightful season in this country in the whole year.
Read more

歳時記の言葉vol7. 薄暑 / The seasonal words in Japanese Haiku vol.7 "Hakusho"

薄暑はやや熱い陽気を表し、季語の一つです。初夏を表現します。 この季節、私たちは少し汗ばむ陽気になり、肌に触れる風が心地よいものです。その上、目には豊かな新緑が目に入ります。そうした日々が雨季がやって来るまで続きます。雨季は6月の後半に始まり、7月中に終えます。日本語で"ツユ"（梅雨）と呼ばれ、とても多湿になります。ですから薄暑の季節はそう長くは続かず終えます。梅雨が到来すると、この心地よい時節を惜しむものです。また、"梅雨"自体も季語の一つです。 / "Hakusho" refers to "weather that's a little bit hot" and is a seasonal word. It expresses the early summer.  In this season, the weather becomes hot enough to make us perspire, and the wind makes our skin feel pleasant. Moreover, we can see a wealth of new green. The days continue until the rainy season comes. The rainy season starts from the second half of June, and ends in July. It's called "tsuyu" in Japanese, and has very high humidity. So, the "hakusho" season lasts for just a brief period of time. We miss this comfortable season when "tsuyu" starts, and "tsuyu" itself is a seasonal word too. 
Read more