英語で味わう狂歌大田南畝-38 Enjoying Kyoka in English: Nanpo Ota-38

中湖康太

英語で味わう狂歌大田南畝-38
Enjoying Kyoka in English: Nanpo Ota-38

中の町(ﾁｮｳ)*　うゑ(ｴ)たる花の　かたは(ﾜ)らに　深山木(ﾐﾔﾏｷﾞ)などは　一本(ﾋﾄﾓﾄ)もなし　

大田南畝

In Nakanomachi, there is not even one deep mountain tree dowdy,
Around the cherry blossoms planted in the quarters gay.

Ohta Nampo

吉原中之町は吉原遊郭の中央通り
Nakanocho is the main street of Yashiwara gay quarters.

Translated by Kota Nakako

(注) 狂歌(きょうか)とは、風刺、皮肉、しゃれ、滑稽を盛り込んだ5-7-5-7-7形式の短歌。江戸時代後期(18世紀後半)に隆盛し、天明狂歌として黄金期を迎える。大田南畝(蜀山人ｼｮｸｻﾝｼﾞﾝ; 1749-1823)は、その代表的文人、狂歌師。

Note: Kyoka is satirical, ironical or comical short Japanese poem, derived from Tanka, composed of 31 syllables, with a pattern of 5-7-5-7-7 sounds. It flourished and marked a golden age in the late Edo period in the late 18th century as Tenmei Kyoka. Ota Nampo, Shokusanjin (1749-1823), is one of the leading Kyoka poets.

2024/01/02