Taiki: Kôji 2 {1143} 1.14 Entry

康治二年正月十四日条
Translated by Niels van der Salm, Tatyana Kostochka, Yoshiko Kainuma, and Sachiko Kawai

Kōji 2 1.14 Entry Fourteenth day. Mizunoe tora ¹ . At the Hour of the Rooster , the Royal Secretary and Junior Controller of the Left ² Minamoto no Moroyoshi ³ came. His message was conveyed to me: “This is about dismissing (Minamoto no) Narimasa ⁴ from his posts. First, I went to see the Minister of the Left [Minamoto no Arihito] ⁵ , but he had left for Ninnaji ⁶ , so I came to you ⁷ .” Quickly, I got dressed with a cap and dress cloak and met with him [Minamoto no Moroyoshi]. He said: On the twelfth day [two days ago], in the guard post at Toba Detached Palace, Lieutenant ⁸ {and provincial Governor of Owari} Sir ⁹ Narimasa had a row with former provincial Governor of Yamashiro {Fujiwara no} Yorisuke ¹⁰ . Narimasa drew his sword and sliced up Yorisuke’s face. Not only is it no insignificant crime, but there has never yet been anyone at or above the fifth rank to have injured someone with a blade. Narimasa must be quickly dismissed. I gave my approval. Moroyoshi told me: The ruling retired monarch [Toba] declared ¹¹ : ‘Dismissal and suspension have the same result. Since dismissal is the harsher punishment, he should be ordered to be dismissed.’ The ruling retired monarch also said: ‘Having been dismissed, he will naturally no longer be allowed into the royal presence, but since this is an unprecedented event, {his name} should also be immediately stricken from the duty-board ¹² .’ I , therefore, made a visit to the royal palace and struck his name from the duty-board of {the monarch’s ¹³ } royal intimates. {I, Yorinaga, asked,} “Should he be removed from both of his posts? ¹⁴ ” He answered, “The regent directed that after a royal order to remove him from both of his posts is issued, Ruling Retired Monarch should ultimately make the decisions.” {So, I} sent to summon Senior Secretary of the Council of State Sir [Nakahara] Moroyasu and delivered this order. Moroyasu asked, “In a normal circumstance, a royal order should not be drafted, how about this time?” I answered, “This is an abnormal situation, so we should set an example by drafting a royal order to punish unruly subjects and dangerous nobles ¹⁵ .” Moroyasu promptly drew up a royal order and issued it to the two ministries. I asked, “According to my old memos〈which I recorded as reminders,〉is it not the job of secretaries of the Council of State to draft and issue royal orders to the two ministries, but in this kind of circumstance, should {someone else} also issue it to the two ministries?” Moroyasu said, “That is an older procedure. Recently, secretaries of the Council of State issue royal orders to the two ministries.”〈the two ministeries here are meant as follows: when dealing with a civil official, {a royal order} should be issued to the Ministry of Personnel; when dealing with a military official, {a royal order} should be issued to the Ministry of Military Affairs.〉 Moroyoshi sent a messenger and informed me that “Ruling Retired Monarch ordered, ‘Remove him from both of his posts.’” Sir Minamoto no Narimasa of the junior fourth rank lower, holding court posts lower than his rank ¹⁶ —Provisional Junior Captain of the Inner Palace Right Guards cum Owari Provincial Governor Inner Minister {Fujiwara no Yorinaga} orders. “I received a royal order saying ‘On the twelfth day {of this month}, the person above , by sword in his own hand, injured Sir Fujiwara no Yorisuke, who had court rank but no post ¹⁷ . Even by searching through past precedents, we cannot find such a crime {by a courtier of his rank}. Remove him from both of his current posts.’” Kōji 2 1.14 Received by
Sir Nakahara Moroyasu, Director of the Grains Bureau ¹⁸ cum
Senior Secretary of the Council of State and
Assistant Professor {of the Bureau of the Palace University}

1. The 39th day in the sexagenary cycle. ↩

1. William and Helen McCullough translate this title as “Lesser Controller of the Left.” We adopted most of this translation but changed “Lesser” to “Junior” for clarity. See William and Helen McCullough, A Tale of Flowering Fortunes (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1980). ↩

1. Minamoto no Moroyoshi 源師能 (dates unknown). ↩

1. Minamoto no Narimasa 源成雅 (dates unknown). Narimasa has a close relationship with the regental family. For example, his sister married Yorinaga. Furthermore, Narimasa’s aunt (his father’s sister) married Yorinaga’s father, Tadazane. (USC Kambun Workshop 2019) ↩

1. Minamoto no Arihito 源有仁 (1103-1147). ↩

1. Ninnaji is a Buddhist temple in Western Kyoto that belongs to the Shingon School. Construction began in 886 at the command of Kōkō Tennō and ended in 888 during the reign of Uda Tennō, who named it Ninnaji after the name of the current regnal era. The temple had close ties to the royal family until the 19th century because it became customary for a son of the reigning sovereign to take up the post of head priest of Ninnaji. ↩

1. The Minister of the Left is higher in rank than Yorinaga, who is a Palace Minister, so Yorinaga got this message because a person of higher rank was not available and he was the next highest ranking official. ↩

1. The lowest rank of general officer. （日本国語大辞典） ↩

1. Ason, the most coveted hereditary title of the time. (USC Kambun Workshop 2007) ↩

1. Fujiwara no Yorisuke 藤原頼輔 (1112-1186). ↩

1. Toba Tennō 鳥羽天皇 (1103-1156, r. 1107-1123). The character tei 帝, which is a signifier for the ruling monarch, is added to “retired monarch” in the Japanese text because Toba was serving in administrative capacity despite being officially retired. See Hashimoto Yoshihiko, “Hōtei to Hōōtei 法皇と法皇帝” in Heian kizoku shakai no kenkyū 平安貴族社会の研究 (Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, 1976), 487-491, for more information about ruling retired monarchs. ↩

1. The duty-board is a registry listing who holds what post and who has what kinds of permissions. Being dismissed did not automatically mean that the person’s name would be removed from the duty-board. Being dismissed and having his name removed constitutes a more severe punishment because it strips Narimasa of his membership in the government. ↩

1. Konoe Tennō 近衛天皇 (1139-1155, r. 1141-1155). ↩

1. These two posts here referred to those held by Narimasa, that of provisional junior captain of the Inner Palace Right Guards and the governorship of Owari Province. ↩

1. This is ranshin zokushi 乱臣賊士 in the original. According to the Digital Daijisen Dictionary, there is a compound noun, ranshin zokushi (乱臣賊子), which means “unruly subjects and children who harm their parents.” Based on this noun, Yorinaga possibly invented a new compound with the same pronunciation, 乱臣賊士, in order to fit this context. This sentence ends with the character 者, and although it often refers to hearsay, here it serves to close Yorinaga’s quotation. (USC Kambun Workshop 2019) ↩

1. There is a character gyō 行 between Narimasa’s court rank and two his posts. When gyō is used in someone’s title, it means that the person’s position is regarded to be lower than his rank. (USC Kambun Workshop 2008) ↩

1. Sanmi is a courtier who had rank but did not have an official post. (USC Kambun Workshop 2008) ↩

1. The Ōi no tsukasa or Ōi ryō 大炊寮 is often translated as the Palace Kitchen Bureau, but the bureau was specifically responsible for grains procurement. Other kitchen-related bureaus are frequented translated the same way, which can lead to confusion between the various offices, so it is more useful to call it the Grains Bureau. This translation is inspired by Francine Hérail’s, “Office de l’Approvisionnement en Grains” for Ōiryō. See Francine Hérail, La cour et l'administration du Japon a l'epoque de Heian (Genève: Librairie, 2006). ↩

Original Text 原文

康治二年正月十四日条

十四日、〈壬寅、〉酉刻蔵人左少弁源師能来、入令侍〔以人伝〕示云、成雅（源）解官事、先向左丞相（源有仁）之処、被向仁和寺了、因御〔所カ〕参也者、亦着冠直衣相逢、師能仰云、去十二日於院陣鳥羽、少将成雅朝臣〈兼尾張守、〉・山城前司頼輔（藤原）闘諍、成雅抜剣切破頼輔面了、所犯不軽之上、諸大夫以上品格者刃傷人、古今未有、成雅早可被解官、余承諾之、師能語云、法皇（鳥羽）帝〈為政被加帝也、〉宣曰、解官・停任同事也、然而以解官為重慎、可仰下解官之由也、又宣曰、被解官之人、自然止昇殿、然而於此事者未曾有、早々可削籍、仍先参内、削籍了、乍両官可解歟、答曰、摂政仰云、先乍両官可解之由宣下後、重法皇帝可　一定、即遣召大外記師安（中原）朝臣仰之、師安云、普通事不書宣旨、此事如何、余云、希有之事也、書宣旨、可懲後代之乱臣・賊士者、師安即書宣旨下二省、余云、如古記〈備忘、〉者、雖管領下二省、是外記之外亦下二省歟、師安云、是古礼也、近代只外記下二省也、〈々々者、文官者仰式、武官者仰兵、〉師能送使者云、重法皇帝仰云、乍両官可解官也、

従四位下行右近衛権少将兼尾張守源朝臣成雅

　内大臣宣、奉　勅、件人去十二日於太上法皇御所辺、手自刃傷散位藤原朝臣頼輔、訪之　往代、未曾有之犯也、宜令解却見任両官者、

　　　康治二年正月十四日　　　　　　　大炊頭兼大外記助教中原朝臣師安奉

Kundoku 訓読 康治二年正月十四日の条 十四日、〈壬寅みずのえとら〉。酉とりの刻、蔵人くろうど 左少弁さしょうべん源師能もろよし来たる。人を以て伝え示して云わく、「成雅（源）の解官げかんの事、先に左丞相さじょうしょう（源有仁）に向かふの処、仁和寺にんなじに向かわれ了んぬ。因りて参るところなり」てえり。忩いそぎ、冠直衣かむりのうしを着ちゃくして相逢あいあう。師能仰おおせて云わく、「去る十二日院の陣〈鳥羽〉に於て、少将しょうしょう成雅朝臣〈尾張守おわりのかみを兼ぬ〉、山城やましろ前司ぜんじ頼輔よりすけ（藤原）闘諍とうじょうするに、成雅剣を抜き頼輔の面おもてを切り破り了んぬ。所犯しょはん、軽からざるの上、諸大夫しょだいぶ以上の品格の者の刃傷人にんじょうにんは、古今未だに有らず。成雅早く解官せらるべし」と。余、これを承諾しょうだくす。師能、語りて云はく、法皇帝ほうおうてい（鳥羽）〈政まつりごとを為すにより、帝を加えらるなり。〉宣せんして曰わく、「解官・停任ちょうにん、同じ事なり。然れども、解官を以て重慎ちょうしんとなす。解官の由を仰せ下すべきなり」と。又宣して曰わく、「解官せらるるの人、自然に昇殿しょうでんを止とどむ。然れども、この事に於ては未だ曾つて有らず。早々そうそうに籍を削るべし。仍よりて、先ず参内し、籍せきを削けずりおわんぬ。両官りょうかんながら　解とくべきか。答へて曰いわく、摂政、仰おおせて云わく、先まず両官ながら解とくべきの由よし、宣下せんげの後、重ねて法皇帝　一定いちじょうすべし、と。即すなわち大外記だいげき師安（中原） 朝臣を遣つかわし召めし、これを仰す。師安、云わく、普通の事は、宣旨を書かず。この事、いかん。余よ、云わく、希有けうの事なり。宣旨に書き、後代こうだいの乱臣らんしん・賊士ぞくしを懲ちょうずべし、てえり。師安、即ち宣旨を書き、二省にしょうに下す。余、云く、古記こき〈備忘ぶぼう〉の如ごとくは、二省に下すを管領かんりょうすといえども、これ、外記の外ほか、また二省に下すか。師安云わく、これ、古礼これいなり。近代、ただ、外記二省に下すなり。〈二省は、文官ぶんかんは式しきに仰せ、武官ぶかんは兵ひょうに仰す。〉師能、使者を送りて云く、重ねて法皇帝、仰せて云く、両官ながら解官すべきなり。 従じゅ四位しい下げ行ぎょう右近衛権少将うこのえしょうしょう兼けん尾張守おわりのかみ源朝臣成雅 　内大臣宣す。勅を奉うけたまわるに、件の人、去十二日、太上法皇御所辺に於て、手自てずから散位藤原朝臣頼輔を刃傷す。これを、往代おうだいに訪ぬるに、未曾有の犯なり。宜しく見任げんにん両官を解却げきゃくしむべし、てへり。 　　　康治二年正月十四日　　　　　大炊頭兼大外記助教中原朝臣師安奉うけたまわる

For the full kundoku notes, click here.

Modern Japanese 現代語 康治二年正月十四日の条 十四日。壬寅。酉の刻に、蔵人左少弁源師能が来た。人づてに伝えて言うには、「[源] 成雅を解官することについて、最初に左丞相 [源有仁] に師能が語って言うには、「[鳥羽]法皇帝〈政治を行っている 籍を{当直の簡 (ふだ) から姓名を}削除しました。」両方の役職をともに解任すべきか。」｛と聞いた｝。　遣して大外記師安 [中原] 朝臣を呼び出して、その命令を伝えた。師安は、「通常の事では宣旨を書きません。今回の件は、どうしましょうか。」と言った。私は、「｛今回のことは｝異常事態なので、宣旨を書いて、後の時代の乱臣・賊子を懲らしめるべきである。」と答えた ¹ 。師安は、すぐに宣旨を書き、二省に下した。私は、「旧記〈忘れた時の備えとして記しておいたもの〉によると、二省に下すのは｛外記が｝管轄するが、このような場合は外記のほかにが『両方の役職を解任せよ』と命じられました。」と告げてきた。 従四位下行右近衛権少将兼尾張守源朝臣成雅 　内大臣が伝える。「勅によると、『この人は去十二日、太上法皇の御所の辺りで、自身の手で散位 ² 藤原朝臣頼輔を太刀で切りつけ傷を負わせた。これは、過去の例に鑑みても、未曾有の犯行である。現在ついている役職をどちらもを罷免せよ。』ということである。」 　　　康治二年正月十四日　　　 大炊頭兼大外記助教中原朝臣師安がうけたまわった。

1. ここにある「者」は、頼長はが自分のセリフを閉じるために用いており、伝聞を表すものではない。 ↩

1. 散位（さんみ）：律令制で、位階だけあって官職についていない者。蔭位おんいにより官位があって、役職のない者、または職を辞した者などの称。（『広辞苑』抜粋） ↩

Taiki: Kōji 2 {1143} 7.22 Entry

康治二年七月二十二日条
Translated by Yumi Kodama , Emily Warren, Tatyana Kostochka, Sachiko Kawai, Jillian Barndt, and Jitsuya Nishiyama

Twenty-second Day. Hinotono ushi ¹ . Sunny and cloudy with occasional rain. Today, in front of Confucius’s portrait, I held a lecture on The Commentary of Zuo on the Spring and Autumn Annals < It was a private ceremony. > On the previous day, the doctor of the almanac ² Norihide was ordered to determine through divination the time and day {for the ceremony}. After this, the ceremony is to be performed on The Day of the Rat < Confucius’s birthday. Moreover, this corresponds to my birth year in the sexagenary cycle ³ .> From the first time {it was performed}, an auspicious day and time was chosen. In this ceremony, Confucius’s portrait is hung on the northern screen in the first eastern bay of the southern room in the northwestern corridor’s main chamber connected to the Shinden ⁴ . < Facing south, like in the Royal University Ceremony.> ⁵ The table was set and food presented in front {of the portrait}. < There was fish. ⁶ > The round mat for the lecturer ⁷ was arranged on the southern side. Then, my seat of Korean brocade was arranged. For the literati and discussants, two tatami were arranged in the third bay from the east. Currently, I am not meeting with those wearing mourning clothes or menstruating women. I am not having sex with women. I need not abstain from fish, Chinese onion, and wild chives, or with monks and nuns, however, earlier today, {I performed my} obeisance to the Kamo Deity ⁸ < Such is my monthly custom >, so I could not meet with monks and nuns. I bathed at sundown.< I did not wash my hair ⁹ .> At the Hour of the Dog , I put on formal clothes . First, I performed obeisance to the Kamo deity.< Even without performing obeisance to the Kamo deity, I would have had to bathe. ¹⁰ > Having taken my seat, I paid respects to Confucius . Then, moving one or two steps east, I paid respects to Yan Hui ¹¹ < twice >. On my order, the eight literati < including the lecturer and the discussants > took their seats. < All of them wore casual dress ¹² and caps and sat in two rows of four, facing each other in ascending order ¹³ from west to east. > Distinguished graduate of the Royal University’s literature department Fujiwara no Narisuke < who is well-versed in the great meaning of all the Confucian classics > took the first scroll of The Commentary of Zuo and proceeded to the lecturer’s seat. His speech was so superb—it was indescribable. Everyone listened to his words with admiration. The lecture lasted a bit over two hours. When it was done, Former Provincial Governor of Yamashiro, Sir Minamoto no Sanenaga raised {his issue.} < Following the rules of the biannual Memorial Rites to Confucius ceremony and the stylized debates at the Royal Palace {the day following such ceremonies}, each discussant raises only one topic. Correspondingly, there is also only one topic per discussant. > He asked about {associating the beginning of} summer with the fifth month ¹⁴ in the entry from the 22nd year of Duke Zhuang. There were three rounds of back and forth suggestions.< The matter was scrutinized once more after two rounds, at my order. > When we were finished, Former Provisional Governor of Noto Sir Fujiwara no Takayoshi asked a different question. Over two rounds of back and forth examination they discussed an entry from the 30th year of Duke Xiang about {the shape of} the character 亥 (gai) and the apparent lack of the character 六 (roku) in its lower part ¹⁵ . Takayoshi wanted to interrogate the matter a little further, and with my permission, he briefly debated with the lecturer . Both discussants had assigned seats {among the other literati} but did not sit there {during the discussion part}. When the ceremony was all done, the lecturer returned to his original seat {with the other literati}. The tray for composition submissions was put out. <{For this purpose, an upside down} cover of a writing box {was used}. The literati, starting with those of the lowest rank, each wrote a Chinese poem {about the talk} ¹⁶ >. Courtier-without-post Sir Fujiwara no Tōakira took a seat on the round mat < that was the lecturer’s seat >. This reading went as usual. My humble self was the presenter. This is because Confucius was the host ¹⁷ . After the presentation finished, everyone returned to their seats. An emolument was bestowed on the lecturer and each of the discussants. ¹⁸ For the lecturer: six folding fans, ten writing brushes, and eight [sticks of] ink. < Each of these were bundled in mulberry paper and placed on top of an open fan, which was included in the total number of fans. > For each discussant: two fans, five writing brushes, and three [sticks of] ink. When finished, the lecturer and discussants wrote down the questions and answers. < These were written in different styles. > These texts were placed in a cabinet for future reference. The following is the format for recording a poem. In early autumn ¹⁹ , inspired by the lecture given in the presence of Confucius's image, I wrote:
A Poem on The Commentary of Zuo. 〈I wrote this line the same length as the first line. {This is} the convention of the House of Ōe. Because I am a disciple of the late Head of the Crown Prince’s Household (Minamoto no Moroyori), I followed the convention of the Ōe . other participants did not do the same.〉
　　 Inner Palace Minister Senior Second Rank Sir Fujiwara no Yorinaga ²⁰ I omit the details {of the poetry} here. you should be able to imagine it. Curriculum:
Commentary of Zuo
Commentary of Gongyang
Commentary of Guliang
Book of Rites
Rites of Zhou
Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial
Book of Poems
Book of Documents
Book of Changes
Analects of Confucius
Book of Filial Piety
〈Laozi and Zhuangzi to be excluded.〉 ²¹
For these, we will meet every time on the Day of the Rat.

1. This is the fourteenth day in the sixty day cycle. ↩

1. The doctor of the almanac, or rekihakaze 暦博士, was calendrical specialist from the Yin-Yang Bureau. ↩

1. This corresponding year in the sexagenary zodiac cycle is called the honmyōnichi 本命日. ↩

1. This “master quarters of the palace” or the Shinden, is a central hall in a palace built in the shinden mode (shinden zukuri). It functioned both as a ceremonial location and living quarters. This translation is adapted from Mimi Yiengpruksawan, “Phoenix Hall and Symmetries of Replication,” The Art Bulletin Vol. 77, No. 4 (Dec. 1995): 7. ↩

1. The university held biannual Memorial Rites to Confucius (Sekiten). These rites were “one of the most purely Chinese of court rituals, which even involved animal sacrifices.” Officials performed memorial rites and then someone lectured on a select text. See Robert Borgen, Sugawara no Michizane and the Early Heian Court (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986), 95. ↩

1. There is a possibility that the fish’s inclusion here is an established custom based on the Kongzi Jiayu. There is one story that famously concerns Confucius receiving a rotten fish from a fisherman and still emphasizing the value in performing sacrifices with it. For an analysis of the passage, see Roel Sterckx, “Confucius Eats” in Of Tripod and Palate: Food, Politics, and Religion in Traditional China, ed. Sterckx (New York: Palgrave, 2005), 51. ↩

1. The word for lecturer here is kōkyō 講経. ↩

1. He likely did such obeisances at home, not a shrine. ↩

1. The Heian nobleman wore oils in his hair and it was sculpted to go with the cap of his rank. It would have been troublesome for Yorinaga to wash his hair, given that he was going to participate in the ceremony soon after. ↩

1. In this case, Yorinaga would have had to bathe for the lecture and discussion event, even if he didn’t have a ceremony scheduled. ↩

1. Yan Hui’s name is not explicitly mentioned in the original text. The term that is used there can refer to any past teacher. However, in combination with Confucius and in the context of this ceremony, the term denotes Yan Hui specifically. Yan Hui (c. 521-481 BCE) was Confucius’s favorite disciple and is one of the most important figures in Confucianism. While there was an image of Confucius hanging at this ceremony, it is likely that there was no corresponding image of Yan Hui. So, Yorinaga moving to bow to Yan Hui was a symbolic gesture as if there had been such a portrait. ↩

1. Kariginu technically means hunting clothes but in the Heian period, kariginu became standard casual clothing for the nobility because of how relatively not restrictive it was. ↩

1. There are a number of different interpretations available here. It is possible that the literati are lined up in terms of official rank. It is also possible that they are lined up based on their expertise with the Chinese classics. It may even be a mix of the two types of orderings. ↩

1. The Commentary of Zuo mentions the beginning of the summer as the fifth month even though it would have made more sense to say it was the fourth month. ↩

1. The lower part of the character. ↩

1. Although this is not made clear in the text, Kurata Minoru suggests that the poems are about the preceding lecture. See Kurata Minoru, Ouchoubito no kon’in to shinkou 王朝人の婚姻と信仰 (Tokyo: Shinwasha, 2010), 289. ↩

1. Presenters are typically of lower rank. Even though Yorinaga is very highly ranked, he took on this responsibility as a way to pay respect to the fact that the celebration was being carried out in honor of Confucius. ↩

1. A gift given to participants of a ceremony—something between payment and a gift. (Kambun Workshop 2007) ↩

1. Specifically the seventh month of the lunar calendar. ↩

1. This is the signature on his poem. The signature comes before the poem, rather than after it. ↩

1. Yorinaga was not interested in Daoist teachings, although such works were required reading in the university. It is likely Yorinaga chose to exclude them to his own personal interests. ↩

Original Text 原文
康治二年七月二十二日条

廿二日、〈丁丑、〉陰晴不定、雨時々降、今日於文宣王（孔子）影前講論春秋左氏伝、〈密々儀也、〉兼日使暦博士憲栄（賀茂）勘日時、自是後毎度子日〈孔子生日也、随亦当余本命日、〉可有此礼、依初度用吉日、〈祀用丁日、丁寧儀、〉其儀、寝殿西北廊母屋南間東一間北障子、懸文宣王影、〈南面、依大学儀、〉其前弁備膳、〈有魚、〉南辺敷円座為講経坐、其南敷高麗一帖為余坐、東第三間二行敷畳為文人及問者坐、余今日不逢服者及月水女、身不女犯、但不憚魚・薤・蒜等、不憚僧尼、但今日先有賀茂拝、〈毎月恒例事、〉仍不逢僧尼、日昏浴、〈無沐、〉

戌刻束帯、〈不帯剣、〉先賀茂拝、〈雖無賀茂拝可有浴、〉次於坐上先拜先聖、〈二度、〉

戌刻束帯、〈不帯剣、〉先賀茂拝、〈雖無賀茂拝可有浴、〉次於坐上先拜先聖、〈二度、〉了東傍行一両歩拜先師、〈二度、〉了依余命、文人八人〈講師・問者在此内、〉就坐、〈皆布衣烏帽、東上対座、〉次文章得業生藤原成佐〈通全経大義、〉持左伝巻巻第一、進就坐講

経、其辞義絶妙、不可得言、衆人側耳歎美、講経一時余、了前山城守源実長朝臣請問、〈請問二〔一〕事、釈奠并同内論義皆問一事、仍是又問一事、〉荘公廿二年経、夏五日〔月〕之疑也、三重、〈二重了、依予命重難之、〉了前能登権守藤孝能朝臣請問如先、但二重、襄卅年伝、亥字無六身之疑也、孝能重少難残、依余命暫与講師相論、此両問者、依位次在文人之坐、不列坐、事了講師退復坐、次置文台、〈硯盡〔蓋〕、文人自下﨟盡〔書〕詩了、〉散位藤遠明朝臣就円坐〈始講経人坐也、〉講之、如常、下官為講師、以文宣王為主之故也、講了各復坐、講師・問者給禄、

講師扇六・筆十・墨八、〈各以檀紙書〔裹カ〕之置扇上、其扇六枚之内也、〉問者各扇二・筆五・墨三、

事了講師・問者書問答、〈其書異裁、〉納厨子備後鑑、

詩書様、

孟秋陪文宣王影前聴講

左伝一首、〈此待等〔行与〕始行同長書之、江家説也、余故春宮大夫（源師頼）弟子也、仍用江説、自余不然、〉

　　内大臣正二位藤原朝臣頼長

　已下准可知、
　　次第
左伝　　公羊　　穀梁　　礼記　　周礼　　儀礼
詩　　　書　　　周易　　論語　　孝経　〈除老・荘、〉

　　毎度子日可講之、

Kundoku 訓読 廿二日、〈丁丑ひのとのうし、〉陰晴いんせい定まらず。雨時々降る。今日、文宣王ぶんせんのう(孔子)の影前えいぜんに、『春秋左氏伝』を講論す。〈密々みつみつの儀なり。〉兼ねての日、暦博士れきはかせ憲栄のりひで(賀茂)をして日時を勘かんがえせしむ。これより後のちは毎度子の日ねのひ＜孔子の生日せいじつなり。随ってまた余の本命日ほんみょうにちに当たる＞にこの礼有るべし。初度しょどによりて吉日を用う。祀は、丁ひのとの日を用う。丁寧の儀なり。 其の儀、寝殿の西北廊の母屋の南の間の東の一間の北の障子に、文宣王の影を懸かく。〈南面、大学｛寮の｝儀による。〉其の前に膳を弁備す。＜魚有り。＞南の辺りに円座を敷きて、講経こうきょうの座と為す。其の南に高麗一帖を敷き、余の坐と為す。東の第三間に二行にして畳を敷き、文人及び問者もんじゃの坐と為す。 余、今日、服者ぶくしゃ及び月水女げっすいにょに逢あわず。身は女犯にょぼんせず。但し　魚・薤おおみら・蒜ひる等は憚はばからず、僧尼そうにも憚はばからず。但し今日は先に賀茂拝かもはいあり。〈毎月の恒例事こうれいじ、〉仍って僧尼に逢わず。日昏ひぐれて浴す。〈沐もくすることなし。〉 戌刻いぬのこく束帯そくたいし〈剣を帯おびず。〉、先に賀茂拝す。〈賀茂拝無しといえども、浴よく有るべし。〉次ついで、坐上ざじょうにおいて、先ず先聖せんせいを拜はいす。〈二度。〉了おわりて、東の傍かたわらに行くこと一両歩いちりょうほ、先師せんしを拜す。〈二度。〉了りて、余の命により、文人八人〈講師・問者この内に在り〉坐ざに就つく。〈皆、布衣ほい烏帽えぼ、東上とうじょう対座たいざす。〉次で、文章得業生もんじょうとくごうしょう藤原成佐〈全経ぜんきょう大義たいぎに通ず。〉左伝巻第一を持ち、坐ざに進すすみ就つきて講経こうきょうす。その辞義じぎ絶妙ぜつみょうにして、言げんを得うべからず。衆人耳を側そばだて、歎美たんびす。講経こうきょう一時ひととき余り。おわりて、前さきの山城守やましろのかみ源実長みなもとのさねなが朝臣請問しょうもんす。〈請問は一事いちじ。釈奠さくてん并ならびに同どう内論義うちろんぎ、皆一事を問う。よりてこれ、また一事を問う。〉荘公しょうこう廿二年にじゅうにねん経きょう、夏五月の疑いなり。三重さんじゅう、〈二重にじゅうおわりて、予の命により、重ねてこれを難なんず。〉おわりて、前さきの能登のとの権守ごんのかみ藤とうの孝能たかよし朝臣請問すること、先さきの如し。但し、二重にじゅう。襄じょう卅年さんじゅうねん伝でん、亥いの字、六身ろくしんなきの疑いなり。孝能重ねて少し難なんじ残し、余の命により暫しばらく講師と相論そうろんす。この両問者りょうもんじゃ、位次いじにより文人の坐に在りて、坐に列せず。ことおわりて、講師退しりぞき坐に復ふくす。次で文台ふみだいを置く。〈硯すずりの蓋ふた。文人下﨟げろうより詩を書きおわんぬ。〉散位さんに藤遠明朝臣円坐〈始め講経の人の坐なり。〉に就く。これを講ずること、常の如し。下官げかん、講師と為なる。文宣王ぶんせんのうを以て主と為すの故なり。講了りて各おのおの坐に復す。講師・問者に禄を給う。 講師こうじは扇おうぎ六・筆ふで十・墨すみ八。〈各おのおの檀紙だんしを以て裹つつみこれを扇の上に置く。その扇は六枚の内なり。〉問者もんじゃは各扇二・筆五・墨三。 事了りて講師・問者は問答を書く。〈その書は裁さいを異にす。〉厨子ずしに納め、後鑑こうかんに備そなう。 詩の書様かきよう。
孟秋もうしゅう文宣王ぶんせんのうの影前えいぜんに陪ばいし聴講ちょうこうす
左伝さでん一首いっしゅ。〈この行と始めの行とを同じ長さにてこれを書く。江家ごうけの説なり。余は故春宮大夫とうぐうのだいぶ源師頼みなもとのもろよりの弟子なり。仍って江説を用う。自余じよは然らず。〉
　　内大臣正二位藤原朝臣頼長
　已下いか准じて知るべし。
次第しだい
左伝さでん
公羊くよう
穀梁こくりょう
礼記らいき
周礼しゅうらい
儀礼ぎらい
詩書
周易しゅうえき
論語ろんご
孝経こうきょう
〈老・荘は除く。〉
　　毎度まいど子日ねのひにこれを講ずべし。

For full Japanese notes, click here.

Modern Japanese 現代語訳二十二日、＜丁ひのとの丑うし。＞晴れたり曇ったり、そして雨も時々降った。今日、文宣王ぶんせんのう[孔子] の｛御｝影の前で、『春秋左氏伝』を講じ論じた。＜内々の儀式である。＞前もって、暦博士憲栄 [賀茂]に日時｛の吉凶｝を調べさせた。これ以後は、毎度、子の日＜孔子が生まれた日である。しかも私の生まれた年の干支に当たる＞にこの儀を行うべきである。｛しかし今回は｝初めてなので、吉日に行う。<｛釈奠の｝祀まつりは丁ひのとの日におこなわれる。｛この講経は釈奠と同じように｝丁寧に行う。> その儀｛は以下の通り。｝寝殿の西北廊の母屋の、南の間の東の一間の北の障子に、文宣王の肖像を懸ける。＜大学寮の儀に従って、南向きに懸ける。＞その｛肖像の｝前に食膳を準備しそなえておく。＜｛その膳には｝魚が有る。＞南の辺りに円座を敷いて、講経の座とする。｛更に｝その南に高麗｛端の畳｝一帖を敷き、私の座とする。東の第三の間に｛向き合うように｝二行に畳を敷き、文人と問者の座とする。 私は、今日は喪に服する者や月経中の女性とは会わない。女性と性行為もしない。ただし、魚・らっきょう・ねぎなどは｛食べても｝構わず、僧尼｛に会うことも本来｝は構わない｛のだが｝、今日は先に賀茂拝＜｛これは｝毎月の恒例｛行｝事｛である｝＞があるので、僧尼に会わない。日が暮れて身体を洗った。＜髪は洗わなかった。＞ 戌刻を拜した〈二度。〉 それが終わって、私と烏帽子の格好で、東を上座として 向かい合って座った。〉次に、文章得業生で〈中国の古典全ての重要な意義に精通している。〉藤原成佐が『左伝』の第一巻を持ち、言葉を失った。参加者達は耳をそばだてて、感嘆し賛美した。経書の講説が二時間余りあった。 それが終わって、さきの山城守やましろのかみ源実長みなもとのさねなが朝臣が戻った。 次に、儀式で講経の人の座であったところである。〉に着席した。詩を読み上げるやり方等は、いつもの通りである。小生は講師{= 詩を読み上げる役}を担当した。が主席だったからである。詩を読み終わって、それぞれが座に戻った。講師と問者に禄を渡した。 講師こうじには扇 六枚・筆 十本・墨八個。〈それぞれ檀紙だんしで包み、扇の上に置いた。その扇は六枚の内に含まれる。〉問者にはそれぞれ扇二枚・筆五本・墨三個。 今回の講経の終了後、講師・問者は厨子に納め、後世の見本として保管する。 詩の書き方は
孟秋陪文宣王影前聴講
左伝一首

〈この行とはじめの行を同じ長さで書いた。これは大江氏の習わしである。私は故春宮大夫[源師頼みなもとのもろより]の弟子であった。そこで大江氏の習わしに従った。他の人は異なる。〉
　　内大臣正二位藤原朝臣頼長 　以下は推察されたい。
　順
　左氏伝・公羊伝・穀梁伝・礼記・周礼・儀礼・詩経・書経・周易・論語　・孝経〈老子・荘子は除外する。〉
　毎回、子ねの日にこれらの講論を行うこととする。

Taiki: Kōji 1 {1142} 8.6 Entry

康治元年八月六日条
Translated by Emily Warren and Jillian Barndt

Kōji 1 8.6 Entry Sixth Day. Hinoe tora ¹ . This morning, I had Minor Superintendent ² Kakusei <{who is living in} Nara ³ > carry out the dedicatory rites {for my statue} of a Thousand Armed Kannon ⁴ , of which was begun on the sixteenth day of the previous month ⁵ . It is to be sent to the Nakagawa Holy Man Jippan ⁶ and installed, with prayers to heal my skin disease ⁷ . In boyhood, I kept a cat that became sick and to address this, I immediately drew the Thousand-Armed Kannon, praying that {my cat} would soon recover from illness and live to be ten years old. My cat recovered and died after reaching ten years old. <{I had the cat} wrapped in cloth and placed in a chest to be buried.> I know this bodhisattva to be miraculously efficacious ⁸ . So petitionary prayers are to be offered to this buddha in particular for my skin disease. As regards to the horse which was {given for} the Kashima envoy ⁹ {Yorinaga’s houseman, Fujiwara no Norichika}, I am delighted. I had (Fujiwara no) Tamezane tell this to Lord (Fujiwara no) Akiyori ¹⁰ . The contents {of my message} were: “{My gratitude} should be conveyed directly to the retired monarch, Toba ¹¹ . This ¹² was not something that I wished for, nor was it directly communicated to me. Conveying {my gratitude} to him directly would be impolite. If you have the occasion to do so, please relay my thanks {to Toba} in an appropriate manner. Today were the prayers for the Uji nun and primary wife (of Fujiwara no Tadazane) (Minamoto no Shishi) ¹³ . There was chanting of the Yakushi sutra ¹⁴ at the Central Hall {of Enryakuji}. Fudō Myōō’s prayers were intoned using prayer beads at Mudōji ¹⁵ . The Master of Discipline Kanshō was ordered to carry out these rituals. Starting today, they chant the Thousand-Armed Kannon’s short mantra ¹⁶ every day.

1. The third day of the sexagenary cycle. ↩

1.  The minor superintendent position 少僧都 was a position in the Office of Monastic Affairs below the superintendent of monks 僧正. The position was intended to aid important priests and be in charge of monks and nuns. （日本国語大辞典, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism） ↩

1.  Southern capital (nankyō) 南京, which appears here, is another name for Nara, but in this case specifically refers to Kōfukuji. （日本国語大辞典） ↩

1.  Kuyō 供養 in this case refers to dedicatory rites to a statue that transforms it from a mere statue to a holy object. （日本国語大辞典, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism). Kuyō can also refer to a broad spectrum of memorial rights. ↩

1.  Senju kannon 千手觀音is one form of Avalokitêśvara, a bodhisattva depicted with multiple arms. (Digital Dictionary of Buddhism) ↩

1. Nakagawa is located in the forested mountains outside Nara.  Here, Yorinaga calls Jippan a shōnin 聖人, which means that he is an enlightened person who eschews typical temple practice, perhaps engaging with the lay populace or mountain ascetics similar to a hijiri 聖. A miracle worker.  Jippan 実範 (d. 1144) was a late Heian scholar monk of esoteric Buddhism who founded the temple of Kawanodera 川寺 in Yamato province. He was the fourth child of Fujiwara no Akizane 藤原顕実. He had the confidences of Fujiwara Yorinaga and Fujiwara Munetada, among others. “Nakagawa” might be referring to his temple here.（日本国語大辞典） See also Marc Bujinsters, “Jichihan and the Restoration and Innovation of Buddhist Practice” Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 24, 1-2, (1999):39-82.  ↩

1.  Rekiyō 癧瘍 is a disease affecting skin on the face and body. （日本国語大辞典） ↩

1.  Reigen 霊験 refers to the miraculous ability or efficacy of buddhas and other deities to answer prayers. (Digital Dictionary of Buddhism) ↩

1.  Kashima jingu 鹿島神宮, located in Hitachi province (modern-day Ibaraki prefecture). The Fujiwara clan was connected with the shrine since the 7th century, when the Nakatomi clan (which would later become the Fujiwara) oversaw the shrine as it came to prominence under royal edict in 645.  ↩

1.  1094-1148, full title is Former Provisional Middle Councilor. Served as a confidant to the retired monarch Toba.  ↩

1.  1103-1156, r. 1107-1123, served as retired sovereign 1129-1156. One of his wives was Fujiwara no Taishi (1095-1156), Yorinaga’s sister.  ↩

1.  Unclear if its a permanent gift or something he is only being lent, thus we have left it as “honor” to maintain the uncertainty.  ↩

1. Minamoto no Shishi 源師子 (1070−1149) was the daughter of Minamoto no Akifusa 源顕房 and worked in the back palace of Shirakawa Tennō. After becoming pregnant, she married Fujiwara noTadazane and gave birth to Kakuhō Hōshinnō. With Tadazane, she had Kaya no In 高陽院, who would go on to be the queen consort of the retired monarch Toba, and she had Fujiwara Tadamichi. She lived to be seventy-nine years of age. (日本人名大辞典)  ↩

1.  Medicine Buddha Sutra is the abbreviated name of the Original Vows of the Medicine-Master Tathāgata of Lapis Light Sutra (Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja Sūtra). It is a Mahayana sutra that details the twelve and merits of Medicine Buddha. These vows including healing all diseases, including ignorance. (Digital Dictionary of Buddhism) ↩

1.  Located in the Enryakuji complex on Mt. Hiei. ↩

1.  Different Buddhist deities typically have different mantras dedicated to them. Additionally, there are shorter and longer versions of these set mantras. In case of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, the short mantra is Om Basara Daruma Kiri Sowaka (in the Japanese pronunciation).  ↩

Original Text 原文

康治元年八月六日条

六日、〈丙寅、〉去月十六日所奉始之千手観音、今朝使少僧都覚晴〈南京、〉供養了、遣中川聖人実範許令供之、祈癧瘍平癒、僕少年養猫、々有疾、即画千手像、祈之曰、請疾速除愈、又令猫満十歳、猫即平愈、至十歳死、〈裹衣入櫃葬也、〉爰知此菩薩霊験新、仍此癧瘍殊祈請此仏者也、

鹿島使馬事喜悅之由、以為実（藤原）示顕頼（藤原）卿、其詞曰、須直申院、然而非所望事、又不被仰余許、直令申似無礼、便宜時可然之様可披露也、

今日宇治尼北政所（源師子、藤原忠実室）御祈、中堂薬師経御読経、無動寺不動御念珠、〈各僧三口、〉仰律師寬勝令修之、自今日毎日満千手小呪、

Kundoku 訓読 六日。〈丙寅ひのえとら。〉去る月の十六日に始め奉たてまつる所の千手観音せんじゅかんのん、今朝、少僧都しょうぞうず ¹ 覚晴かくせい〈南京なんきょう ² 〉をして、供養くよう ³ せしめ了ぬ。中川聖人なかがわしょうにん実範じっぱん ⁴ の許もとに遣わし、これを供くうぜしむ。癧瘍れきよう ⁵ 平癒へいゆを祈る。僕、少年にして猫を養やしなう。猫、疾しつ有り。即すなわち千手像を画えがく。祈りて曰わく、請い願わくば、疾の速く除愈じょゆ ⁶ せんことを、又猫をして十歳に満みたさしめんことを。猫即ち平愈し、十歳に至りて死しす。〈衣に裹み櫃ひつに入れ葬ほうむるなり。〉爰ここに知る、此の菩薩の霊験れいげん新あらたなることを。よりて此の癧瘍れきようを殊ことに此の仏に祈請きしょうするものなり。 鹿島使かしまづがい ⁷ の馬の事、喜悅きえつの由、（藤原）為実ためざねを以て、（藤原）顕頼あきより卿に示しめす。其の詞ことばに曰わく、須すべからく直じきに院に申すべし。然而しかれども所望しょもうの事に非あらず。又余の許もとに仰せられず。直じきに申さしむるは無礼ぶれいに似にる。便宜べんぎの時、然しかるべきの様よう披露（ひろうすべきなり。 今日宇治うじの尼北政所あまきたまんどころ（源師子みなもとのしし、藤原忠実の室）の御祈おいのりとして、中堂ちゅうどうの薬師経やくしきょうの御読経みどきょうと、無動寺むどうじ ⁸ の不動ふどうの御念珠ごねんじゅ、〈おのおの僧三口さんく。〉律師りっし寬勝かんしょうに仰おおせて修せしむ。今日より毎日、千手の小呪しょうじゅを満たす。

1. 少僧都（しょうそうず）：僧綱の一員。僧正の下にあって、大僧都を助けて僧尼を統率する僧官。（『日国』抜粋） ↩

1.  南京（なんきょう）： 平城京の別称。平安京を北京（ほっきょう）と呼ぶのに対する。南都。（『日国』抜粋） ↩

1.  供養（きょうよう）：僧の三宝または死者の霊などに対して諸物を供えて回向すること。孝養（きょうよう）。くよう。（『日国』抜粋） ↩

1.  （？−１１４４）平安時代後期の顕密の学僧、戒律の復興者。（『国史』抜粋） ↩

1.   癧瘍（れきよう）：顔面および身体にできる皮膚病。（『日国』抜粋） ↩

1. 除愈（じょゆ）：病気がなおること。（『日国』抜粋） ↩

1.   鹿島使（かしまづかい）：茨城県鹿島神宮に遣わされた奉幣使。鹿島神宮は皇室の崇敬もあつく、藤原氏も氏神として仰いだので、平安時代初期春日祭の整備に伴い、祭使（奉幣使）が遣わされる例が始まり、これを鹿島使とよんだ。春日祭の当日たる二月上申日に藤原氏氏長者が勧学院の学生（六位以上の者）を選定し、これに祭使の宣旨を下し内印官符を賜い、内蔵寮史生一人を相添え、常陸に発遣する例であった（『類聚符宣抄』『北山抄』『朝野群載』など）。王朝の衰退とともに、朝廷に代わって常陸国司代常陸大掾家より一族の者に命じて毎年七月中旬鹿島使として参向させる例となり、応永年間（一三九四―一四二八）まで続き、その後は断続的に行われて文亀三年（一五〇三）に至った。(『日本史大辞典』抜粋） ↩

1.  無動寺（むどうじ）：大津市坂本本町の比叡山東塔無動寺谷にある。天台回峰修験の根本道場。円仁の弟子相応によって創められ、『山門堂舎記』には貞観七年（八六五）相応和尚建立とある。無動寺谷は叡南あるいは南山などとも称せられ、青蓮院門跡所蔵の『門葉記』の絵図編に、相応常住の南山房と明王堂（無動寺本堂）の指図がある。南山房は南面した東西に長い建物で、相応が南山房で八十八歳の生涯をとじると、ここに相応の影像が安置され、御影堂的性格をもつようになる。明王堂は南面する五間四面の建物で、内陣中央須弥壇（しゅみだん）上に秘仏不動明王の厨子を中心に脇侍の不動二躯と二童子、壇の四隅に四大明王を配している。明王堂は延喜十四年（九一四）枇杷殿大臣藤原仲平によって造替され、爾来三間の堂になったと伝える。（『国史』抜粋） ↩

Modern Japanese 現代語訳 六日。〈丙寅ひのえとら。〉先月十六日に｛作り｝始め申し上げた千手観音｛像｝を、今朝、少僧都しょうぞうず覚晴かくせい〈興福寺｛の僧｝〉に供養させた。中川聖人実範の許に｛千手観音像を｝届け、これを供えさせた。癧瘍が完治することを祈った。私が少年の時、猫を飼っていた。その猫が病気になったので、千手観音像｛の絵｝を描き、猫が早くよくなるように、また猫が十歳まで生きるように、と祈った。猫はすぐ完治し、十歳まで生きて亡くなった。〈｛遺骸は｝衣に包み箱に納めて葬った。〉その時に判った、この菩薩（千手観音）の霊験が明白であることを。そこでこの癧瘍についても、特にこの仏（千手観音）に｛治癒することを｝祈り願うところである。 鹿島使かしまづがい馬｛をくださった｝事について、喜びに存じますという旨を、（藤原）為実ためざねを使者として、（藤原）顕頼あきより卿に伝えた。その内容は、「直接、｛私から御礼を｝鳥羽院に申しあげるべきですが、｛私から｝希望した事ではありません。また私のところに｛鳥羽院からは｝仰せられてもいません。｛私から｝直接に｛御礼を鳥羽院に｝申し上げるのは無礼なようにも思います。ついでがある時にでも、適切に｛あなたから鳥羽院に｝お伝え下さい。」 今日、宇治の尼北政所あまきたまんどころ（源師子みなもとのしし、藤原忠実の室）のための御祈おいのりとして、｛延暦寺の｝根本中堂（ちゅうどう）で薬師経やくしきょうの御読経みどきょうと、｛比叡山の｝無動寺むどうじで不動明王の御念珠ごねんじゅ｛が行われた｝。〈それぞれ｛の仏事には｝僧が三人｛参加した｝。〉｛これらを｝律師りっし寬勝かんしょうに命じて行わせた。今日から毎日、千手観音の小呪しょうじゅを始める。

Teikin Ôrai 1: A Letter of the First Month

Translated by Dan Sherer, Chris Bovberg, and Kaitlin Forgash

The Teikin Ôrai is a Muromachi (1333-1573) period collection of fictional letters intended to serve as an example for students studying phrases, seasonality, terms, and calligraphy.

A New Year’s greeting card design featuring archery equipment. “Bow, Arrows, Target, and Other Outfits for Archery,” from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ca. 1814. (Creative Commons)

A letter of the first month (missive) Felicitations on the beginning of the year. First of all I would like to offer my best wishes to you. I am overjoyed that you have so much fortune and prosperity. I had meant to offer my new years greetings to you in person on the first day of the year, but having been invited to various people’s Day of the Rat festivities ¹ , I have sadly been delayed. Like the valley bush warbler (uguisu) that forgets the eave flowers {as the best place for it} or the little butterfly that plays in the shadows {when it should be in the sun}, this strongly goes against my true feelings. Moreover, these days, I am holding various demonstrations of martial skill, including competitions of small willow bows (yōkyū) and small sparrow bow (suzume no koyumi) ² , meets of shooting at a straw hat from horseback (kasagaki) and paper target on a stick (kogushi), as well as games of grass-stuffed deer targets (kusajishi), round targets (marumono), three-three-nine mounted archery with arrows in hand (sansanku no tabasami) ³ , and the eight types of targets (yatsumato), one after another. If you were to decide to invite some capable archers and skilled mounted archers, {and come to this event}, it would be the fulfilment of my deepest wish. It is difficult to convey my feelings {in this letter}. I look forward to the next time we meet. My poor brush cannot express the specifics. With awe and respect, 　First month, fifth day        Third-Level Manager of the Left Gate Guards ⁴ Fujiwara Humbly Submitted {to the}    Lord Governor of Iwami

A warrior shoots a straw hat target 笠懸 (kasagaki) from horseback in the Illustrated Scroll of Obusuma Saburo. Ca. 13th century. (Creative Commons)

1. This is a new year’s event, and is one of the 年中行事 (nenjūgyōji) celebrations. ↩

1. Small bow generally made with small bamboo or similar wood. ↩

1. A type of mounted archery (yabusame). It is uncertain whether this refers to shooting at a target from 9 (or three) shaku away, three sets of three targets, or the targets being of three shaku in height (90 centimeters) ↩

1. 左衛門尉 Third-level manager of the 左衛門府 (saemonfu), left gate guard headquarters/office. ↩

Original Text 原文

春始御悦、向貴方先祝申候畢、富貴万福、猶以幸甚々々、抑歳初朝拝者、以朔日元三之次、急可申之処、被駈催人々子日遊之間、乍思延引、似谷鶯忘檐花、薗小蝶遊日影、頗背本意候畢、将又、楊弓、雀小弓勝負、笠懸、小串之会、草鹿、円物遊、三々九手夾、八的等曲節、近日打続、経営之、尋常射手、馳挽達者、少々有御誘引、思食立給者、本望也、心事難尽、為期参会之次、委不能腐毫、恐々謹言、

　正月五日　　　　　左衛門尉藤原

謹上　石見守殿

Kundoku 訓読 正月状　往ゆき 春の始めの御悦びおんよろこび、貴方きほうに向かい先まず祝い申し候いおわんぬ。富貴ふうき万福ばんぷく、猶以て幸甚こうじん々々。抑そもそも 歳としの初めの朝拝ちょうはいは、朔日さくじつ元三がんさん之次いでを以て、急ぎ申すべき之処、人々の子日ねのひの遊びに駈りかり催さるるもよおさるる之間、思いながら延引えんいんす。谷の鶯うぐいす檐の花を忘れ、薗そのの小蝶こちょう日影ひかげに遊ぶに似たり。頗る本意に背き候いおわんぬ。はたまた、楊弓ようきゅう、雀小弓すずめのこゆみの勝負、笠懸かさがけ、小串こぐしの会、草鹿くさじし、円物まるものの遊び、三々九手夾さんさんくのたばさみ、八的やつまと等の曲節きょくせつ、近日打ち続き、これ経営す。尋常じんじょうの射手いて、馳挽はせびきの達者たっしゃ、少々御誘引ごゆういんありて、思し食し立ち給わば、本望なり。心事尽くしがたし。参会の次いでを期ごさんとす。委しくはくわしくは腐毫ふごう能わず。恐々謹言きょうきょうきんげん。 正月五日　　　　　左衛門の尉さえもんのじょう藤原 謹上きんじょう　石見いわみ守殿

A scene from the first letter of the year in Hokusai’s illustrated Teikin Ôrai, located in the British National Museum collections. Meiji Period (1868-1912) copy. (Creative Commons)

Modern 現代語訳

正月の手紙（往き）

一年の始めの喜び、あなたさまに向かって、まずお祝い申し上げます。あなたが富み栄えているようですので、非常に目出度いです。本来、年の始めの挨拶は、正月一日のチャンスに、早く参るべきですが、色々な人の子の日の遊びに誘われて、思っていながら遅延してしまいました。谷の鶯が檐の花（一番いい所）を忘れ、蝶々が日陰にいることに似ています。非常に本心に背くことになりました。さらにまた、楊弓、雀小弓の勝負、笠懸、小串の会、草鹿、円物の遊び、三々九の手夾、八的の遊びなどいろいろな技術を披露する会を、最近連続で開催しています。もし、あなた様が上手な射手、馬に乗って弓を引く名人をお誘いになってお出でになる気になれば、うれしく思います。私の気持は（手紙では）伝え難いです。次回お目にかかる機会を期待します。委しくは、私の拙い手紙では書けません。恐れ入りながら申し上げます。

　正月五日　　　　　左衛門尉藤原

謹上　石見守殿

Tsuikahô no Tsuika 560: On the collection of interest

Translated by Matthew Keller

Item: Concerning what the Board of Inquiry has inquired about {the collection of} interest from the Kamakura residents Do not extend collection of interest on to the land owners. The subordinates {of the Board of Inquiry} will directly collect from {the debtors}. ¹ Seven year of Kouan (1284), eighth month, seventeenth day

1. It is very uncommon for the deputies of the Monchujo to directly take action. ↩

Original Text 原文
一　問注所申鎌倉住人等利銭事

不可懸地主、以下部直可催促、

　弘安七年八月十七日

Kundoku 訓読 一つ　問注所もんちゅうじょが申す鎌倉住人等の利銭りせんの事 地主に懸けるべからず。下部しもべを以て、直きじきに催促さいそくすべし。 　弘安七年八月十七日

Modern 現代語訳

一つ　問注所が申す鎌倉に住んでいる人々の利息について

地主に掛けることしないように。{問注所の}部下が直接に{本人}に催促するように。

弘安七年八月十七日