Tōryū Shiki Genji
当流四季源氏
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Also Known As] | Otome No Kyoku |
| [Composed] | Yatsuhashi Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| The composer of this song cycle is unknown. It is however, attributed to Ikuta Kengyo (1656-1715), having, until recently, been transmitted as a secret piece of the Ikuta School. The title literally means 'Genji in Four Seasons: New Version,' which was apparently composed in contrast to Koryu Shiki-Genji ('Genji in the Four Seasons: Old Version'). The text of the five songs in this kumiuta is mainly based on 'The Maiden' (Otome) chapter tale of 'The Tale of Genji.' Hence this song cycle is sometimes called Shiki-Genji: Otome no kyoku. Each of the first four songs, the fifth being an epilogue, refers to one of the four quarters of Genji's newly built Rokujo Mansion, to the lady occupying that quarter, and to the season represented by the lady: spring for Murasaki, summer for Hanachirusato ('the Lady of the Orange Blossoms'), autumn for Akikonomu, and winter for the Lady of Akashi There is a prelude (jo), and after the fourth song, an instrumental interlude (gaku) called 'Gin no shirabe.' |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Scattered in the wind, Fleeting are the autumn leaves. I wish to see The unforgettable color Of spring blossoms Return and endure As long as the evergreen pine At the crag. At this remote At this remote And neglected dwelling, The orange blossoms at the eaves Are the only guide For the cuckoo (1) who Returns, drawn by Sweet memories. Naturally Naturally Your garden eagerly awaits The spring flowers. Let the winds whisper to you About the autumn leaves Now coloring the bamboo fence At my dwelling. Frozen Frozen, The water between the rocks Hesitates to flow Only the moon in the clear sky, Reflected on the stilled brook, Moves westward, Moves westward. Flowers of spring And leaves of autumn, Once never wearied of, Are now forgotten. How many winter nights have I lain awake To view the daybreak Reflected on the snow at Akashi. What destiny binds us? (1) The cuckoo refers to Genji. (2) Based on Murasaki's poem in the chapter 'The Morning Glory' (Asagao). | (jo) Kaze ni chiru momiji wa karoshi haru no iro wo iwane no matsu ni kakete mimashiya tonikaku ni wasurenu hana no omokage Hitome naku hitome naku aretaru yado wa tachibana no hana koso noki no tsuma to narikere mukashi wo shinobu hototogisu Onozukara onozukara haru matsu sono wa waga yado no momiji wo kaze no tsute ni dani miyo mase ni yoseshi iroiro Koori toji -2- koori toji iwama no mizu wa yukiyarade sora suma tsuki no kage zo nagaruru kage koso nagare nagarure (gaku) Akazarishi hana mo momiji mo wasurarete nagame akashi no yuki no akebono fukaki chigiri wa kuchisenu enishi narubeshi |