By lyuesword | 12 October 2020 | 1 Comments
Samurai Death Poems 辞世詩 Ⅱ
Shiaku Sho’on
Shiaku was a Japanese monk who, at the time of his death, maintained that his roots were samurai. And so he wanted to die alongside his master instead of retiring as any monk would have done.
Before he died, he wrote this poem:
The Sharp-edged sword, unsheathed,
cuts through the void.
Within the raging fire
a cool wind blows.
cuts through the void.
Within the raging fire
a cool wind blows.
Asano Naganori (1667-1701)
Asano is especially known to every lover of Japanese culture as the master the 47 ronin entrusted themselves to avenge.
On the day of his death, Asano committed the crime of drawing a wakizashi in the shogun’s castle to murder Kira, who had provoked him with insults.
The assassination attempt failed. Asano was caught in the act and sentenced to commit seppuku.
This was his poem:
More than cherry blossoms,
inviting a wind to take them away.
I wonder what to do
with the rest of spring.
inviting a wind to take them away.
I wonder what to do
with the rest of spring.
Kakinomoto-no-Hitomaro
Kakinomoto was considered one of the best poets of his time.
He was a nobleman who served two emperors. His main role was that of court poet, accompanying the emperor on his travels and composing poems in his honour.
It is said that his last poem was dedicated to his wife Yosami-no-Otome, who was also a poet.
Not knowing
that my body lies
on Mount Kamo’s rocks,
my love
awaits me.
that my body lies
on Mount Kamo’s rocks,
my love
awaits me.
Prince Otsu (663-686)
Otsu was the third son of Emperor Temmu. When his father died, he was accused of treason —unjustly, it seems— and sentenced to death.
He ended up committing seppuku whit his wakizashi.
His last words were:
This is the last day
I shall see the mallards
crying over Lake Iware.
Then shall I disappear
into the clouds.
I shall see the mallards
crying over Lake Iware.
Then shall I disappear
into the clouds.
Yoshida Shoin (1830-1859)
Yoshida was a nationalist at heart. He grew up in a samurai family, but he completely hated the dictatorial figure of the shogun. For him, the country should be in the hands of the emperor.
At the age of 29, motivated by his nationalist ideas, he plotted a conspiracy to murder a high-ranking samurai officer.
His plans, however, were discovered, and he was sentenced to death.
Although before his death he wrote a letter to his parents thanking them for his education, his death poem was dedicated to the emperor:
Though my corpse rot
beneath the ground
of Musashi,
my soul remains forever
Japanese.
beneath the ground
of Musashi,
my soul remains forever
Japanese.
A beautiful poem that culminates a life of deep nationalist convictions.
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