Basho, M. (2004) "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" Translated by Dr Tim Chilcott. UK: @http://www.tclt.org.uk
4 - Photo Unsplash - Bloomin Redd F
Dear Friends,
If you are having a long weekend, enjoy. The next one for us is in June. Here we are finally on our way. Enjoy. The Call to Action is at the end of this post.
<草加＞
ことし元 二とせにや、奥羽長途の行脚、只かりそめに思ひたち
て呉天に白髪の恨を重ぬといへ共耳にふれていまだめに見ぬさか
ひ若生て帰らばと定なき頼の末をかけ、其日漸早加と宿にたど
り着にけり。痩骨の肩にかとれる物先くるしむ。只身すがらにと
出立侍を、帋子一衣は夜の防ぎ、ゆかた雨具墨筆のたぐひ、ある
はさりがたき餞などしたるはさすがに打捨がたくて、路次の頃と
なれるこそわりなけれ.
So that year - the second year of Genroku [1689] - I had suddenly taken it into my head to make the long journey into the deep north, to see with my own eyes places that I had only heard about, despite hardships enough to turn my hair white. I should be lucky to come back alive, but I staked my fortune on that uncertain hope.
We barely managed to reach the post-town of Soka by nightfall. My greatest burden was the pack I carried on my thin, bony shoulders. I had planned to set out travelling light, but had ended up taking a paper coat to keep out the cold at night, a cotton dressing gown, rainwear, and ink and brushes, as well as various farewell presents that I could not refuse and that had to be accepted as burdens on the way.
<室の八嶋＞
室の八嶋に詣す。同行管良が日、「此神は木の花さくや姫の神と
申て富士一躰世。無戸室に入て焼給ふちかひのみ中に、火々出見
のみこと生れ給ひしより室の八嶋と申。又煙を讀習し侍もこの謂
他」。将このしろといふ魚を禁ず。縁記の旨世に傳ふ事も待し。
We went to see the shrine of Muro-no-yashima [The Oven-like Chamber]. Sora, my travelling companion, told me its story: 'The shrine is dedicated to Konohana Sakuya Hime [Princess of Flowering Blossoms], the goddess worshipped at Mount Fuji. The name Muro-no-yashima refers to the chamber that the goddess entered and set on fire, to prove that her pregnancy was legitimate. The son she bore there was called Hohodemi [Born of the Flames]. This is why poems about the place often mention smoke.' This must also be the reason why a fish called konoshiro is never eaten here. When grilled, it smells like burning human flesh.
＜仏五左衛門＞
卅日、日光山の禁に泊る。あるじの云けるやう、「我名を佛五左
衛門と五。萬正直を旨とする故に人かくは申侍まと、一夜の草の
枕も打解て休み給へ」と五。いかなる仏の濁世塵士に示現して、
かとる桑門の乞食順礼ごときの人をたすけ給ふにやとあるじのな
す事に心をとどめてみるに、唯無智無分別にして正直偏固の者せ
。剛毅木診の仁に近きたぐひ気裏の清質光尊ぶべし。
On the last night of the third month [19 May], we found lodgings at the foot of Mount Nikko. The innkeeper introduced himself as Gozaemon the Buddha. 'I'm known as that because I put honesty first and foremost in everything I do. You can sleep here safe tonight with your minds at ease.' We wondered what kind of Buddha it was that had taken on human form in this troubled, filthy world to help two beggar pilgrims. I observed him carefully, and saw that, however ignorant or clumsy he might have seemed, he was indeed a man of stubborn honesty. He was a man close to the Confucian ideal of Perfection: strong, simple, straightforward. I found his purity of heart most admirable.
The last time I visited Malaga, I was mesmerized by the magnificent Picasso Museum. After spending a few hours there, I finally grasped the essence of Picasso's art. It was a thrilling experience to leave with a newfound understanding of his work. Interestingly, I discovered that Picasso spent his time painting on my birthday, which was a fascinating coincidence. He painted "Busto de hombre, Mougins", while I was born with a heart full of creativity and passion which was thwarted for a long time. I am glad those times are ending.
To my delight, as I prepared for the launch of my new children's book series, "The Beehive Secrets," I found a reference to my book's release date in Basho’s. The universe works in mysterious ways, and I couldn't be more excited to discover these parallel happenings and references that speak to the purity of the heart.
The buzz is building as I prepare to reveal the cover of my upcoming book, "Magical Meadows," next week. It's an exhilarating feeling to bring my vision to life and share it with the world. As if that wasn't enough, I'm also thrilled to be celebrating the one-year anniversary of "Light Shadow and Ink" with an interview.
Moreover, I'm delighted to introduce you to another talented children's author and her new book, which features a dragon just like mine! I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival, and I can't wait to discover the dragon's name. In my book, my dragon is Kaida, and she embarks on an adventure with her friend, Bella, the honey bee. With so much excitement and creativity, who knows what other magical coincidences await us?
I’ll be preparing the interview and continuing with the work on the children’s book series. I am really excited to start the “conversations” that I had promised you before.
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