26. Prince Tei-shin: Tei-shin Kō
26
PRINCE TEI-SHIN
TEI-SHIN KŌ
Ogura yama
Mine no momiji-ba
Kokoro araba
Ima hito tabi no
Miyuki matanamu.
Mine no momiji-ba
Kokoro araba
Ima hito tabi no
Miyuki matanamu.
THE maples of Mount Ogura,
If they could understand,
Would keep their brilliant leaves, until
The Ruler of this land
Pass with his royal band.
The above is the posthumous name given to Tadahira Fujiwara, Imperial Chief Minister of State; he died about the year 936. It is related that the Emperor Uda, after his abdication, visited Mount Ogura in Yamashiro province, and was so greatly struck with the autumn tints of the maples, that he ordered Tada-hira to invite his son, the Emperor Daigo, to visit the scene; and this verse was the invitation. The picture shows the Emperor with his attendants, and the maples all around him.