“Death Poems” Convey Final Thoughts

Behind the Scenes | 最期の想いを伝える「辞世の句」

“Death Poems” Convey Final Thoughts

Written in forms like haiku or tanka (Japanese style short poems), death poems are part of Japanese culture and preserve a dying person’s final words. Since the middle ages, many warriors and educated people have left behind parting thoughts; in these a variety of sentiments can be discerned. These parting thoughts can be classified into several patterns. Those who left behind poems about the futility of life, about regrets or about their grief: Despite having risen to unify Japan from a deprived farming background, TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi’s parting words were about the futility of human life. “Appearing like dew, vanishing like dew, such is my life, even Naniwa’s (Osaka area) splendor was a dream within a dream.” GAMO Ujisato, a warrior in the Warring States period, wrote the following lament: “Even if the wind does not blow, the flowers will fall, but why are the spring storms so impatient?” Those who died peacefully: On successfully avenging the enemy of his master, Edo period samurai OISHI Kuranosuke was sentenced to commit hara-kiri by the shogun. He left behind the following words: “What peacefulness, my worries have cleared, and I can cast aside my body in this transient world with no cloud in sight.” SHIMA Akito, a Showa era poet who was executed for killing a person during a robbery, left the following poem: “In the warmth of the evening as tomorrow’s execution draws near, I never expected to have such a pure heart.” Those who died, by proudly sacrificing themselves for their country. FURUNO Shigemi, who died in the Pearl Harbor Attack during World War II, prepared himself for death by writing the following poem. “If the flower of my youth falls for your sake, my life has been worthwhile.” Just like in the Japanese national anthem “Kimi ga yo” (Your Reign), “you” (kimi) often refers to the Emperor, but it can also refer to a person one holds dear and this poem can be interpreted both ways. Another of these is the novelist MISHIMA Yukio, who committed suicide in protest of Japan’s political direction. “A small night storm blows, saying ‘falling is the essence of a flower,’ preceding those who hesitate.” Those who met the end by berating themselves or with humor: AMAKASU Masahiko, who led the way to establishing the failed puppet nation of Manchuria: “Big gamble, lost everything, completely cleaned out.” JIPPENSHA Ikku, who wrote “Tokaidochu Hizakurige” (a comical guide book) in the Edo period: “I am leaving now, with the smoke of incense sticks, hai (ash) goodbye.” Those who accepted their death through the metaphor of falling blossoms: HOSOKAWA Garasha, the wife of a warrior: “Knowing when to fall, flowers are flowers, people are people, and this is the way of the world.” A poem said to be created by great Zen priest RYOKAN in the Edo period: “Fallen cherry blossoms, and the remaining blossoms also fated to fall.”

俳句はいく
Haiku
haiku
ya
or
短歌たんか
tanka
tanka
のような
no youna
like
形式けいしき
keishiki
forms
de
in
かれる
kakareru
written
辞世じせい
jisei no ku wa/ha
death poems
日本文化にほんぶんか
Nihon’bunka
Japanese culture
no
of
ひと
hitotsu
part
で、
de,
are and
まえにした
shi o/wo mae ni shita
dying
ひと
hito no
(a) person’s
最期さいご
saigo no
final
言葉ことば
kotoba
words
です。
desu.
preserve
中世ちゅうせい
Chuusei
(the) middle ages
以降いこう
ikou ni
since
武将ぶしょう
bushou
(many) warriors
ya
and
文化人ぶんかじん
bunkajin ga
educated people
最期さいご
saigo no
parting
おもいを
omoi o/wo
thoughts
のこしてきました
nokoshitekimashita
have left behind
が、
ga,
[and]
そこには
soko niwa/ha
in these
さまざまな
samazamana
a variety of
感情かんじょう
kanjou ga
sentiments
れます。
yomitoremasu.
can be discerned
それらの
Sorera no
these
わかれの
wakare no
parting
おもいは
omoi wa/ha
thoughts
いくつかの
ikutsuka no
several
パターンぱたーん
pata-n
patterns
ni
into
分類ぶんるいできます。
bunrui dekimasu.
can be classified
人生じんせい
Jinsei
(about) life
no
of
むなしさ
munashisa
(the) futility
ya
or
未練みれん
miren,
(about) regrets
なげきを
nageki o/wo
(about their) grief
ku ni
poems
のこした
nokoshita
(who) left behind
ひとたち:
hitotachi:
those
まずしい
Mazushii
deprived
農民のうみん
noumin no
farming
mi
(a) background
から
kara
from
日本にほん
Nihon o/wo
Japan
統一とういつする
touitsu suru
to unify
までになった
made ni natta
having risen
にもかかわらず、
nimo kakawarazu
despite
豊臣とよとみ秀吉ひでよし
TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi no
Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s
最期さいご
saigo no
parting
言葉ことば
kotoba wa/ha
words
人生じんせい
jinsei
human life
no
of
むなしさ
munashisa
(about the) futility
でした。
deshita.
were
つゆ
“Tsuyu
dew
のように
no you ni
like
まれ、
umare,
appearing
つゆ
tsuyu
dew
のように
no you ni
like
えていく
kieteiku
vanishing
わが
waga mi,
such is my life
浪速なにわ
Naniwa
Naniwa’s
大阪おおさか)での
(Osaka) de no
Osaka
栄華えいが
eiga
splendor
mo
even
ゆめ
yume no
(a) dream
なかの
naka no
within
ゆめ
yume
(a) dream
だ」。
da.”
was
つゆ落ちつゆ
(Tsuyu to ochi tsuyu to
-
えにし
kienishi
-
かな
wagami kana
-
浪速なにわのことも
Naniwa no koto mo
-
ゆめのまたゆめ
yume no mata yume)
-
戦国せんごく
Sengoku
(in the) Warring States period
武将ぶしょう
bushou no
(a) warrior
蒲生がもう氏郷うじさとは、
GAMOU Ujisato wa/ha,
Gamo Ujisato
つぎのようになげきました。
tsugino youni nagekimashita.
(wrote the) following lament
かぜ
“Kaze ga
(the) wind
かなく
fukanaku
does not blow
ても
temo
even if
はな
hana wa/ha
(the) flowers
chiru
will fall
のに、
noni,
but
なぜ
naze
why
はるあらし
haruno arashi wa/ha
(the) spring storms
みじかいのか」。
ki ga mijikai noka.”
(are) so impatient
かぎりあれば
(Kagiri areba
-
かねど
fukanedo
-
はな
hana wa/ha
-
るものを
chiru mono o/wo
-
心短こころみじか
kokoro mijikaki
-
はる山風やまかぜ
haru no yamakaze)
-
やすらぎを
Yasuragi o/wo
peacefully
かんじて
kanjite
[feeling]
くなった
nakunatta
(who) died
ひと
hito:
those
江戸えど時代じだい
Edo’jidai no
Edo period
武士ぶし
bushi de
samurai
主君しゅくん
shukun
(his) master
no
of
仇討あだうち
adauchi o/wo
avenging (the) enemy
たした
hatashita
on successfully
大石おおいし内蔵助くらのすけは、
OOISHI Kuranosuke wa/ha,
Oishi Kuranosuke
将軍しょうぐん
shougun
(the) shogun
から
kara
by
切腹せっぷく
seppuku o/wo
to commit hara-kiri
わたされます。
ii watasaremasu.
was sentenced
かれ
Kare wa/ha
he
つぎ
tsugi no
following
言葉ことば
kotoba o/wo
(the) words
のこしています。
nokoshite imasu.
left behind
「なんとおだやかなことか!
“Nanto odayakana koto ka!
what peacefulness
心配事しんぱいごと
Shinpaigoto wa/ha
(my) worries
なにもない。
nanimonai.
have cleared
わたし
Watashi wa/ha
(and) I
っていく。
satteiku.
can cast aside (my) body
つき
Tsuki
sight <moon>
ni
in
くものない
kumo no nai
with no cloud
かりのこのから」。
kari no kono yo kara.”
in this transient world
(あら
(Ara
-
たの
tanoshi
-
おもいははれるる
omoi wa/ha haruru
-
つる
mi wa/ha sutsuru
-
浮世うきよつき
ukiyo no tsukini
-
かかるくもなし)
kakaru kumo nashi)
-
強盗ごうとう殺人さつじん
Goutou’satsujin
killing (a) person during (a) robbery
de
for
処刑しょけいされた
shokei sareta
(who) was executed
昭和しょうわ時代じだい
Shouwa no jidai no
Showa era
歌人かじん
kajin,
(a) poet
しま秋人あきとは、
SHIMA Akito wa/ha,
Shima Akito
つぎ
tsugi no
following
ku o/wo
(the) poem
のこしました。
nokoshimashita.
left
「こんなに
“Konnna ni
such
きよ
kiyoi
pure
こころ
kokoro ga
(a) heart
あるとは
aru towa/ha
to have
づかずに、
kizukazu ni,
(I) never expected
明日あすけい
asu no kei wa/ha
tomorrow’s execution
せまっている。
sematte iru.
(as) draws near
この
Kono
the
よる
yoru wa/ha
evening
あたたかい」。
atatakai.”
(in the) warmth (of)
(この
(Kono
-
めるこころ
sumeru kokoro
-
るとは
aru towa/ha
-
らず
shirazu
-
kite
-
刑死けいし明日あす
keisi no asu ni
-
せまよる
semaru yoru
-
あたたかし)
atatakashi)
-
くに
Kuni
(their) country
のために
no tame ni
for
ほこたか
hokori’takaku
proudly
自分じぶん
jibun o/wo
themselves
犠牲ぎせいにして
gisei ni shite
by sacrificing
んだ
shinda
(who) died
ひとたち:
hitotachi:
those
第二次だいにじ世界せかい大戦たいせん
Dai’niji Sekai’taisen
World War II
no
during
真珠湾しんじゅわん攻撃こうげき
Shinjuwan kougeki
the Pearl Harbor Attack
de
in
くなった
nakunatta
(who) died
古野ふるの繁實しげみ
FURUNO Shigemi wa/ha
Furuno Shigemi
覚悟かくご
shi o/wo kakugo shi
prepared himself for death
つぎ
tsugi no ku o/wo
(the) following poem
きました。
kakimashita.
(by) writing
青春せいしゅん
Seishun
(my) youth
no
of
はなが、
hana ga,
(the) flower
きみ
kimi no
your
ために
tameni
for sake
れるの
chireru no
falls
なら、
nara,
if
わたし一生いっしょう
watashi no isshou wa/ha
my life
価値かちがあった」。
kachi ga atta.
has been worthwhile
きみのため
(Kimi no tame
-
なに
nanika
-
しまん
oshiman
-
若桜わかざくら
wakazakura
-
って
chitte
-
甲斐かいある
kai aru
-
いのちなりせば)
inochi nariseba)
-
きみ」は、
“Kimi” wa/ha,
you
日本にほん
Nihon no
Japanese
国歌こっか
kokka
(the) national anthem
きみ
“Kimi ga yo”
your reign
no
in
ように
youni
just like
おおくは
ooku wa/ha
often
天皇てんのう陛下へいか
Tennou’heika o/wo
the Emperor
します
sashimasu
refers to
が、
ga,
but
こころめたひと
kokoro ni himeta hito o/wo
(a) person one holds dear
すこと
sasu koto
refer to
mo
also
あり、
ari,
it can and
この
kono ku wa/ha
this poem
両方りょうほう
ryouhou no
both ways
解釈かいしゃくができます。
kaishaku ga dekimasu.
can be interpreted
日本にほん
Nihon no
Japan’s
政治せいじ
seiji no
political
方向性ほうこうせい
houkousei o/wo
direction
うれいて
ureite
in protest of
自殺じさつした、
jisatsu shita,
(who) committed suicide
小説家しょうせつか
shousetsuka no
(the) novelist
三島みしま由紀夫ゆきお
MISHIMA Yukio mo
Mishima Yukio
その一人ひとり
sono hitori
another of these
です。
desu.
is
ることを
“Chirukoto o/wo
[falling]
しむ
oshimu
(who) hesitate
ひとたちに、
hitotachi ni,
those
さきがけて
sakigakete
preceding
ることが
chiru koto ga
falling
はな
hana
(a) flower
no
of
本質ほんしつ
honshitsu
is (the) essence
と、
to,
saying
fuku
blows
よる
yoru no
night
ちいさな
chiisana
small
あらし」。
arashi.”
(a) storm
るを
(Chiru o/wo
-
いとう
itou
-
にも
yo nimo
-
ひとにも
hito nimo
-
さきがけて
sakigakete
-
るこそはな
chiru koso hana to
-
小夜嵐さよあらし
fuku sayo’arashi)
-
みずからの人生じんせい
Mizukara no jinsei o/wo
[their life]
自虐的じぎゃくてきに、
jigyakutekini,
by berating themselves
あるいは
arui wa/ha
or
わら
warai
humor
de
with
めくくった
shimekukutta
(who) met the end
ひと
hito:
those
失敗しっぱいわった
Shippai ni owatta
failed
傀儡かいらい国家こっか
kairai’kokka
(the) puppet nation
no
of
満州国まんしゅうこく
Manshuu’koku
Manchuria
建国けんこく
kenkoku o/wo
establishing
先導せんどうした
sendou shita
(who) led (the) way to
甘粕あまかす正彦まさひこ
AMAKASU Masahiko wa/ha
Amakasu Masahiko
おおばくち
“Oobakuchi
big gamble
ぐるみいで
migurumi nuide
lost everything
すってんてん」。
suttenten.”
completely cleaned out
江戸えど時代じだい
Edo’jidai
(the) Edo period
ni
in
わらいをまじえた
warai o/wo majieta
comical [including]
ガイドがいどブックぶっく
gaido’bukku
(a) guide book
東海道とうかいどうちゅう膝栗毛ひざくりげ
“Toukai douchuu Hizakurige”
Tokaidochu Hizakurige
かいいた
o/wo kaita
(who) wrote
十返舎一九じっぺんしゃいっく
JIPPENSHA Ikku wa/ha
Jippensha Ikku
「このにそれではおさらばする、
“Konoyo ni soredewa/ha osaraba suru,
(I) am leaving now
線香せんこう
senkou
incense sticks
no
of
けむり
kemuri
(the) smoke
とともに
to tomoni
with
はい(はい
hai (hai)
hai ash
さようなら」
sayounara.
goodbye
(このをば
(Konoyo o/wo ba
-
どりゃおいとまに
dorya oitoma ni
-
線香せんこう
senkou no
-
けむりとともに
kemuri to tomoni
-
はいさようなら)
hai sayounara)
-
はな
Chiriyuku hana ni
falling blossoms
たとえて
tatoete
through (the) metaphor of
shi o/wo
(their) death
れた
ukeireta
(who) accepted
ひと:
hito:
those
武将ぶしょう
Bushou
(a) warrior
no
of
つま
tsuma no
(the) wife
細川ほそかわガラシャがらしゃ
HOSOKAWA Garasha wa/ha
Hosokawa Garasha
“Chiru
to fall
とき
toki o/wo
when
っているからこそ、
shitte iru kara koso,
knowing
はなはなであり
hana wa/ha hana de ari
flowers are flowers
ひとひとであるのです。
hito wa/ha hito de aru no desu.
people are people
これが
Kore ga
(and) this
yo
(the) world
no
of
なら
narai
(the) way
なのです」。
nano desu.”
is
りぬべき
(Chirinubeki
-
ときりてこそ
toki shirite koso
-
なか
yo no naka no
-
はなはななれ
hana mo hana nare
-
ひとひとなれ)
hito mo hito nare)
-
江戸えど時代じだい
Edo’jidai
(the) Edo period
no
in
ぜん名僧めいそう
Zen no meisou,
great Zen priest
良寛りょうかん
RYOUKAN no
Ryokan
さく
saku
created by
とされる
to sareru
said to be
ku.
(a) poem
っていく
“Chitteiku
fallen
さくらはなびら、
sakura no hanabira,
cherry blossoms
そして
soshite
and
のこった
nokotta
(the) remaining
はなびら
hanabira
blossoms
mo
also
っていく、
chitteiku,
to fall
それが
sore ga yo no
[that’s]
さだめ」。
sadame.”
fated
さくら
(Chiru sakura
-
のこさくら
nokoru sakura mo
-
chiru
-
さくら
sakura)
-

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