Basho's "Inside the Mountain Temple"
by Frank Watson
Translation


Inside the Mountain Temple

A full bloom

But outside, they do not know


Japanese


うち山や外様しらずの花盛り


Pronunciation


Uchiyama ya

Tozama shira-zu no

Hana-zakari


Literal Notes


[Inside Mountain = Uchiyama (temple in Nara)]

Outsider/visitor-from-outside/non-Tokugawa-feudal-lord know not ’s

Blossoms-in-full-bloom/blossom-viewing-party/a-woman’s-peak-beauty-age



The Uchiyama Temple was an esoteric Buddhist sect closed to outsiders, who could not see when the flowers bloomed inside.


All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2012