plants in Man’yō-shū

Man' yo Botanical Garden(Man'yo shokubutuen) is located close together with Casuga Grand Shrine( Casuga-Tasha). There various plants from ancient times, especially sung in the verses for Man’yō-shū,The Anthology of Myriad (Ten Thousand) Leaves(750), can be observed, and visitors can enjoy a variety of  seasonable plants and flowers.

Many plants are lined with tiles on each of them Tanka poem, any botany is sung in it, is written.

Sort of iris are in full flourish.

Hydrangeas  wacropylla originated in Japan are bloomimg in a quiet air

Some plants used to have different names from those of current, for example....

  　　　　


　冬ごもり　春去り来れば　鳴かざりし　鳥も来鳴きぬ　咲かざりし　花も咲けれど　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　山を茂（し）み入りても取らず　草深み　取りても見ず、、、
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　額田王

When spring comes,

bursting winter's bonds,

birds that were still

come out crying

and flowers that lay unopening

split into blossoms.

But, the hillsides being overgrown,

I may go among the foliage

yet cannot pick those flowers.

The grass being rank,

I may pick

yet cannot examine them...Nukata-no-Ohkimi
( translated by Hideo Levy)

Man’yō-shū complies many Chouka( literally long song with 7,5,7,5,7,5...7,7 syllables for Japanese), as well as Tanka that was from the last phrase 5,7,5,7,7(literally short song).

According to some expressions in verses,we can see in what manner flowers and plants used to be appreciated by ancient people. Picking and examining them were quite important for them to admire any plant.

春の日に　張れる柳を　取り持ちて　見れば都の　大路思ほゆ
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　大伴家持

　

As I break off and admire

a branch of the willow

swelling large on a spring day,

my mind turns

to the broad avenues of the capital
(Ohtomo-no-Yakamochi)(translated by Hideo Levy)

Thinking of the way of ancient people, I looked at the willow trees along Sarusawa pond.