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Eightfold Fence.

Eightfold rising clouds
build an eightfold fence
an eightfold Izumo fence
wherein to keep my bride—
oh! splendid eightfold fence.



Notes

Attributed to the god Susanoo. This is the first poem to be found in the kojiki the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry.

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Comments

  • Malabu
    October 12, 2005
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    spirit or goddess of love be bound by an eightfold cloud to keep her...Im not sure I understand this poem...sounds beautiful....but if a heart be the cloud with a fence....then I would understand this perfectly....just my thoughts...
    Huggs
    Malabu


  • AndrewHide
    October 12, 2005
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    There is possibly more debate over this poem than any other in the history of poetry. Was it in fact written by the god Susanoo? Was it a prayer to the Izumo gods? a wedding song or a poem? Due to the date of the publication, it also gives rise to the other debate long associated with this piece, was it originally written as a waka/tanka poem or was it from an earlier style, the sedoka, but altered to fit the now fasionable waka/tanka form? And if so, how would it have been in its earlier form?

    A debate we shall probably never know, the sedoka has very few written examples left especially as it was a spoken poem rather than one written.
    But to consider the unknown origins of this piece and the thoughts contained within are surely a must for any student of Japanese poetry.


    Andrew