An Annotated Translation of the Poems of Ariwara no Narihira from the Shinkekinshu

Abstract

The love of beauty and elegance best describes the Heian period in which Ariwara no Narihira lived.1 And these ideals became an inherent part of Narihira, for he was born in 825, the son of Prince Aho and Princess Izu.2 Both were related to the Emperor Heijo, thus making him the Emperor’s grandons.3 Although Narihira possessed a right to the succession of the throne, he was not given a princely title, but granted the kabana title of Ariwara son in 826.4 Thus, nurtured in the center of courtly refinement, Narihira grew to be a man of elegance and became skillful at composing poetry.5 In 862, the Emperor conferred upon Narihira the Junior Fifth rank, Upper Grade.6 And in 863, he was appointed assistant captain of the Middle Palace Guards, Left Division. In the ensuing years, Narihira was transferred to the post of Provisional Minor Captain of Inner Palace Guards, Left Division. After a promotion to Junior Fourth rank, Lower Grade and several changes in posts, in 878 he was appointed Provisional Governor of the Province of Sagami. He later transferred his governorship to the Province of Mino. That was his final office for in 880, Narihira died at the age of fifty-five.7