Classical Japanese Database

Text #30.

by #1. Matsuo Bashô (松尾芭蕉)

English title:

Sabi is the color of a poem

Japanese title:

さびは句の色なり

Romanized title:

sabi wa ku no iro nari

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Commentary:

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Japanese:

さびは句の色なり。
閑寂なる句をいふにあらず。
たとへば、老人の甲冑をたいし
戦場に働き、
錦繍をかざり御宴に侍りても、
老の姿有るがごとし。

Romanization:

sabi wa ku no iro nari.
kanjaku naru ku wo iu ni arazu.
tatoeba, roujin no katchuu wo taishi
senjou ni hataraki,
kinshuu wo kazari goen ni haberitemo,
oi no sugata aru ga gotoshi.

Translation #31:

Sabi is the color of haiku.
It is different from tranquility.
For example, if an old man dresses up in armour and helmet
and goes to the battlefield,
or in colorful brocade kimono, attending (his lord)
at a banquet, [sabi] is like this old figure.