Late Autumn・晩秋

Poetic Name (Mei)

銘 

Description / source poetry

 


Withered Tips / Threadbare Heath

末枯
Ura-gare

Ura-gare describes the withering tips of leaves in late Autumn. This poetic name comes from the following poem by Kobori Enshū. Enshū used the whole poem as a name for one of his chashaku.

 

色替露をは袖にをきまよひうらかれてゆく野邊の秋哉

irogatsuyu o ba, sode ni okimayoi uragareteyuku nobe no aki nari

 

Autumn kaleidoscope dew

On these draping leaves whose tips will wither

Blown about a threadbare heath

Transformed by the ageing Earth
Image: @minenomatsu


Sparrow of the Rice Fields
-
Flock of Sparrows

稲雀
Inasuzume

群雀
Murasuzume

As the fields of rice approach harvest, flocks of sparrows can be seen swarming through the heavy ears of rice.


Rich Harvest

豊の秋
Toyo no aki 

Some years the rice harvest is particularly abundant. 'Toyo no aki' means 'abundant autumn'.

Image: @minenomatsu


Scarlet Autumn Leaves

散紅葉
Chiru momiji 

Falling Autumn leaves

Viewed through tears of awe which drop,

Rusted with scarlet

 

たふとがる / tōtogaru

涙やそめて / namida ya somete

散紅葉 / chiru momiji

 

This poem by Bashō describes a moment when one is overcome by the beauty of the falling autumn leaves. Awe generates tears in the eyes, which absorb the scarlet and rusty hues of the leaves. Tears fall, as the leaves fall, coloured with Autumn.

Image: @minenomatsu


Shower of Coloured Leaves 

木の葉雨
Konohaame

‘Konohaame’ refers to autumn leaves fluttering in the wind like rain. Walking around town this time of year you can see such scenes of leaves dancing in the wind. During the hotter months these leaves provided shade and we enjoyed their lush green. Then in autumn we enjoyed their brilliant colours. Having played their part in the grand scheme of things, the leaves are carried by the wind back to the earth.

Image: @minenomatsu


North Wind 

木枯らし
Kogarashi 

Towards the end of Autumn, piercing winds blow from the North. These winds cripple the last of the Autumn leaves. When the winds visit again days later, the strong gusts sweep the last autumn leaves from their trees. Seeing this gives us an opportunity to reflect on impermanence (mujyō).

 

Bashō use Kogarashi in following poem:

木枯に / kogarashi ni

岩吹きとがる / iwa fukitogaru

杉間かな / sugima kana

 

North winds blow

the rocks sharpened

among the cedars

 

Image: @minenomatsu


Thousand Year Cedar

千歳の杉
Chitose no Sugi

Month’s end, no moon:

A thousand year old cedar

Embraced by a windstorm

みそか月なし

千とせの杉を

 

抱あらし
Misoka tsuki nashi
Chitose no sugi o
Daku arashi
- Bashō

One may use 'Chitose no sugi' or 'Daku arashi' as a poetic name for chashaku, but it is sugested to use whole poem as chashaku name.
For more info about whole poems for chashaku refer to section 5 of this essay

 

Image: @minenomatsu


Autumn Rust

秋さぶ
Akisabu

Etymologically, Akisabu equates to “autumn rust”. The meaning refers to the increasing feelings of loneliness and emptiness that overcome us in late autumn. 

Image: @minenomatsu


Green Tangerine

青蜜柑
Aomikan

The autumn departs

Yet something holds promise

Green tangerines

Yuku aki no

Nao tanomoshi ya
Aomikan 

- Bashō


Frost-bitten Leaves

霜枯

Shimogare 

In late autumn when a frost turns leaves black, the black withered leaves are referred to as ‘shimogare’.

 Image: @minenomatsu


Deep Mountain Road

深山路 

Miyamaji 

Miyama is a poetic name for 'mountain' steeped in nuance. The 'mi' can refer to 'beautiful', 'deep' in the sense 'deep in the mountains' and 'deep' in the sense of 'profound'. Trekking through the mountains in late autumn is a metaphor for exploring the profound depths of consciousnex'ss.

Image: @minenomatsu


Whitered Tips

末枯 

Uragare 

Towards the end of autumn, the tips of leaves and branches start to curl and wither, pointing to the onset of winter.

 


Clay-cold Rouge

寒紅

Kanbeni

In the past, kuchibeni (red lipstick) was made from the beni flower and sold in small sake cups. The kuchibeni made in cold weather was considered the best quality. The very best kuchibeni was that sold on the day of the ox in winter (nowadays the end of January in Japan). This kuchibeni was also said to prevent ulcers.

 


Cat-nap by the Coals

竈猫

Kamado Neko

Kamado = cooking stove; neko = cat

 

Attracted by the radiant warmth of the fire, a cat curls up to take an afternoon siesta