Walking Along the Nankaido

Course 3Towards the Ruins of Kiikokubunji Temple

Katsuragi Town Area, Areas Associated with the Manyo Poems

Seyama and Imoyama

About 25 kilometers west from Mt. Matsuchiyama which was the border mountain in the Manyo era, there are two mountains; Seyama and Imoyama. There are two theories that tell which mountains are actually these mountains. One of the theories is that the mountains are the two that sits across the Kinokawa river; the Seyama (altitude 168m, on the north side) and the Choja-yashiki (altitude 124m, on the south side), and this theory is most known today. There has been another theory of which Motoori Uchito (a national scholar who served for the Kishu-han) put forward in the Edo period that says the two peaks of Seyama on the right bank of the Kinokawa river are those that were mentioned in the Manyoshu. The name “Seyama” is also clearly written in the “Nihon Shoki”. It can be found in the Imperial edict on the Taika Kaishin in 646. The Seyama known today is made of the two peaks; Shiroyama (168m), and Hachibuseyama (163m).

Maybe your trip of the Manyo might be much more interesting if you decide which theory might be right, as you take a stroll along the path along the mountains where the Nankaido used to be. (Please make sure that the route 24 is not Nankaido)

Now, here are the 15 poems about the two mountains; Seyama and Imoyama.

Koreya kono yamatoni shitewa waga kofuru kijini aritoiu nani ofu senoyama

So, this is the famous Mt. Seyama, the mountain on the way to Kinokuni that I wanted to see since I was in Yamato!

（No1、35）

Takuhire no kakemaku hoshiki imo no nao kono senoyamani kakeba ikaniaramu

Why don’t we call this Mt. Senoyama “Wife’s Mountain” as I miss my wife?

（No3、285）

Yoroshinae wagase no kimi no oikinishi kono senoyamao imotoha yobaji

I won’t call Mt. Seyama “wife” now as it already has a good name of “Husband” with the same meaning as my master.

（No3、286）

Maki no ha no shinafu senoyama shinohazute wagakoe yukeba konoha shirikemu

Mt. Seyama is pleasantly covered with beautiful tree leaves although I do not have time to cherish its beauty as I cross the mountain. I’m sure the leaves will understand my feelings.

（No3、291）

Senoyamani momichi tsuneshiku kamiokano yamano momichiwa kyoka chiruramu

On Mt. Seyama, the autumn leaves cover the ground. Autumn leaves might be falling on this day in Kamioka of Yamato, where I miss much.

（No9、1676）

Okureite Koitsutsuarazuwa Kinokunino Imosenoyamani Aramashimonowo

Rather than staying in the city and anxiously waiting for your return, I’d want to be the Mt. Imose in Kinokuni. That way we can always happily be together.

（No4、544）

Asagoromo kireba natsukashi kinokunino imosenoyamani asamaku wagimo

When I wear these hemp clothes, I recall about the girl who was seeding hemp seeds on Mt. Imoseyama in Kinokuni.

（No7、1195、Fujiwara No Maetukimi）

Kijinikoso imoyama aritoie tamakushige futakamiyamamo imokoso arikere

Though it has been said that Mt. Imoyama is on the Kiji Road, I noticed that there was Mt. Imoyama on this Mt. Futakamiyama in Yamato, too.

（No7、1098）

Senoyamani tadani mukaeru imonoyama kotoyuruseyamo uchihashi watasu

There is a wooden board bridge across the river in between the two mountains Mt. Senoyama and Mt. Imonoyama which is located right in front of it perhaps because she granted his wish.

（No7、1193）

Imoni koi wagakoe yukeba senoyamano imoni koizute arugatomoshisa

As I go over Mt. Seyama missing that girl in the city, I get jealous of how Mt. Seyama and Mt. Imoyama are happily together.

（No7、1208）

Hitoni araba hahaga managoso asamoyoshi kinokawanoheno imotosenoyama

Mt. Imoyama and Mt. Seyama lined up peacefully along the banks of the Kinokawa river looks like a mother’s beloved child.

（No7、1209）

Wagimokoni agakoi yukeba tomoshikumo narabiirukamo imotosenoyama

As I go on the Kiji road missing that girl in the city, I get jealous of how Mt. Senoyama and Mt. Imonoyama look happy together, side by side.

（No7、1210）

Imoga atari imazo wagayuku menomidani wareni miekoso kototohazutomo

I am walking along the foot of Mt. Imoyama. My wife, whom I left back home, please show your face before me. I just want to see your face even if we can’t exchange words.

（No7、1211）

Ohonamuchi sukunamikamino tsukurashishi imosenoyamao mirakushi yoshimo

How beautiful Mt. Imosenoyama is, created by the gods of Ohnanji and Sukunahikona.

（No7、1247、KAKINOMOTO no Hitomaro）

Kinokunino hamani yorutoiu ahabitama hirihamutoiite imonoyama senoyama koete yukishikimi itsukimasamuto tamahokono michiniidetachi yufurao wagatoishikaba yufurano wareni tsuguraku wagimokoya nagamatsu kimiwa okitsunami kiyoru shiratama hetsunamino yosuru shiratama motomutozo kimigakimasanu hirifutozo kimiwa kimasanu hisanaraba ima nanukadami hayakuaraba imafutsukadami aramutozo kimiha kikoshishi nakoiso wagimo

My beloved told me that he would pick pearls washed up onto the beach in Kinokuni and went over the mountains of Seyama and Imoyama. I went up to the road in the evening to forecast when he could come back. The fortune told me, “That person you are waiting for is looking for a white ball coming towards the waves of the gods and the waves of the shore and hasn’t come home yet. He will come back in about two days at shortest, seven days at longest so don’t miss him so much.”

（No13、3318）

　　　　Poem in response

Tadani yukazu koyu kosejikara ihasefumi motomezo wagakoshi koite subenami

（No13、3320）