Hyakunin Isshu: Meet the Poets
Fujiwara no Sanekata Ason

Meaning

I cannot even tell you how I feel — like the smoldering fire of ibuki wormwood, my hidden love quietly burns.

Commentary

The poem is dense with wordplay. "Ibuki" echoes "ibu" (to breathe out), "sashimogusa" (mugwort) links to "sashimo" (even so, thus), and "moyu" means both "to burn" and for a flame to spread. Mount Ibuki in Ōmi was famous for its mugwort, used as moxa in traditional medicine.

Fujiwara no Sanekata was celebrated as a dashing and passionate courtier. He was reportedly banished to Mutsu Province after a confrontation with Fujiwara no Michinaga at court. He died in the far north without ever returning to the capital, becoming a figure of tragic romantic legend.

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