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Content of this page
This page introduces the first half of the ninth volume of the Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike), “Atsumorisaigo”. You can listen to a modern translation of the synopsis of each scene, as well as the Heike biwa narration of that part. The text is transcribed from the score of Heikyoku (a performance of The Tale of the Heike accompanied by Heike biwa). The modern translation and narration are still very poor, but please take a look if you are interested.
Click here for the second half.
(Part 2) Synopsis of the modern-language translation of the Heike Monogatari “Atsumorisaigo” and the Heike biwa narrative
https://morinorijapan.com/tale-of-the-heike/atsumori-saigo-part2
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 1
6:08 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 1
saruhodoni ichinotaninoikusayaburenishikaba musashinokuninojiunin kumagainojirounaozanewa heikenokindattachino tasukebuneninorantote migiwanokataeyaochiyukitamouran appareyoikatakinioutekumabayatoomoi nagisawosashiteayumasurutokoroni kokoni nerinukinitsurunuutaruhitatareni moeginioinoyoroikite kuwagatauttarukabutonoowoshime koganezukurinotachiwohaki nijiushisaitarukiriunoyaoi shigedounoyumimotte renzennashigenaruumani kinbukurinnokurawooitenoritamaitarikerumushaikki umiezattouchiire okinarufunenimewokakete gorokutannbakarizooyogaseraru kumagai arehaikani yokitaishouguntokoso mimairasetesourae masanoumokatakiniushirowomisesasetamoumonokana kaesasetamae kaesasetamaeto oogiwoagetemanekikereba manekaretetottekaeshi nagisaniuchiagarantoshitamoutokorowo kumagainamiuchigiwaniteoshinarabe muzutokundedoudoochi totteosaetekubiwokakantote uchikabutowooshioonoketemitarikereba toshinoyowai jiurokukashichikano tenjhoubitonousugeshoushite kaneguronari.
modern translation
As the battle of Ichinotani was eventually lost, Kumagai Jiro Naozane, a resident of Musashi Province, thought that the Heike nobles would probably try to escape by swimming to the shore, so he walked towards the water’s edge, hoping to meet a worthy opponent and engage him in combat. There, a warrior wearing a haori coat embroidered with cranes on silk, wearing light green armor, with a helmet decorated with a scythe crest, holding a gold-made sword and a warrior on a chestnut horse with a gold-plated saddle, carrying a bow made of shidou bamboo and a quiver of twenty-four feathers, riding a horse with a gold-plated saddle. He dashed into the sea and swam about five or six paces towards a boat in the distance. Kumagai wondered what had happened to him, but he was a fine general. He turned his back on the enemy in a cowardly manner. Come back! Come back! He raised his fan and beckoned him to come back, and when he tried to climb back up onto the shore, Kumagai pushed him back into the surf, grabbed him, and knocked him down. When he tried to push up the inner helmet to take his head and behead him, he found that he was a young lord of about sixteen or seventeen years of age, with light makeup and blackened teeth.
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 2
0:55 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 2
wagakonokojirougayowaihodonite youganmakotonibireinarikereba izukunikatanawotatubeshitomooboezu kumagai ikanaruhitonitewatarasetamouzo nanorasetamae tasukemairasen tomoushikereba kouiunannjiwananimonozo nanorekikoudonotamaeba monosonsomononitewasourawanedomo musashinokuninojiunin kumagaijirounaozaneto nanorimousu.
modern translation
He was about the same age as his own son Kojiro, and he was also really beautiful, so he didn’t know where to put his sword. Kumagai said, “Who are you? Please tell me your name. I will help you.” The other person said, “Who are you like this? Tell me your name.” Kumagai said, “I am a person who is not even worth counting, a resident of Musashi Province, Kumagai Jiro Naozane.”
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 3
6:12 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 3
satewananjinioutewananorumajiizo nanorazutomokubiwotottehitonitoe mishirouzuruzotozo notamaikeru kumagai apparetaishougunya konohitoichininuchitatemattaritomo makubekiikusanikatsukotowayomoaraji matatasuketatemattaritomo kachiikusanimakurukotowayomoaraji wagakonokojiroogakesa ichinotaniniteusudeoutaruwodanimo naozanewakokorogurushiuoboyuruni utaretamainutokikitamaite konotononochichi sakosowanagekikanashimitamawannzurame ikanimoshitetasukemairasenntote ushirowokaerimitarikereba toikajiwaragojikkibakarideidekitari kumagainamidawoharaharatonagaite.
modern translation
“Then I can’t tell you my name. Even if I don’t tell you my name, you can take my head and ask someone else, and you’ll find out.” Kumagai is indeed a great general. Even if I were to defeat this one person, I would not win the battle that I should lose. And even if I were to save him, I would not lose the battle that I should win. Even if my own son Kojiro had received a slight wound at Ichinotani this morning, I would still feel pained, but if I heard that he had been killed, how much more grief would this lord’s father feel? I will somehow save him. As he turned around, he saw the armies of Tohi and Kajiwara approaching with about fifty cavalry. Kumagai shed tears as he
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 4
3:18 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 4
aregoransourae ikanimoshitetasukemairasentowazonjisouraedomo mikatanogunpyouunkanogotokunimichimichite yomonogashimairasesourawaji awareonajiuwa naozanegatenikaketatemattekoso nochinoonkhouyouwomoshimairasesourawame tomoushikereba tadananisamatoutoukubiwotore tozonotamaikeru.
modern translation
“Please look at that. I would like to help you somehow, but the enemy army is pouring in like a flood, and I can’t let you escape. Oh, if it’s the same, I will take you down with my own hands and offer you a proper funeral.” He said, “Just quickly take my head.”
Click here for the second half.
(Part 2) Synopsis of the modern-language translation of the Heike Monogatari “Atsumorisaigo” and the Heike biwa narrative
https://morinorijapan.com/tale-of-the-heike/atsumori-saigo-part2
