Read, reflect, pray
Spring sunlight: waka
春の日は
Author not named
Poem and reading aid
春の日は
haruno hiha
南円堂に
nan'endouni
かがやきて
kagayakite
三笠の山に
mikasano yamani
晴るるうす雲
haruruusu gumo
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
Meaning in English
Spring sunlight shines on the Southern Round Hall; the thin clouds over Mount Mikasa clear away.
Background and attribution
A pilgrimage song of Kōfukuji’s Nan’endō, Saikoku temple 9, whose principal image is Fukūkenjaku Kannon. Its link to Kannon comes through this particular temple.
The English meaning and explanation are this site’s own rendering. The poem’s speaker, author and object of devotion are not necessarily the same.
Connected figures
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.