The Priestess of Ise 伊勢の斎宮
high priestess · imperial princess · Ise, Heian Japan · 9th century
An imperial princess who served the gods at the Ise Shrine. The Tales of Ise says only that she was a daughter of Emperor Montoku. This poem appears in the Kokinshu with no author named.
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9th century · The morning after she had gone by night to the man, who had come as an imperial huntsman, and returned: a poem sent with no other word
Did you come to me, or did I go to you? I cannot tell. Was it a dream or was it real? Was I asleep or awake?
君や来しわれや行きけむ思ほえず夢かうつつか寝てか覚めてかTales of Ise, episode 69
9th century · At dawn on the day he left, never having met her again, a sake dish was sent out from her side with only the first half of a poem written on it
Since ours was a bond so shallow that one could wade across and not be wet
かち人の渡れど濡れぬえにしあればTales of Ise, episode 69
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