Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry Quotes

“Invite Tranquility

The sea,--
Something to look at
When we are angry.”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry

“Steadfast Seas and Mountains

The lofty mountains and the seas,
Being mountains, being seas,
Both exist and are real.
But frail as flowers are the lives of men,
Passing phantoms of this world.”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry

“Winter and Summer

While it's summer people say
Winter is the better season.
Such is human reason.

Kamijima Onitsura”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry

“Sake

The jewel which brightly shines at night
Is precious, but cannot measure up
To the delights of drinking sake,
Drowning one's troubles in the cup.

Otomo no Tabito”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry

“An Elegy

A thousand times must we deplore
The lost will never come to life again;
Even as flowing water runs away,
Returning nevermore.

Lady Kanin”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry

“The Transitoriness of Life

To what may man's life be compared?
To a boat which rowed away,
Far in the sea, and left no track,
In the morning of the day.

Shami Mansai”
― Reiko Chiba, Hiroshige's Tokaido in Prints and Poetry