荒城の月 [Kōjō no Tsuki]
Words : 土井晩翠 [DOI Bansui]
Music : 滝廉太郎 [TAKI Rentarō], 山田耕作 [YAMADA Kōsaku]
“Kojo no Tsuki” is a song with lyrics by Bansui Doi and music by Rentarō Taki. It was released in 1901.
It seems to be widely known overseas, but there are many misunderstandings. For example, many people think this song is traditional Japanese music, as jazz pianist Thelonious Monk covered it as “Japanese Folk Song.” However, from an academic perspective, this song is actually one of the earliest examples of Western music in Japanese history. It uses a Western scale and was not intended to be played with traditional instruments.
One reason people think this is traditional Japanese music might be because the scale resembles the traditional Japanese scale “Miyako-bushi.”
Also, the lyrics are written in a rhythm of seven and five, which contributes to its Japanese feel. The numbers seven and five refer to the number of syllables (more precisely, moras) in the lyrics. Traditional Japanese poetry like haiku and waka are written in this rhythm.
In 1868, Japan ended the samurai era and entered the modern Meiji era. During this period, a lot of Western culture was introduced. Many Western songs were translated, but the lyrics were awkward because they were forcibly translated into Japanese. So, lyrics with a seven-five rhythm, which suit the Japanese language, were created. This melody, which retains a Japanese flavor, was born against this background.
Now, Bansui Doi’s poem contains many archaic and poetic expressions, so detailed explanations and translations will be omitted in this article.
春 高楼の 花の宴
haru kōrō no hana no en
It’s spring. A banquet is being held in a tall building while enjoying the flowers.
めぐる盃 かげさして
meguru sakazuki kage sashite
They are passing around cups of sake. Shadows are reflected in them.
千代の松が枝 わけ出でし
chiyo no matsu ga e wakeideshi
The light that falls from the magnificent pine branches. It seems to be the light of the moon.
むかしの光 いまいずこ
mukashi no hikari ima izuko
Such scenes must have existed in the past, but none of it remains now.
That’s the first verse. Let’s look at the second verse in its entirety.
秋 陣営の 霜の色
aki jin’ei no shimo no iro
鳴きゆく雁の 数見せて
naki yuku kari no kazu misete
植うる剣に 照りそいし
uuru tsurugi ni terisoishi
むかしの光 いまいずこ
mukashi no hikari ima izuko
There are some interpretations here. Overall, it seems the author imagines the scene of soldiers raising their voices on the battlefield.
今 荒城の 夜半の月
ima kōjō no yowa no tsuki
かわらぬ光 誰がためぞ
kawaranu hikari ta ga tamezo
The author stands in the ruins of a deserted castle, looking at the midnight moon, and murmurs, “Who does this moonlight shine for?”
垣に残るは ただかつら
kaki ni nokoru wa tada katsura
松にうたうは ただ嵐
matsu ni utau wa tada arashi
“Only ivy remains on the stone walls. The wind is the only thing that sings through the pine branches.”
天上 影は 変らねど
tenjō kage wa kawaranedo
栄枯は移る 世のすがた
eiko wa utsuru yo no sugata
写さんとてか 今もなお
utsusantoteka ima mo nao
ああ荒城の 夜半の月
aa kōjō no yowa no tsuki
The shadows cast by the moon remain unchanged, but the rise and fall of the world continue to change.
The moonlight reflects this even now.
During the transition from the samurai era to the modern Meiji era, there was a war called the Boshin War wiki. One of the battlefields was the castle “Tsuruga-jo,” where many young soldiers committed suicide. This castle is said to be one of the models for this song”.
The background of these lyrics seems to reflect the end of the samurai era.
Now, “Kōjō no Tsuki” is a song composed by Rentarō Taki at the age of 22. Unfortunately, he died of tuberculosis two years later.
In 1917, Kōsaku Yamada, famous for composing “Akatonbo,” made changes to the melody of this song. It was just a half-note difference, but he did so because he thought the original melody would not be perceived as Japanese when played to foreigners. The widely known version is the modified one.
It is interesting that it was made with consideration for being heard by foreigners from this time. And today, I am honored to introduce it to you again.
*This article is the revised 2024 blog version. The video version is below, where you can listen to the Miyako-bushi scale and the modified melody.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment if you have any feedback or questions.
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