Poem by Yoshida Shoin

[Baka Gaijin]

I think this is a poem by Yoshida Shoin

 

かくすれば

　かくなるものと知りながら

　　　　やむにやまれぬ大和魂

　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　 吉田松陰

 

I've had a go at translating it half way, can someone take it the full mile?

 

Kakusureba

 

Kakunarumono to Chiri nagara

 

Yamu ni yamarenu Yamato damashi

 

Yoshida Shoin

 

Cheers

[k morita]

Hi,

"Kaku-sureba kaku-naru monoto shiri-nagara yamuni yamarenu Yamato-damashii."

The meaning is :[i knew that it would end so if I acted thus, but I am compelled by yamato-damashii(Japanese spirit/soul)].

[kunitaro]

I am very interested in this translation !

 

I think it is easy to translate just meaning, such a simple words,

but, I don't know how to make it to nice poem in English words with full emotion.

 

How did you do half way ?

 

Kaku sureba - If I do so,

Kaku naru mono to Shiri nagara - I know how it will be ending however,

Yamu ni Yamarenu - ( I ) can not resist doing so.

(be cause of)

Yamato-damashii - Spirits of Japan (Yamato)

 

It is about "Justice""Revenge/Redress""Seppiku/Suicide"

 

All of Japanese people (should) have "Yamato-damashii) in them,

but, Samurai (5-7% of the population) are the Yamato-damashii itself.

[Baka Gaijin]

Morita san, Kunitaro san,

 

Thank you so much for replying so swiftly.

 

I think there is a question here about literal translation and transliteration.

 

I will try some variation on the theme and see what evolves.

 

どうもありがとうございます

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon Kunitaro san & Morita san,

 

Having now read quite bit about Yoshida Shoin and his times, I have made an attempt to transliterate the poem.

 

I hope I will not do it too much of an injustice.

 

I know truly how this will end.....

 

Yet I am bound resolutely to my course of action....

 

For the pure spirit of our Ancient Motherland pleads in my heart that I continue.....

 

In the course of this research I came upon an essay about Yoshida Shoin (Yoshida Torajiro) by Robert Louis Stevenson, I share it here for those who might have an interest:

 

http://archive.org/stream/worksofrobert ... 6/mode/2up

 

Very best regards to you both and thank you for your help.

[Derek]

I am always amazed by the generous sharing of wisdom and knowledge by the members here. Thank you for this post.

 

Derek

[Paul Martin]

I love how Ernest Satow mentions the boarding of Perry's ship by Yoshida so casually in 'A Diplomat in Japan'

 

TREATIES— ANTI-FOREIGN SPIRIT 45

 

central idea of Japan's foreign policy for many years, as the

sequel will show. Even at this period there were a few who

would have willingly started off on this new quest, and two

Japanese actually asked Commodore Perry to give them a

passage in his flagship. They were refused, and their zeal

was punished by their own government with imprisonment.

[Toryu2020]

Terrific Link, thanks for that Malcolm.

-t