朝ぼらけ

有明の月と

みるまでに

吉野の里に

降れる白雪 

さかのうえのこれのり

あさぼらけ

ありあけのつきと

みるまでに

よしののさとに

ふれるしらゆき

Sakanoue no Korenori

On this winter dawn

Under the morning moon

Looking towards

Yoshino village

I only see white snow.

Hokusai

Sakanoue no Korenori (dates unknown, early 900s) is a waka poet from the early Heian age and is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

作者略伝と語釈

According to Peter Morse the scene on the drawing shows a country bathhouse (characterised by the stone walls) with workmen bringing in the firewood. A pun on yuki (snow) that can be split up in yu (hot bath) and ki (wood)? The beauty of this poem is in its white on white layering (high-key).

We see the waterfall of Yoshino on the right of his drawing. This waterfall is also mentioned in the Tale of Genji. The region is famous for its waterfalls, its views and cherry blossoms.

Miyoshino no yama  (Yoshino Mountain) is mentioned in poem 94.

Yoshino waterfall

Yoshino village on a scroll c. 1714

In the 14th century Yoshino was temporarily the residence of the emperor.

More about Yoshino.