Chinese Poem Lamenting the Death of a Friend

Signature: (lower left corner) Ryōkan 良寛

Inscription: 昨日出城市 Sakujitsu jōshi ni ide
千門乞食之 senmon kotsujiki su
路逢有識人 michi ni aishi ushiki no hito
道子黄泉歸 iu shi yomi ni kiseri to
忽聴猶疑夢 tachimachi kikite nao yume to utagaedo
心定涙沾衣 kokoro sadamarite namida koromo o nurasu
与子自小少 shi towa shōshō yori
往還狭河陲 ōkan su kyōka no hotori
啻不同門朋 tada dōmon no tomo ni nomi arazu
共?存丘壑期 tomo ni arishi kyūgaku no toki
家郷分飛後 kakyō yori bunpi shite nochi
消息両離支 shōsoku futari nagara rishi tari
如何揺落候 ikan zo yōraku no kō
棄我草莽萎 ware o sute sōmō nae tari
聚散自有定 shūsan onozukara sadame arite
誰能長追随 dare ka yoku nagaraku tsuizui sen ya
巳矣復何陳 yannuru kana mata nani o ka noben
飛錫獨歸來莢 shaku o tobashite hitori kaeri kinu

I went out to visit the town, yesterday,　
to beg at the gates of a thousand homes.
Along the way, I met a friend of long ago,　
who said he thought I had passed away.
As I listened to his story, it was like an unreal dream,　　　　　
though as it started to sink in, I sobbed.
When he and I were young, we went back and forth
along the bank of Kyōsen River.
And not only were we good friends from school,
but also we also viewed scenery together.
After I had left our hometown
we had no news from each other.
How at this time of falling leaves
you could leave me withering in the field
Gathering and leaving are part of destiny in life,
who does pursue forever
Saying anything now is just in vain
and walking with a monk’s staff, returned alone.

Marking: Box inscription: (outer lid) Ryōkan oshō shōkai shinseki 良寛和尚小楷真跡　昨日出城市; (inner lid) Yukihiko kan-su 靫彦寛(examined by Yasuda) [Yasuda Yukihiko 安田靫彦 (1884–1978), Nihonga artist]

[ Shibunkaku Co., Ltd. , Kyoto, until July 7, 2016; sold to Cowles]; Mary and Cheney Cowles , Seattle, WA, 2016–20; donated to MMA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Three Perfections: Japanese Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting from the Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection," August 10, 2024–August 3, 2025.