Ofudesaki 05:042
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Part 1 |
Contents
Content
| The branches may look big, but they are weak | edasaki wa ōki ni miete akan mono | ゑださきハ をふきにみへて あかんもの |
| and break when handled. Watch the future. | kamaeba oreru saki o miyo | かまへばおれる さきをみていよ |
Alternate English translations
Third Edition
The twigs may look bulky at a glance. But it will be easily snapped off at a touch. Look at the future!
Inoue/Eynon
The spread of branches appears large, but they are weak. They break when handled. Watch their future!
Commentary
Ofudesaki chushaku
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This section contains translated material that has not yet been subjected to peer-review to check for accuracy and clarity. While the translator(s) have given their best effort to render Japanese text into English, we would like readers to keep in mind that the present translation may require further revising and refining. Any input to improve the present translation is greatly welcomed. Translator(s): Roy Forbes |
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5:42 *Refer to verses 3:88–90 and the note for the next verse. |
『おふでさき註釈』、p. 78 四二、註 第三号八八―九〇参照。次歌註参照。 |
Commentary by Yoshitaro Ueda (2009)
From Michi no dai: Foundation of the Path 35:54–5
These verses use the metaphor of a tree. The branches may appear big, high, and thriving, yet they are “weak,” or unreliable. Even if they look big and thriving, they are actually not dependable. They will “break when handled,” which is to say, they will break easily if force is applied to them. Verse 42 implies that the branches will suffer a decline in due course. They will not be dependable. In contrast, the root has great strength, although the origin seems small and inconspicuous at first glance. Thus contrasting the branches and the root, these verses say that what is important in all matters is to know the root. The branches can only exist because of the root. We tend to pay attention to branches that stand out by virtue of the blossoms and fruit, but it is more important to know the greatness and importance of the root, the origin, however unremarkable it may seem.
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