BASHO - yama-inu wolf

http://matsuobasho-wkd.blogspot.jp/2012/10/kashima-kiko.html

- Kashima Kikoo 鹿島紀行 - A Visit to the Kashima Shrine
Kashima Moode 鹿島詣 Kashima Mode - A Pilgrimage to Kashima.

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萩原や一夜はやどせ山の犬
hagihara ya hito-yo wa yadose yama no inu
hagi-hara ya

field of bush clovers —
be their shelter for a night:
mountain dogs
Tr. Barnhill


Bush clovers,
Be kind enough to take in
This pack of mountain dogs
At least for a night.
Tr. Yuasa

Basho is praying to the wolves, messengers of the Mountain Deity, not to come to this place tonight and let him sleep safely. He assures them that he also would not do anything to pollute their sacred field of residence.

. yama no inu, yama-inu, yamainu 山犬 "mountain dog", wolf .
As a messenger of the Mountain Deity, they protect the fields by chasing deer and wild boars, which often harm the fields.
They also protect travelers, by walking behind them in a good distance - 送り狼 okuri-ookami. If the traveler comes to a human settlement after walking in the woods, he would place one of his straw sandals on the ground with an offering of rice.
Other lonely travelers might be attacked by a pack of wolves and spent a night hanging high in the branches of a tree.


this field of bush clovers -
let it be my place of rest for one night,
you honorable wolves
Tr. Greve


Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839 – 1892)

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