— 69 —
edition, Vol. I, p. 271), is not yet identified. It was possibly located at Chihara, in Ota Mura, according to the Shigaku Zasshi or Historical Magazine referred to in the same book of Dr. Yoshida Togo.
74. The meaning of this song is not quite clear. Even the Japanese commentators find difficulties in ascertaining it, and differ in their explanations. The song may mean:—
“What a delightfully happy evening this grand banquet gives us courtiers, who at the Ceremony of the Removing of the Court Shrine greatly enjoy ourselves throughout the whole night! O how auspicious is the snow scene this night!”
Or, the song may be read as follows:—
“We, Courtiers, present at the Ceremony of the Removal of the Court Shrine now enjoy a very pleasant time at the grand banquet throughout the whole night in the fine sacred Yuki Hall!”
As we see above, some commentators understand “snow” by the word “Yuki” whilst others interpret it as the name of a Shinto worship hall (or pavilion) “Yuki” (or “Yuki Den”), which is newly built for the Shinto Rites held at each Emperor’s Enthronement. Some commentators suggest:
Taking into consideration what Ban-Nobutomo suggests in his autographic annotations in the Kogoshui and in reference to certain passages in the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku describing the scenes of the Daijo Feast at the Enthronement Ceremony of the Emperor Koko on the 23rd and the 25th of the 11th month in the 8th year (A.D. 884) of the Gengyo. Vide the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, Japanese edition. Vol. XLVI. The Kokushi Taikei, Japanese edi-
