Iroha (iroha - 伊呂波  いろは)

The Iroha is a famous poem, written in the Heian period (AD 794–1179). It uses each character of the Japanese phonetics alphabet (Katakana or Hiragana) once. In the old classification, the three first sounds where i-ro-ha (like A,B,C).

Archaic Translation
hiragana pronunciation
いろはにほへと i ro ha ni ho he to Even the blossoming flowers
ちりぬるを chi ri nu ru wo Will eventually scatter
わかよたれそ wa ka yo ta re so Who in our world
つねならむ tsu ne na ra mu Is unchanging?
うゐのおくやま u wi no o ku ya ma The deep mountains of vanity--
けふこえて ke fu ko e te We cross them today
あさきゆめみし a sa ki yu me mi shi And we shall not see superficial dreams
ゑひもせす we hi mo se su Nor be deluded.

 

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iroakaruta - Card game to learn Japanase alphabet [source]
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Hitomaro Kakinomotono, the presumed author of the iroha poem [source]

 

 

 

Hashiokis linked to this subject :
hashioki