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. |