Mountain scene, Bunkei, 19th century, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Japanese and Korean Art
two figures crossing high stone bridge at lower R between towering rock formations; cluster of trees on rocks at L; rising rock formations in background
Size: 50 3/4 × 16 3/16 in. (128.91 × 41.12 cm) (image) 78 × 21 1/8 in. (198.12 × 53.66 cm) (mount, without roller)
Medium: Ink and light color on paper
Massive thank you to @namfonrainwater for helping me out with this!!!! There’s a few translation notes at the end of the English version, check the *asterisks* for details
English Translation - Crossing Threads
If I had answered you with my heart on my sleeve
Would you have loved me?
If I had played the part with all my actions perfect
Would you have loved me?
The hanging thread can only be grasped alone*
What's going on between you two?
“What indeed?”
You’ve been hard to get along with from the beginning
Slinging an overly friendly arm around someone's shoulders
Laughing and chatting naively
You keep your face too close
But you don’t even realise you're giving the wrong impression
It’s the sin of the fraudster
Soon enough you're the favourite
Drawing in the threads of these feelings
Putting up my defences
This isn't a trap, it's a screen
An off-limits dummy
And yet and yet and yet and yet
(and yet and yet and yet)
And yet and yet and yet and yet
(and yet and yet and yet)
I picked up on this impossible feeling
Don't touch me with the fingers you loved another with
Embrace me, defile me more than anyone else
These crossing threads are so entangled
That I can't move, and yet
Don't laugh when you don't know anything
Don't cry so happily like that
The more I wish for it, the less likely it'll come true
I know that already, and yet
I need them
I need them
Oh shit, jealousy, here's the inside story
Oh shit, jealousy, keep it covered up
Oh shit, jealousy, this is a disgrace**
What's going on between you two?
“What indeed?”
The best seat in the house is hidden away
A jewel that nobody else will find
And yet the triangle starts to unravel
When you're you’re together you play the goody-two-shoes
Who's the one that slipped through the mesh
Pulling the strings in the shadows?
Unravelling a taut thread
We're two of a kind after all
There's no sign of a way out
The iron bars are slightly ajar
And yet and yet and yet and yet
(and yet and yet and yet)
And yet and yet and yet and yet
(and yet and yet and yet)
I pursued this impossible ending
Don't look at me with the eyes you admired another with
Don't take your eyes off me, dissolve me more than anyone else
I'm cut off by these crossing threads
And my visibility's at zero, and yet
Don't leave me if your feelings are true
Get away from me if you can't see a future for us
The more I struggle, the more you're out of my reach
I know that already and yet
I need them
I need them
Oh shit, jealousy, everything's inside out
Oh shit, jealousy, keep myself busy
Oh shit, jealousy, this is unbearable
But you wouldn't understand what that's like
“Wouldn't I?”
If I had answered you with my heart on my sleeve
Would you have loved me?
If I had played the part with all of my actions perfect
Would you have loved me?
I believed in you, and yet
I forgave you, and yet
I don't care if you hurt me, and yet
The hanging thread can only be grasped alone
And yet, and yet
Don't touch me
Embrace me
Don't cry
Don't laugh
Don't leave me
Get away from me
Don't look at me
Don't take your eyes off me
I need them
I need them
Oh shit, jealousy, here's the inside story
Oh shit, jealousy, keep it covered up
Oh shit, jealousy, this is a disgrace
So you’re the one who’s to blame here
“Right”
*This line is a reference to the Japanese story ‘The Spider’s Thread’
**In the original Japanese, these lines all originally end with the syllable ‘shi’, and are made into ‘shitto’ meaning ‘jealousy’. It’s almost impossible to replicate this wordplay in English, but if you’re a genius who can think of something then please let me know
Shirofuku: New Sunshine got to the 20th place in Trending! I’m so happy (´;ω;`) I still can’t stop sobbing because of Nozakibento’s voice during 3:21-3:29…
Bunkei: Ah, congrats…!!!
Shirofuku: It seems like it was on 17th place for a moment…? Thank you, director!!!
MeseMoa. Info: On a short company trip!
Everyone who wasn’t with us last time is present now! Last year halyosy-san was with us as a guest, this year’s guest is Bunkei-kun!