敷しき島しま

noun

Yamato province

Poetic name for the ancient Yamato province, used in classical Japanese poetry and literature.

See also: 大和

• 敷しき島しまの大和やまとの国くには、言こと霊だまの幸さきはふ国くにとぞ古こ語ごにも言いへる。

  The land of Yamato, called Shikishima, is said in ancient words to be a land blessed by the spirit of language.

noun

Japan

Poetic name for Japan as a whole, often used in classical poetry to evoke a sense of national identity or beauty.

• 敷しき島しまのやまと心ごころを人ひと問とはば、朝あさ日ひに匂におふ山やま桜ざくら花ばな。

  If one asks about the spirit of Japan, Shikishima, it is the mountain cherry blossoms fragrant in the morning sun.

noun

classical Japanese poetry

Abbreviation of 敷島の道, referring to the tradition of waka or classical Japanese poetry. Poetic and literary term.

See also: 敷島の道

• 敷しき島しまの道みちを究きわめるために、古こ歌かを読よみ解とく。

  To master the way of classical Japanese poetry, one reads and interprets ancient poems.