The Tale of the Heike

Recently, I am interested in literature. In Japan, there was a book ‘The Tale of the Heike.’ The work is very famous in Japan. The work was written by simple and fluent Japanese. The author is unknown. And the day the work was written is also unknown. I like the beginning sentences of the work. So I introduce the sentences. I think that the sentences mean that life is an empty dream.

The Tale of the Heike
‘The sound of bells echoes through the monastery at Gion Shoja, telling all who hear it that nothing is permanent. The flowers of the sala trees show that all that flourishes must fade. Proud men, powerful men will fall, like dreams on a spring night, like dust before the wind.’

平家物語
「祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響きあり。
娑羅双樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理をあらわす。
　奢れる人も久しからず、ただ春の夜の夢のごとし。
　猛き者も遂にはほろびぬ、ひとえに風の前の塵に同じ。」

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