Cast & Chart

Omikuji lot 30 of 100

Crane on a High Branch

半吉 Han-kichi, Half good fortune

仙鶴立高枝

防他暗箭虧

井畔剛刀利

戸内更防危

An immortal crane stands on a high branch.

Beware of harm from a hidden arrow.

Beside the well, a hard blade is sharp.

Within the door, be warier still of danger.

What this lot says

A crane of the immortals perches high up, in full view. An unseen arrow is the first threat named. A sharp blade lies near a well, and the last line moves danger indoors.

Han-kichi, Half good fortune, is what the book prints. Printings differ sharply here, as another gives Kyo, Bad fortune. The crane is the fine half of the picture and the weapons are the other half.

Thought about now, the verse is about being admired and exposed at the same moment. Why might the place that feels safest be the one the verse looks at last?

A lot is a prompt for reflection. It cannot promise a result, and it is no substitute for medical, legal or financial advice.

The printed text

No differences from the 1684 printing are recorded for this lot.

Marginal note as printed: 大本作凶

Credits

The verse and grade were read from the two scanned printings named here. The title, translation and reading are our own and modern.

Our own English. The kana commentary printed under each verse in the old books was not read.