, also erroneously called Chinsagu nu Hana, is an Okinawan song about traditional Ryukyuan values such as filial piety and other Confucian teachings in the Okinawan language.[1]
The title of the song can be translated as "The Balsam Flowers". The song is an Okinawan children's song; Okinawan children would squeeze the sap from balsam flowers to stain their fingernails as a way to ward off evil.[2] The lyrics of the song are Confucian teachings. Of the first six verses, the first three relate to filial piety, while the latter three refer to respecting one's body and one's goals. Each verse has exactly the same number of notes using language and meter devices that are uniquely Okinawan, called Ryūka.[3]
The last four of the ten verses are missing. Okinawan
てぃんさぐぬ花や
爪先に染みてぃ
親ぬゆし事や
肝に染みり
天ぬ群星や
読みば読まりしが
親ぬゆし言や
読みやならん
夜走らす舟や
子ぬ方星見当てぃ
我ん生ちぇる親や
我んどぅ見当てぃ
宝玉やてぃん
磨かにば錆す
朝夕肝磨ち
浮世渡ら
誠する人や
後や何時迄ん
思事ん叶てぃ
千代ぬ栄い
なしば何事ん
なゆる事やしが
なさぬ故からどぅ
ならぬ定み
Transliteration
Tinsagu nu hana ya
Chimisachi ni sumiti
Uya nu yushigutu ya
Chimu ni sumiri
Tin nu muribushi ya
Yumiba yumarishi ga
Uya nu yushigutu ya
Yumiyanaran
Yuru harasu funi ya
Ninufabushi miati
Wan nacheru uya ya
Wan du miati
Takaradama yati n
Migakaniba sabisu
Asayu chimu migachi
Uchi yu watara
Makutu suru hitu ya
Atu ya ichi madi n
Umukutu n kanati
Chiyu nu sakai
Nashiba nangutu n
Nayurugutu yashi ga
Nasanu yui kara du
Naranu sadami
English translation
Just as my fingernails
Are stained with the pigment from balsam flowers
My heart is painted
With the teachings of my parents
Although the stars in the sky
Are countable
The teachings of my parents
Are not
Just as ships that run in the night
Are guided to safety by the North Star
I am guided by my parents
Who gave birth to me and watch over me
There's no point in possessing magnificent jewelry
If you don't maintain it
People who maintain their bodies
Will live life wonderfully
The desires of the person who lives sincerely
Will always run true
And as a result
She will prosper
You can do anything
If you try
But you can't
If you don't