EternalDream’s IchiHime Tanabata Manifesto of Wonder!!!
This special essay (yes, I’ve succumbed to writing more of these abominable things XD) is dedicated first to Lady Orihime, who is not only the hostess of our wonderful Tanabata Festival and the owner of our even more wonderful message board Five Lifetimes One Love (FLOL), but she was the one who came to me specifically (much to my shock) and asked me to create this essay based on my extravagant and notable writing skillz, yo (as seen in my Rukia Matchmaker Manifesto). :3 Greatly flattered, I just couldn’t say “No” and refuse the poor dear, could I? XDDD **is shot** I also dedicate this to all of my amazing friends at FLOL. You guys inspire me in more ways then you could ever imagine^_^ And lastly, I dedicate this essay to Kubo Tite, the most amazing mangaka writer since…well, ever, really. 
Now, let’s see if I can get this special, one of a kind IchiHime Tanabata Festival essay underway before our actual festival begins… 
Not that it really matters, though, since none of you get to see it until August 5 anyway! XD (The most famous Tanabata festival is held in Sendai from August 5 to August 8. It’s a special Last Celebration Thing for our Festival that no one but a select few knows about^^) …Let’s also hope I can keep my mouth shut too. ;_; **loves sharing secrets**
Warning: There WILL be errors and “illogical” fangirl conclusions! If you can’t handle the awesomeness of this manifesto, and especially if you can’t handle the funny, then GTFO AND DON’T READ! **roar for extra measure** There’s also a lot of “repetitive” things like numbers, Heaven, the moon, etc., so if those are not your forte either, then, by all means, vacate the premise. Okay? Okay. Thanks dears!
Now, take a deep breath. You’re, uh, really going to need it…
Since it’ll be too much of a pain while writing this essay to keep citing the websites I got certain quotes off of, I’ll give you a list right now of the websites, and call them L1, L2, L3, etc, and you can go and make sure I’m not making stuff up if that’s what suits you.
LINK1: http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/orihime.htm
LINK2: http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/orihime.htm
LINK3: http://www.lafcadiohearn.jp/articles/RomanceMilkyWay.html
LINK4: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article1224.html
LINK5: http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/folklore.html
LINK6: http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/Wingmakers/Lyra.html
LINK7: http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/Wingmakers/Aquila.html
There are plenty of other random links I throw in here and there, but these 7 are the main ones! :3
Think of this as an introductory section, or a prologue of sorts.
You can stop reading this essay/manifesto after you read at least THIS one part, the utter and solid proof that Kubo Tite is going to make Ichigo and Orihime end up together. KT’s already made it quite clear that Bleach, while certainly not a love story, does contain romance. It took only 1 chapter for KT to show everyone that Orihime Inoue loves Ichigo. A true love that lasts for eternity. (Yes, yes, I know it was “five lifetimes” BUT I took that more as a declaration of “no matter how many different lives I live, I’ll still love you no matter what.”) What people didn’t see before, was that in the next two chapters, KT also made it clear that Ichigo Kurosaki is the only one for Orihime, and that she is the only one for him.
Yeah, yeah, I bet some of you are calling me crazy, delusional, a fool, and hell, maybe I am. XD But you can’t deny pure, straight up facts, ladies and gentleman. And before you get started on the rest of this manifesto, I wanted to make it quite clear that it always has been, and always WILL be Ichigo < --- > Orihime in the wonderful manga Bleach.
| Quote: |
| L6: Lyra is one of the ancient musical instruments. The constellation is positioned at the West Side of summer’s Milky Way around the zenith, and formed with tiny triangle and parallelogram. The constellation is in the shape of lyre of Orpheus given by his father, Apollo. The constellation is small and faint, but it’s home of the fifth and brightest star of Vega with a magnitude of 0, emitting a pure white light. Vega has a mean of “The Fallen Eagle”, and represents a jewel of Lyra. The star is also popular in Japan as the heroine of the ancient Chinese legend of “Tanabata”. |
Vega is the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra. So how does this connect to Orihime, other then the fact that she IS Vega in the Tanabata story? There’s the fact that the constellation is home of the fifth and brightest star of Vega; five being an infamously “Orihime-type” number due to her beautiful love declaration. The constellation itself is on the West Side, and since the sun SETS in the west, it links with Ulquiorra’s words, “The sun has already sunken into our grasp.”
And last but certainly not least, is the fact that Vega means “The Fallen Eagle” (or “Swooping Eagle,” as I found in one translation). Orihime is certainly a fallen eagle, as she’s been captured by Aizen.
| Quote: |
| L7: Aquila, The Eagle, is a consolation at the East Side of Milky Way. You can see the picture that the constellation adjoins the Milky Way, but Aquila has almost no attractive nebulae or star clusters. Alpha Aquila, Altair has a mean of “The Flying Eagle”, and it’s in contrast to Vega, the falling eagle. The star is another main character in the Chinese legend of “Tanabata” with Vega. |
LOL, I find it absolutely hilarious that Aquila has no “attractive nebulae or star clusters.” Wasn’t Ichigo considered to be very unattractive because he was always scowling and because of his bleached hair??? Yet Orihime liked him FOR his unattractive frowns. Score one for Orihime! XD
Altair is the brightest Star in the constellation Aquila. Aquila itself is named “The Eagle”, but Altair specifically means “The Flying Eagle” and it directly contrasts with Vega. (This kind of reminds me of how Ichigo’s the fighter, and Orihime the healer^_^ but that’s not the point I’m trying to make right now, lol! XD) Here we have the spot on PROOF that Ichigo directly ties with Orihime in the “eagle” metaphor, or are people going to suddenly deny that Ichigo is the eagle in chapter 238: Eagle Without Wings and chapter 239: Winged Eagle???
Ichigo is the Eagle. Hard fact. He lost his wings when Orihime was taken, and got them back when he got ready to save his lady eagle from the mean ol’ villains. ^_____^
(Oi, these next paragraphs are BIG, so I’m seriously going to be taking out a lot of unnecessary sentences. Link for Vega and Altair: http://www1.ourtokushima.net/kankyou/seikatsubunka/awalife/july01/astronomy.htm )
| Quote: |
| Its name derives from an Arabic phrase that means "the swooping eagle." Vega is one of three brilliant stars that divide the northern heavens into thirds, the others Arcturus and Capella, and with Altair and Deneb forms the great Summer Triangle, lying at its northwestern apex. At magnitude zero, it is the sky's fifth brightest star, falling just behind Arcturus and just ahead of Capella. Though its proximity helps make it bright in our skies, it is also inherently luminous, some 50 times brighter than our Sun. Vega is a classic white main sequence star, like the Sun quietly running off the nuclear fusion of hydrogen deep in its core, with a surface temperature of about 9500 degrees Kelvin. Its color and apparent brightness made it the basic standard against which the apparent magnitudes of all other stars are ultimately compared. |
I researched the star Deneb in this famed “Summer Triangle” and it was amusing to find this: (link for Deneb: http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/deneb.html )
| Quote: |
| The reversal of Cygnus makes the asterism of the Northern Cross, with Deneb now at the top, the cross seen rising on its side in early northern summer, standing upright in the west in early northern winter evenings.” |
The first part reminds me of Ishida because of the “cross” bit, and the second reminds me of Rukia. Huh…so this means we’ve got a Ichigo x Orihime x Ishida and another Ichigo x Orihime x Rukia connection! The triangle also made me think of Orihime’s shield, and the IchiHimeNell family trio, but only because I’m a family shipper gal. XD This next fact of Deneb further connects IchiHimeRuki:
| Quote: |
| Though Vega and Altair are really quite luminous, they are first magnitude primarily because they are close to us, averaging only 25 light years away. Deneb, on the other hand, may be as far as 2600 light years. Based on that distance, its awesome luminosity of 160,000 Suns makes it about the intrinsically brightest star of its kind (that is, in its temperature or spectral class) in the entire Galaxy. If placed at the distance of Vega, Deneb would shine as bright as a well-developed crescent Moon. |
Yays, a MOON reference to Deneb (even if it is eluding to a crescent…)!!! XD So we have winter (snow) and moon for Deneb. DENEB = RUKIA! >o
| Quote: |
| The trio of stars has in fact been taken for an airplane with wing lights slowly flying across the sky. Though three of the stars of the Summer Triangle are all white in color and hotter than the Sun, all are also individuals. With a temperature of about 7800 degrees Kelvin, Altair is the coolest of the three (with Vega and Deneb nearly equal at 9500 Kelvin). Altair is also the least luminous. Yet the star is not without its own striking characteristics. It is moving across the sky against the background of distant stars more quickly than most, and will displace itself by as much as a degree in only 5000 years. It is also a very rapid rotator. |
Hmm, yays! All three of our beloved characters, Ichigo, Orihime, and Rukia have been in WHITE so far in Bleach! (Rukia’s execution outfit, Shirosaki, and Orihime’s arrancar outfit) While Ichigo might be the “coolest” of the 3
Orihime and Rukia shine brighter! (yes, that’s a pun guys…) XD Ichigo’s bankai is also made up of a lot of power and speed, so it’s interesting that Altair moves faster than the Vega and Deneb.
There are SO many variations of the Tanabata story, it’s ridiculous, truly. The weaver girl can be called Orihime, Tanabata, Vega, etc, and the hearder is either Hikoboshi, Kengyuu, or Altair and he’s a cow hearder in some stories, and he leads around a Great Ox in others. In some variations Tenkou’s the mere King of Heaven, sometimes he’s an Emperor, and in some stories HE introduces the couple, or the couple stumbles upon each other at random in others. Sometimes a boatman carries the couple across to each other, in other stories magpies (and sometimes crows) create a bridge for the couple. There are more differences, but, in general, trying to sift through it all made me almost go CRAZY. So, I’ll tell you the most common story, from what I can interpret.
The basic Tanabata story is that you’ve got a King of Heaven, called Tenkou, who has a lovely daughter Orihime. The daughter’s got great weaving skills she uses for the King (and the kingdom), but one day, she falls in love with Hikoboshi, a cow hearder. They become so consumed with each other, their own happiness, and their love, that they neglect their duties. Furious, Tenkou separates the two lovers using the Milky Way, allowing the couple to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month. If it rains, the couple cannot meet each other. It’s sad.
The end.
XDD 
Here’s a Chinese variation. It’s very romantic!
| Quote: |
| L3: In an old book called Zatsuwa-Shin, it is said that these deities were of earthly origin. Once in this world they were man and wife, and lived in China; and the husband was called Isshi, and the wife Hakuyô. They especially and most devoutly reverenced the Moon. Every clear evening, after sundown, they waited with eagerness to see her rise. And when she began to sink towards the horizon, they would climb to the top of a hill near their house, so that they might be able to gaze upon her face as long as possible. Then, when she at last disappeared from view, they would mourn together. At the age of ninety and nine, the wife died; and her spirit rode up to heaven on a magpie, and there became a star. The husband, who was then one hundred and three years old, sought consolation for his bereavement in looking at the Moon; and when he welcomed her rising and mourned her setting, it seemed to him as if his wife were still beside him. One summer night, Hakuyô --- now immortally beautiful and young --- descended from heaven upon her magpie, to visit her husband; and he was made very happy by that visit. But from that time he could think of nothing but the bliss of becoming a star, and joining Hakuyô beyond the River of Heaven. At last he also ascended to the sky, riding upon a crow; and there he became a star-god. But he could not join Hakuyô at once, as he had hoped; --- for between his allotted place and hers flowed the River of Heaven; and it was not permitted for either star to cross the stream, because the Master of Heaven (Ten- Tei) daily bathed in its waters. Moreover, there was no bridge. But on one day every year-the seventh day of the seventh month --- they were allowed to see each other. The Master of Heaven goes always on that day to the Zenhôdo, to hear the preaching of the law of Buddha; and then the magpies and the crows make, with their hovering bodies and outspread wings, a bridge over the Celestial Stream; and Hakuyô crosses that bridge to meet her husband. |
It’s adorable how the couple would watch the moon together each night, and find comfort and happiness in it^_^ It’s also cool how first Hakuyo rises to the heavens and becomes a star, and then the husband follows. And I love all of the references to Heaven. Orihime’s been connected to a “goddess” after all. Ichigo’s gotta be next in line to be called a “god” now! XD
Orihime:
| Quote: |
| L1: But if Orihime has not done her weaving to the best of her skills and ability, Tentei may make it rain. When it rains, the boatman will not come (because the river is flooded). |
I’ve always found it utterly ironic how in Tanabata, rain is a BAD thing, yet in Bleach, Orihime wishes she were the rain that connects the earth and sky. ^_^ It’s just a funny little twist, that most likely has no relevance to Tanabata, but that’s okay! It’s still a fun fact to know!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/17/1/
| Quote: |
| L1: Tanabata may be translated as "weaving with the loom (bata) placed on the shelf (tana)", and the festival celebrates improvement of technical skill and ability. As in China, ancient Japanese added specific values to their wishes that Orihime hone her skills and work hard so that she could meet Kengyuu. |
Orihime is in the handicraft club, which makes the festival significant in that it's obvious Orihime's a hard worker, since she is, after all, the third in her class. <--LOL, “third”! yes! more numerology!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/11/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/4/
And our own Orihime has always wished to get stronger so she can fight by Ichigo's side. She went to SS with Rukia to do just that, and even made a promise:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/228/19/
| Quote: |
| L1: When it was first recognized in Japan, Tanabata was celebrated only by imperial court officials. It was considered a graceful event, full of the simple elegance so associated with the Heian era of Japan |
| Quote: |
| L3: It would seem that the Tanabata festival was first established in Japan eleven hundred and fifty years ago, as an Imperial Court festival only, in accordance with Chinese precedent. Subsequently the nobility and the military classes everywhere followed imperial example; and the custom of celebrating the Hoshi-matsuri, or Star-Festival,-- as it was popularly called, -- spread gradually downwards, until at last the seventh day of the seventh month became, in the full sense of the term, a national holiday |
It's funny how it was celebrated first in Imperial courts and Orihime means Princess. And we all know how Ichigo’s her knight in shining black kimono, which relates to the second paragraph of Nobility and the Military class following imperial example. ^_^
| Quote: |
| L2: The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. |
When Orihime awakened her powers, she was crying for Tatsuki, who’d been crying for Orihime, and thus, due to the strength of her own tears and emotions, Orihime got her Shun Shun Rika (magpies)!!!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/42/12/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/42/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/42/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/42/18/
| Quote: |
| L3: Tanabata-tsumé still represents for us the Japanese wife, worshipfully loving |
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me that this describes Orihime…more perfectly than anything I've ever come across. ^_^ And yays, Kubo made Orihime the perfect Japanese wife for the perfect man!
Ichigo:
15 is a number associated a LOT with Ichigo:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/60/5/
As are the numbers 1 and 5 individually:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/3/3/
Ichigo sports a 5 on his shoe:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/25/5/
Again Ichigo has a 15 on his shirt:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/31/5/
| Quote: |
| L1: Following Shinto practice and ancient values, the concept of purification (generally including use of water) before the Bon festival (centered on the 15th day of the 7th month) was also added to the Tanabata festival. |
Ichigo is associated with the Bon festival since it IS his birthday. I love how Tanabata and the Bon Festival are linked here.
I also have it on good authority that Ichigo can somehow be linked to the word “cow” but as I couldn’t get my friend to share his secrets, I guess you’ll have to go with the knowledge that it just DOES work out that way. Somehow. Okie-dokes? XD
Oh, and it’s been stated in the manga, that it rains in Ichigo’s world when he’s sad.
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/112/3/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/112/4/
The cover page of chapter 57 (Unfinished July Rain), the chapter right after Rukia goes back to SS with Renji and her brother, was Orihime:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/57/3/
July is when Tanabata is usually celebrated, and it’s considered still a part of the “rainy season,” and obviously, if it rains, the lovers can’t meet. Interesting that Kubo made that metaphor for Ichigo (in his inner world).
Rukia and Grimmjow:
| Quote: |
| L1: Every year on that day, from the mouth of the river (the Milky Way), the boatman (of the moon) comes to ferry Orihime over to her beloved Kengyuu |
In most Tanabata stories, there’s a Boatman of the Moon. I’ve got two people in mind (Rukia and Grimmjow, obviously^.^) that I’ve had for some time that can be identified as the “boatman.”
The first and most obvious, of course, is Miss Rukia. ^_^ She’s connected heavily to the moon throughout Bleach, after all (in ways I just don’t have to time to explain, sorry). I find it funny how the boatman always carries Orihime to her man in the tale, and Rukia’s already led Ichigo to Orihime two times! Then again, the gender roles are already switched anyhow, because the boatman is clearly a dude and he’s supposed to carry one lover to the other, not the other way around! XD
Giving Ichigo directions to Orihime’s house to rescue her from her brother:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/4/11/
Miraculously knowing just WHO Ichigo needed to see after she helped alleviate his depressed mood:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/196/16/
Grimmjow is the next contender for the title of “Boatman of the Moon” because he truly IS the one that reunited Ichigo and Orihime in HM after such a painful and sad separation, AND he brought Orihime to Ichigo!
Whips and chains for the couple to “play” with later on, anyone? **is shot** :
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/4/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/5/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/6/
Orihime and Ichigo:
Again, both Ichigo and Orihime are associated with the Bon Festival and Tanabata, 15 and 7/7:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/13/3/
Orihime/Vega Highwell sports a 7 on her shirt, and Ichigo is referred to as Jetcape-15:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/5/2/
| Quote: |
| L3: On that night --- providing the skies be clear --- the birds of heaven make, with their bodies and wings, a bridge over the stream; and by means of that bridge the lovers can meet. But if there be rain, the River of Heaven rises, and becomes so wide that the bridge cannot be formed. So the husband and wife cannot always meet, even on the seventh night of the seventh month; it may happen, by reason of bad weather, that they cannot meet for three or four years at a time, But their love remains immortally young and eternally patient; and they continue to fulfill their respective duties each day without fault,--- happy in their hope of being able to meet on the seventh night of the next seventh month. |
Though the lovers might be separated for a long time, they still remain patient and faithful to each other, continuing to work on their duties, so they might see each other. It's true, Orihime said she'd fall in love with the same man 5 times, but when I read that, I didn't read it as Orihime would only fall for Ichigo in her next 5 lives and after that any man is fair game; no, I read it as Orihime would ALWAYS love Ichigo, no matter what life she lives in, or how many she has. And the "immortally young" plays in the fact that those of SS remain in a young or decently younger body for up to a couple thousand years, and if Orihime and Ichigo become part of SS or like the Vizards (who I’m pretty sure are also far older than they appear), they too would have the longevity that souls have (not to mention, SOULS are immortal entities in and of themselves).
| Quote: |
| L3: To ancient Chinese fancy, the Milky Way was a luminous river, --- the River of Heaven, --- the Silver Stream. |
Again, there’s the association to and of “Heaven” in the tale.
| Quote: |
| L3: An old Japanese book puts the matter thus plainly: "Kengyû (the Ox-Leader) is on the west side of the Heavenly River, and is represented by three stars in a row, and looks like a man leading an ox, Shokujo (the Weaving-Lady) is on the east side of the Heavenly River: three stars so placed as to appear like the figure of a woman seated at her loom, . . . The former presides over all things relating to agriculture; the latter, over all that relates to women's work. |
In this link, the sides of the river the couple is on switches. Ichigo’s on the West Side and Orihime on the East. Ichigo’s sun set when Orihime was taken, and Orihime has always been like the rising sun to Ichigo.
XDOrihime is associated with 3, but this time, Ichigo, the man leading his ox, AND Orihime are connected by 3 stars each!!!
| Quote: |
| L1: Members of royalty were, of course, associated with the heavens |
Orihime and Ichigo have both been linked to the Heavens.
Both through their attacks:
Orihime’s “Combined Shield of the Heavenly Trio,” “Return Shield of the Heavenly Duo,” and “Cutting Shield of the Heavenly One.” Ichigo’s “Moon Fang” attacks can also be renamed “Moon-Fang Piercer of the Heavens.”
Individually, Orihime’s been associated as being able to “violate the realm of God”, and before that, Luppi mocks her and asks if she is “God.” and Ichigo’s been associated with the heavens in the SOULS poem. ^_^ I’m sure there’s some other place in the manga I’m not thinking of, but oh well.
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/43/11/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/43/14/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/43/15/
http://chirachira.livejournal.com/103520.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichigo_Kurosaki
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/240/11/
| Quote: |
| L1: The close relation of Tanabata to the indigenous Bon Festival has obviously led to a number of adaptations of the imported Chinese mythology. In short, one makes the coming of the Bon festival sacred by excluding impure spirits from the body at the first quarter moon, thus being pure for the coming of Bon at full moon. |
Again, the close relation of Tanabata and the Bon Festival. It can’t just be “coincidence” that Ichigo AND Orihime relate to these intimately intertwined festivals. KT doesn’t do coincidences. And LOL, I love how the whole “purification” process at the first quarter is so that by the time the real Bon arrives, the person’s pure at the full moon. Does this remind anyone else of a woman getting ready for her wedding night? I mean, the whole “thus being pure for the coming of the Bon” sounds a bit like an eyebrow raiser…
Orihime’s been associated a LOT with crescent moons, and Ichigo himself is the Black Moon, and since the only way you have a black moon is either because none of the sun’s light reflects onto the moon, or it’s a lunar eclipse; but in both cases the moon is full, just black. SO, Ichigo gets to be the full moon. Rock on!| Quote: |
| L1: The general astronomical phenomena and seasonality associated with this myth are similar in China and Japan. However, there is one particular aspect mentioned in Hara's account above which does not seem to appear in versions of the Asian continent and may have arisen in Japan following its Heian Era introduction. This is the reference to the "boatman of the moon" coming from the "mouth of the Milky Way". This probably refers to the 1st quarter moon being in the sky at the same time the two lovers are anxiously waiting. Having been a waxing crescent, its "poetic" association with a boat would seem obvious. But what about the moon's position relative to the "mouth of the Milky Way"? Simulating more ancient times and accounting for precession, the 7th day of the 7th month would generally place the 1st quarter moon quite close to the Milky Way (Scorpio/Ophiuchus region) and also, of course, at a quite southern point on the ecliptic. Perhaps observing from the view of ancients, one can conceive the southern part of the Milky Way being considered the "mouth" of the river and the boatman of the moon approaching his entrance there on successive nights up to the night of Tanabata. Such a position would seem to coincide with that era in which the legend was imported into Japan. Note that in more modern times, the 1st quarter moon of Tanabata tends to be in the Libra/Virgo area, somewhat shifted from the river over the centuries. Of course, the Milky Way would be difficult to see in the glare of the 1st quarter moon on the night of Tanabata, and this may have its own implications for the myth. |
And it might be just coincidence, but there it seems that most of the time in Bleach, if we’re show a moon at all, it’s a quarter full moon. There have been one or 2 instances where the moon was nearly full or more than quarter, but never completely full.
Why is that? Is it because crescent moons are easier to draw? Or is it because so far, the story of Bleach is still at it’s first “purification” phase, awaiting the coming of the real Bon when the moon is full? It feels like every crescent moon is supposed to elude to Orihime, and how’s she’s waiting to be full for the coming of Ichigo^^
(These are the couple of times I can remember the moon being something other than a crescent.)
Vampires chilling under a full moon:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/239/2/
Half Moon:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/2/
Waiting:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/69/8/
Ichigo and Orihime running off to Urahara’s shop:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/69/14/
It seems like since SS arc (where Ichigo and Orihime had their first, major separation) in Bleach there’s been a perpetual crescent moon. It’s something interesting to think about^^
(Many of the later crescent moons in the series seem to connect specifically to Orihime.)
Orihime healing Jindanbou:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/76/10/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/76/11/
Devising plans to get into SS:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/76/14/
Intruder Alert:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/83/1/
Daddy chats and Orihime’s thoughts:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/241/12/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/241/13/
Orihime thanking Ichigo and saying goodbye:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/19/
Feeling Ichigo’s reitsu:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/82/10/
Staring into the sky:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/262/6/
There are a ton more throughout Bleach, especially in the current HM arc but I’m too lazy to go find them. XD
| Quote: |
| L1: Related to this legend, ancient Japanese celebrated the festival of Tanabata on the 7th day of the 7th month each year (lunar calendar). The 7th day of the 7th month generally falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar. At this time of year, of course, the constellations of Lyra and Aquila are prominent in the evening sky with their major stars (Vega and Altair) separated by the Milky Way. The 7th day of the 7th month also, of course, finds a waxing crescent moon reaching its first quarter. |
We celebrated on the REAL 7th day of the 7th month, but Orihime's birthday falls in September, AND there was a crescent moon during our real life festival...which everyone should know about because I was freaking out about it!!! XDDD
| Quote: |
| L3: AMONG the many charming festivals celebrated by Old Japan, the most romantic was the festival of Tanabata-Sama, the Weaving-Lady of the Milky Way |
While it's certainly arguable by personal interpretation and opinion whether or not Orihime's love scene was touching or not, there is NO getting around the fact that up to the latest chapters in Bleach, her confession IS the most romantic scene that has been portrayed in the story thus far.
(And just cuz these scenes are so awesome, you get to see them again for the gazillionth time!)
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/14/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/15/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/17/
| Quote: |
| L3: If you happen to visit an old-fashioned country town or village, on the seventh day of the seventh month (by the ancient calendar), you will probably notice many freshly-cut bamboos fixed upon the roofs of the houses, or planted in the ground beside them, every bamboo having attached to it a number of strips of colored paper. In some very poor villages you might find that these papers are white, or of one color only; but the general rule is that the papers should be of five or seven different colors. Blue, green, red, yellow, and white are the tints commonly displayed. All these papers are inscribed with short poems written in praise of Tanabata and her husband Hikoboshi. |
Numbers again. 5 and 7 heavily associate with Orihime (and Ichigo^^).
http://www.willpap-projects.com/Public_Mood_Ring/Docu/PMR_Mood_Ring.html
Now, let’s see what all these MOOD RING colors say about that! XDDD
Blue: (Ironically, blue is the first color, and it’s 7 on this list…it’s FATE!) Joyous, Romantic, Very happy, Love, Passionate
Green: Somewhat relaxed, Inner emotions charged
Red: Ready to go, Excited, Energized, Adventurous
Yellow: Wandering thoughts, Imaginative, Okay feeling
White: frustrated confusion, confused, frustrated, bored
Hee, I’d say Blue, Green, and Red go to both Orihime and Ichigo, Yellow is purely Orihime, and White purely Ichigo! (Hey, it’s the Sun and her part-hollow lover!) XD
| Quote: |
| L3: It is said that the meeting of the Herdsman and the Weaver can be observed by any one with good eyes; for whenever it occurs those stars burn with five different colors. That is why offerings of five colors are made to the Tanabata divinities, and why the poems composed in their praise are written upon paper of five different tints. |
The meeting of the love birds can be “observed by any one with GOOD EYES.” Huuuh. Why do I get the feeling that isn’t always the case???
It’s interesting to note the stars burn with 5 different colors. ^_^ Preeeetty.
| Quote: |
| L3: Though the legend of Tanabata was indeed borrowed from China, the reader will find nothing Chinese in the following compositions. They represent the old classic poetry at its purest, free from alien influence; and they offer us many suggestions as to the condition of Japanese life and thought twelve hundred years ago. Remembering that they were written before any modern European literature had yet taken form, one is startled to find how little the Japanese written language has changed in the course of so many centuries. Allowing for a few obsolete words, and sundry slight changes of pronunciation, the ordinary Japanese reader to-day can enjoy these early productions of his native muse with about as little difficulty as the English reader finds in studying the poets of the Elizabethan era. Moreover, the refinement and the simple charm of the Manyôshû compositions have never been surpassed, and seldom equaled, by later Japanese poets. |
Tanabata itself is a holiday that brings people back to the traditions of old, and links people to the past. This just really reminded me of how, not only with what I believe about Orihime and Ichigo shared past lives together, but also the Shinigami in Bleach are a representation of the "past" just by their sheer age. We know for sure most of them are a few hundred years old, and it’s been hinted that a few of the Captains (possibly Vice-Captains) maybe be a few thousand years old.
After all of the researching of Tanabata I’ve done, I was able to come up with 7 key “themes” that seem to relate to it in every variation of the story: Separation, Reunion, Devotion, Patience, Love, Passion, and Hard Work.
There are other themes, of course, like the moon, the rain, etc, but since I’ve already discussed those in other sections, this little corner of my wonderful manifesto gets to focus on those specifically.
If I had to say anything about a clear theme of Tanabata, its first importance lies not “reunion,” but rather its separation. The lovers get separated for an entire year (sometimes several at a time if it rains year after year) and once they’re finally able to meet each other again, do people honestly think they’re going to waste their time on mushy reunions when they could be doing other, more savory things?! That thought just deserves an LOL. In Bleach, we’ve had a few and quite powerful separations scenes.
The infamous reaching out of hands scene:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/85/12/
Orihime saying goodbye to Ichigo, and his shock/depression upon hearing about her capture:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/237/19/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/238/1/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/238/2/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/238/11/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/238/18/
Orihime watching her man go off into battle (after he comforts her; just look at that smile in the first link!…and the second!) :
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/1/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/3/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/4/
And of course, after each of these separations of Ichigo and Orihime, there have always been these UBER adorable reunions, which is how I’ve always imagined Orihime and Hikoboshi’s reunions to be. Not big and serious, but lighthearted, short, and sweet.
Orihime and Ichigo reunite after the battle with Byakuya:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/167/15/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/167/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/167/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/167/18/
Grimmjow, the honorable boatman, brings Orihime to a (very jealous >D) Ichigo:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/277/18/
An exhausted but happy Ichigo and Orihime share a moment of peace before their soon-to-be-adopted-daughter Nell interrupts them (and then Ichigo does what Hikoboshi no doubt does; claims his woman caveman/Tarzan style and takes her away to do some naughty! XDDD) :
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/5/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/6/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/7/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/8/
It’s pretty clear throughout Bleach that all of the characters are devoted to each other, and NO, I don’t mean “romantically.” They’re all such great friends, willing to lay down their lives for each other. But I wouldn’t have chosen “devotion” if I didn’t think it didn’t allude somehow to IchiHime in a romantic aspect. Orihime is devoted to Ichigo in that she wishes to protect him, and be by his side to help him, rather than be a hinder. Ichigo is completely and helplessly devoted to “rescuing” his beautiful damsel in distress, even when it’s completely uncalled for!
Orihime telling Yoruichi her reason for going to SS:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/58/18/
[url] http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/62/14/[/url]
Orihime mentally informing Ichigo that she wishes to fight by his side:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/228/19/
Ichigo protecting Orihime from her brother:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/4/18/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/4/19/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/4/20/
Ichigo protecting her from Yammy:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/192/15/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/192/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/192/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/192/18/
Ichigo promising to protect her:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/196/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/196/18/
(Lmao, I think there’s a clear patter when it comes to Ichigo…)
Patience is one that focuses more on Orihime, since she’s always been the one who’s had to wait on the sidelines. Ichigo, clearly has NO patience when it comes to fighting, but he IS rather patient when it comes to Orihime.
Orihime waiting for Ichigo during the Byakuya fight:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/164/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/164/18/
Orihime waiting for Ichigo during the Yammy fight:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/193/7/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/193/8/
Ichigo asking Orihime to let him practice focusing his reitsu more alone:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/81/6/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/81/7/
Ichigo reassuring Orihime (and Nell) that he’ll win the fight:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/1/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/2/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/279/3/
Ichigo informing Orihime not to be afraid while in Vaizard mode (just LOOK AT THAT SOFT LOOK IN HIS EYE!!! ) :
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/281/3/
Telling Orihime to protect herself and Nell during the raging battle:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/281/7/
Love, again, is more for Orihime. She’s the only character who’s out rightly expressed her love for another individual in Bleach. Not even the married couples said “I love you” to each other! 
Yet Orihime says it twice.
She has the scene where she confesses to Matsumoto:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/199/10/
And there’s the infamous 237 love scene that I will NOT be posting again, because it’s already been linked earlier^_^
Oooh, passion is a GOOD one, and it’s allllll about Ichigo. Since we haven’t had any thoughts of love from this guy for any female character, it’s still technically “up in the air” until he does have a thought or says otherwise. However, it’s quite clear that Ichigo shows passion for Orihime, and NOT in the way he shows his friends.
This is friends:
Ichigo screaming out Orihime’s last name when Yammy attacks her:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/193/18/
Ichigo screaming out Rukia’s name when Grimmjow attacks her:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/204/7/
When a friend gets hurt, what the heck is he supposed to do (well, lol, besides fighting) other than scream their name first in shock?! I don’t see any difference in the way he treated Orihime and Rukia, and since they’re both his nakama, why would he? This was before chapters 237, 238, and 239, so I don’t disagree with the thought that up to this point, Orihime was still “just a friend” (though Ichigo’s always treated her differently from all the other girls, so while she was still just a friend, I think Ichigo’s always had deeper feelings he just doesn’t know about yet^^)
BUT, when Grimmjow attacked Orihime, it was like BAM! GTF away from her! And then when Orihime asked Ichigo not to get hurt anymore, he powered up massively. It doesn’t matter that he didn’t “not get hurt” when he finished the fight. The fact remains that Ichigo DID finish the fight, thanks to Orihime’s strengthening words, and after the fight he really doesn’t look that damaged. Just rather tired! XD :
Ichigo’s amazing “Let go of her” line:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/278/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/278/17/
Ichigo protecting Orihime from Grimmjow’s sneak attacks (two times):
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/280/19/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/280/20/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/280/21/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/280/22/
Normally, I wouldn’t dare say that Ichigo’s “look” is enough to warrant TRUE passion (like, say, for his soon-to-be-girlfriend) but Ichigo’s never been FORCED into his Vaizard form for a reason like that, either. When has he ever transformed to protect another in that form? He hasn’t. Orihime is the first girl to see this side of him! ^_^
Ichigo needlessly protecting Orihime from Grimmjow’s five explosions (again with that amazingly soft look!) :
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/282/16/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/282/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/282/18/
Orihime’s plea and Ichigo’s miraculous power up:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/283/17/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/283/18/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/283/19/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/283/20/
And last but not least is hard work. Haha, I’m not going to supply pictures for this one, because all you have to do is read every scene where Ichigo (especially) and Orihime train to get stronger.
And just for extra cuteness factor, something occurred to me in my second read-though of Bleach, that I decided to share with all of you^_______^
Ichigo and his beloved Orihime seem to randomly pair off an awful lot to do stuff together…
Orihime showing Ichigo about Ishida:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/12/
Ichigo and Orihime running to Urahara’s shop:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/69/14/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/69/15/
Taking a break from healing Jindabou:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/76/12/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/76/13/
Finding Rukia to say goodbye:
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/181/3/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/181/4/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/181/6/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/181/13/
And HOPEFULLY they will soon be going off to find their friends together, like Ichigo said: DIE SPOONY, DIE!!!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/8/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/9/
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/286/10/
This is just a fun little extra section I decided to add in^^
E~n~j~o~y!
Definition: Numerology is the para-science that studies the purported mystical or esoteric relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things.
YAY! I’m basically MAGIC guys!!! XD
(You will think I am amazing after reading all of this, I promise! It’s just basic math, people, nothing to worry about. Thank God I’m a math wiz… XD)
And to think, this all started when somebody pointed out to me that “7” seems to be a number frequently used with Orihime, and a lot of “important Orihime/Ichigo chapters seem to have 7 in them too!
We all know, obviously, that Bleach characters tend to be related to numbers. I could probably give at least five ways to relate certain numbers to their characters, but that’d take me forever…**falls over**…so I’ll just stick with Orihime and Ichigo. ^_^
I’m sure everyone’s noticed by now how I keep encasing my section titles in the numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7, yes? The reason I did that is because Ichigo and Orihime have continuously been connected to those numbers. Ichigo’s birthday is the 15th of July (1, 5, and 7) and Orihime’s birthday is September 3rd (9 and 3, and while 9 isn’t a part of the regular equation, it’s only 3 x 3, so it fits!) and she’s the Maiden of Tanabata (7/7 in date).
Not to mention, all throughout Bleach there are references made for 5 and 7. If you don’t believe me, read the first 100 chapters again!
Now, according to straight up shipper numerology, you take each of those numbers and add them together. (1 + 3 + 5 + 7 = 16, which are Ichigo and Orihime’s current ages!) Now, add the numbers in THAT equation together, and you have your special number.
1 + 6 = 7. Tanabata. XD
So yeah, Ichigo yelled at Yamamoto in chapter 238 about rescuing Orihime himself, and now we had everything confirmed in chapter 283 (about Ichigo fighting Ulquiorra for O~r~i~h~i~m~e’s sake!) XD
Oh! And another funny thing is how you can derive the number "7" from each of those chapters too! 270 already has a 7, and (8 - 3 = 5 + 2 = 7!) both chapter 238/283 = 7! XD
Also, in 270 itself, if you subtract "2" two times from 7, you get 5 and 3 (7 - 2 = 5 - 2 = 3), which, if added together, = 8. So, there you have it. 238, 270, and 283 equal CANON ICHIHIME GOODESS!
(And isn't it lovely how all those fives work in there as well?!)
XDDD
Go here to understand what I did for Orihime and Ichigo:
http://www.book-of-thoth.com/thebook/index.php/Numerology
Orihime = 15 18 9 8 9 13 5 = 77!!! The day we celebrate TANABATA! And if you add 7 and 7 together you get 14, which doesn’t equate to much, but LOOL! If you add 1 + 4 = 5!!! XD And 4 – 1 = 3!!!
She’s ranked 3 in her class, and we all know by now how she clicks with 3!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/4/
AND she first used her powers in chapter 43, and 4 + 3 = 7!!!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/43/5/
Scary how these numbers work out…
Let’s see how Ichigo does:
Ichigo = 9 3 8 9 7 15 = 51! Well, it’s the reverse of his birthday (15), and it’s got two famous numbers in it (5 and 1). His name means “One [to] Protect” or something similar, and Orihime gave him 5 lifetimes of her love^___^ Added together you get 6, obviously, which equates to all things Renji, Byakuya, Rukia, and Grimmjow. XD Those last two candidates are the Boatman for Tanabata. 5 – 1 equals 4, which is definitely the rest of the Orihime rescue squad: Chad, Rukia, Renji, Ishida.
Ichigo is also ranked 23 in his class. 2 + 3 = 5!
http://manga.bleachexile.com/bleach/35/7/
And just for kicks, let’s try Bleach:
Bleach = 2 12 5 1 3 8 = 31
3 – 1 = 2 (Ichigo and Orihime) and 3 + 1 = 4 (Chad, Rukia, Renji, Ishida)!!!
The 6 main stars of Bleach! WHOOH!
L4: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article1224.html
Lady Orihime and I joked about the magpies being Orihime’s powers, since they look like little bird things anyway.
This is a superstitious poem about magpies, to indicate whether or not you will have good luck or bad luck, depending on the number of magpies you see:
Two for Joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for a wish
Nine is a kiss
Ten is a bird you just can't miss
In the terms of IchiHime this would mean:
One person by his or herself is bound to be sad. He/she needs that other to be complete.
Two makes a couple, which makes for utmost joy!
Three for a baby girl.
Four for a baby boy.
Five for silver because Orihime claimed five lifetimes of her love to Ichigo under the pale, silver light of the moon^^
Six for gold because Orihime’s entire Shun Shun Rika give off a golden light.
Seven for Tanabata, Orihime, and many of her lovely chapters. 237, Orihime’s “secret” couldn’t be revealed to the person she was seeing (Ichigo).
Eight because Rukia, Renji, Chad, Ishida, Rangiku, Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro can’t WAIT until Ichigo and Orihime finally become a couple!
Nine for a kiss on Orihime’s birthday.
Ten will be an eagle flying to his mate! (10 = 5 + 5.) 
L5: http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/folklore.html
| Quote: |
| A spell of protection vs. magpie was to cross yourself, raise your hat to the bird or spit three times over right shoulder and say 'devil, devil, I defy thee'. This was particularly applicable if you did not like the future as foretold by counting the magpies. |
Haha, anyone else think of Orihime’s "I reject/repel thee!" ???
| Quote: |
| Magpies are accused of not wearing full mourning at the Crucifixion. Because they wore white when they were supposed to be all black, they have been cursed by God. |
This reminded me of Arrancar uniforms, white and not "black", like you would think the villains of the tale’s uniforms would be.
| Quote: |
| In Chinese mythology a three legged crow was used to represent the Sun (because 3 was the number for light and goodness, which the sun was the embodiment of) |
Since Orihime’s SSR will be linked to Magpies, that means that crows have to represent Ichigo! XD Crows are commonly a sign of death, and since they’re a very pretty black and because Ichigo’s bankai cloak sort of reminds me of this image:
http://www.ivanicki.com/images/the-crows-_three.jpg
Ichigo surely is represented by the crow in this equation. ^_^ Isn’t it cool how a black crow was supposed to represent the sun? (Remember, Ichigo is the Black Sun! XD)
| Quote: |
| Often, two crows would be released together during a wedding celebration. If the two flew away together, the couple could look forward to a long life together. If the pair separated, the couple might expect to be soon parted, too. (This practice was also performed using pairs of doves). |
Aww, poor Orihime and Hikoboshi. They must have let out two crows that separated on their wedding night. ): (lol, really though, I just wanted to add that in because I liked it^^ Not gonna lie…)
Anyway, the other bird that also fits into the “birds of death” equation is the Raven, which I would somehow link Rukia to, but unfortunately, all of the Tanabata stories I’ve researched had either magpies and/or crows make a bridge (if there was no boatman in the tale) for the lovers.
This is one ridiculously loooooooong poem! D: But it’s terribly romantic. Throughout the poem there are notes and comments made, some of which I’ll be using.
These are ALL from L3:
| Quote: |
| It will be observed that, in most of these verses, it is not the wife who dutifully crosses the Celestial River to meet her husband, but the husband who rows over the stream to meet the wife; and there is no reference to the Bridge of Birds. . . , As for my renderings, those readers who know by experience the difficulty of translating Japanese verse will be the most indulgent, I fancy. The Romaji system of spelling has been followed (except in one or two cases where I thought it better to indicate the ancient syllabication after the method adopted by Aston) ; and words or phrases necessarily supplied have been in closed in parentheses. |
(^Ichigo meeting Orihime!!! XD)
whom I have been waiting to meet here,
on the banks of the River of Heaven…
the moment of loosening my girdle is nigh!
| Quote: |
| The last line alludes to a charming custom of which mention is made in the most ancient Japanese literature. Lovers, are parting, were wont to tie each other's inner girdle (himo) and pledge themselves to leave the knot untouched until the time of their next meeting. This poem is said to have been composed in the seventh year of Yôrô, --- A. D. 723, --- eleven hundred and eighty-two years ago. |
floating in his boat,
my lord will doubtless deign to come to me this very night.
Though winds and clouds to either bank
may freely come or go,
between myself and my far-away spouse
no message whatever may pass.
To the opposite bank
one might easily fling a pebble;
yet, being separated from him by the River of Heaven,
alas! to hope for a meeting (except in autumn)
is utterly useless.
From the day that the autumn wind began to blow
(I kept saying to myself), "Ah! when shall we meet?"
But now my beloved, for whom I waited and longed,
has come indeed!
Though the waters of the River of Heaven
have not greatly risen,
(yet to cross) this near stream
and to wait upon (my lord and lover)
remains impossible.
Though winds and clouds to either bank
may freely come or go,
between myself and my far-away spouse
no message whatever may pass.
Though she is so near
that the waving of her (long) sleeves can be distinctly seen,
yet there is no way to cross the stream
before the season of autumn.
When we were separated,
I had seen her for a moment only, ---
and dimly as one sees a flying midge;
now I must vainly long for her as before,
until time of our next meeting!
Me thinks that Hikoboshi
must be rowing his boat
to meet his wife, ---
for a mist (as of oar-spray) is rising
over the course of the Heavenly Stream.
While awaiting my lord
on the misty shore
of the River of Heaven,
the skirts of my robe
have somehow become wet.
On the River Of Heaven,
at the place of the august ferry,
the sound of the water has become loud:
perhaps my long-awaitad lord
will soon be coming in his boat.
As Tanabata (slumbers)
with her long sleeves rolled up,
until the reddening of the dawn,
do not, O storks of the river-shallows
awaken by her cries
(She sees that) a mist is spreading
across the River of Heaven. . . .
" To-day, to-day,"
she thinks, "my long-awaited lord
will probably came over in his boat."
By the ferry of Yasu,
on the River of Heaven,
the boat is floating:
I pray you tell my younger sister
that I stand here and wait.
Though I (being a Star-god) can pass freely to and fro,
through the great sky, --- yet to cross over the River of Heaven,
for your sake, was weary work indeed!
From the august Age of the God-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears,
she had been my spouse in secret only;
yet now, because of my constant longing for her,
our relation has become known to men.
From the time when heaven and earth were parted,
she has been my own wife;
--- yet, to be with her,
I must always wait till autumn.
With my beloved,
of the ruddy-tinted cheeks,
this night indeed will I descend
into the bed of the River of Heaven,
to sleep on a pillow of stone.
When I see the water-grasses
of the River of Heaven
bend in the autumn wind (I think to myself):
"The time (for our meeting) seems to have come."
When I feel in my heart
a sudden longing for my husband,
then on the River of Heaven
the sound of the rowing of the night-boat is heard,
and the plash of the oar resounds.
In the night when I am reposing
with my (now) far-away spouse,
having exchanged jewel-pillows with her,
let not the cock crow, even though the day should dawn.
Though for a myriad ages
we should remain hand-in-hand and face to face,
our exceeding love could never come to an end.
(Why then should Heaven deem it necessary to part us?)
The white cloth
which Tanabata has woven for my sake,
in that dwelling of hers,
is now, I think,
being made into a robe for me.
Though she be far-away,
and hidden from me by five hundred layers of white cloud,
still shall I turn my gaze each night
toward the dwelling-place of my younger sister (wife).
ED comment: “imo” can mean sister, but it can also mean beloved wife. Not exactly sure why…but has Orihime been compared to being Ichigos’ “sister” too?! HAHA, it just works out. XD
| Quote: |
| That is to say, "wife." In archaic Japanese the word imo signified both "wife" and "younger sister." The term might also be rendered "darling" or "beloved." (note by web author) In Japanese old poetry, "imo" signified "beloved" in most cases. But to-day, "imôto", variation of "imo", means only "younger sister". |
and the river-mists spread over the Heavenly
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