Meikyou Shisui ~Mononofu ga Michi~

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Meikyou Shisui ~Mononofu ga Michi~ (明鏡止水 ~もののふが道~) is a Samurai Warriors character image song which first appeared on the vocal CD Sen Retsu Uta Ougi; it was later put in Vocal Best. It is a solo song performed by Takeshi Kusao for his character in the series, Yukimura Sanada.

The song's title can be translated as "Clear Mind with No Doubt ~A Samurai's Path is the Way~". The first four characters literally translate as "Untarnished Mirror Still Water" and forms a proverb which originates from two Chinese sources. "Untarnished Mirror" is derived from a quote spoke by Shentu Jia, a high officer of the Han Dynasty, in the Zhuangzi. Zichan, Shentu Jia's colleague and political superior, was upset that he wasn't being paid the proper respects when they entered their master's temple together. Shentu Jia responded, "...the mirror is bright, no dust settles; if it is sullied, then it is not truly bright", as a metaphor of their master's greatness and Zichan's disrespect towards it. "Still Water" is derived from a Confucius quote regarding balance and clarity, which uses the imagery of still water and its undisturbed surface as a metaphor.

These four characters were first known to have been united within Zhuangzi's The Seal of Virtue. In Japan, the Chinese proverb is famously associated with Katsu Kaishū in his collection of stories and sayings, Hikawa Seiwa. While reflecting on the conflicting political ideologies of the time period, Katsu encouraged the reader to avoid groundless paranoia and to stay focused on a single dream. He wrote that clarity and serenity were prudent traits for doing so, and used meikyou shisui to illustrate his thoughts and his point of reference.

Credits

Lyrics: Yuriko Mori
Composition, Arrangement, Chorus, Guitar, Bass, Programming and other performances: Takeshi Masuda
UNIVERSAL MUSIC label

Lyrics


誰にも遮ることなど出来まい
我が道 その名はもののふが道よ
断じて前進 守るが肝腎
我が友 助くる この身を挺しても
この心はいま澄み渡る
鏡のように張り詰めて
揺るがない水の如く
この道を いざゆかん
先陣を切り行こうぞ 今こそ
この道を すぐ空けよ
命が惜しくば さあ
問答無用 我は引かぬ
茨の道でも心に決めしは
先へと それこそもののふたる者
絆は最強 勝利は畢竟
我が槍 誰にも奪えはせぬ力
この視界はいま冴え渡る
東雲の空に立ち昇る
太陽を懐に抱き
この夜明け いざゆかん
合戦は我が舞台 悔やまぬ
この夜明け すぐ明けよ
高らかな法螺貝 聴け
屈せぬまま 前に進め
この心はいま澄み渡る
鏡のように張り詰めて
揺るがない水の如く
この道をいざゆかん
我が願い守り抜き 今こそ
この道を いざゆかん
先陣を切り行こうぞ 今こそ
この道を すぐ空けよ
命が惜しくば さあ
問答無用 我は引かぬ

dare ni mo saegirukoto nado dekimai
wa ga michi so no na wa mononofu ga michi yo
danjite zenshin mamoru ga kanjin
wa ga tomo tasukuru kono mi wo teishitemo
kono kokoro wa ima sumi-wataru
kagami no you ni haritsumete
yuruganai mizu no gotoku
kono michi wo izayukan
senjin wo kiri yukouzo ima koso
kono michi wo sugu ake yo
inochi ga oshikuba saa
mondou-muyou ware wa hikanu
ibara no michi demo kokoro ni kimeshi wa
saki he to sore koso mononofu taru mono
kizuna wa saikyou shouri wa hikkyou
wa ga yari dare ni mo ubaewasemu chikara
kono shikai wa ima sae-wataru
shinonome no sora ni tachi-nokoru
taiyou wo mune ni idaki
kono yoake izayukan
kassen wa wa ga butai kuyamamu
kono yoake sugu ake yo
takarakana horagai kike
kusenumama mae ni susume
kono kokoro wa ima sumi-wataru
kagami no you ni haritsumete
yuruganai mizu no gotoku
kono michi wo izayukan
wa ga negai mamori nuki ima koso
kono michi wo izayukan
seijin wo kiri yukouzo ima koso
kono michi sugu ake yo
inochi ga oshikuba saa
mondou-muyou ware wa hikanu

No one can hope to block
my path, it is known as the path of all samurai
I must proceed forward at any cost to protect that which is vital
and to rescue my friends, even at the cost of my body
My heart is set
It is rigid like a mirror
as though it were still water
I must hurry down this path at once
I cut through the foe
If you value your lives,
then open the way for me Now
Don't try to argue with me, I won't withdraw
A thorny path it may be, but my heart is decided
I must go forward, to be worthy of being a samurai
Our bonds are superior, victory is absolute
My spear is filled with a power that cannot be stolen
My vision is now cleared
I rise towards the dawn sky
and embrace the sun within my heart
I head towards the morning sky
War is my stage, I have nothing to regret
Dawn shall soon rise upon us
The horn for battle sounds
Unflinchingly, I rush to the front
My heart is clear
It is rigid like a mirror
as though it were undisturbed water
I need to march down this path
to protect my wishes now
I must hurry down this path now
I cut through the enemy vanguard
If you do not wish to lose your lives,
then open the way for me Now
Spare me your words, I won't retreat

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