Tinsagu nu Hana

, also , is an Okinawan song about traditional Ryukyuan values such as filial piety and other Confucian teachings in the Okinawan language.

Description

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. 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.

The Okinawa Prefectural government designated "Tinsagu nu Hana" as "Okinawa Prefecture's favorite song" on March 18, 2012, following a public survey. It was subsequently made an official symbol of Okinawa Prefecture, making it the prefecture's second musical symbol alongside the "Song of Okinawa Prefecture".

Lyrics

<small>The last four of the ten verses are missing.</small>

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ãÂ

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

References