A Snowy Dawn, Shining Like Moonlight

asaborake ariake no tsuki to miru made ni　yoshino no sato ni fureru shirayuki

 

daybreak—

bright enough to suggest

it’s the dawn moon,

the snow’s whiteness

on Yoshino village

 

 

Sakanoue no Korenori 

Translation of Hyakunin Isshu by
Emiko Miyashita and Michael Dylan Welch

 

<Modern Interpretation>
At the faintest light of dawn, the snow-covered village of Yoshino glows so white and bright, one might mistake it for the gentle light of the lingering moon.

 

Sakanoue no Korenori (dates unknown)
A mid-Heian period poet from a family that served the imperial court for generations. Koremori is celebrated for waka that vividly depict the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. Among his works, this poem—chosen for the Hyakunin Isshu—is especially well known.

 

In this verse, the serene snowscape of Yoshino is described as if lit by the pale glow of the ariake no tsuki, the “moon lingering at dawn.” The snow and moonlight merge, illuminating the quiet landscape with a pure, ethereal whiteness.

 

The ring 「深々 - SHINSHIN -」 draws inspiration from this poem, representing “winter” among the four seasons, and the “moon” in the traditional aesthetic of Kachō Fūgetsu. It evokes the snow-laden village of Yoshino emerging at dawn—a scene wrapped in stillness and gentle light.

About the Design of 「深々 - SHINSHIN -」

The outer band of the ring is engraved with a serene snowscape of Yoshino, portraying mountains gently blanketed in snow. The softly drawn ridgelines evoke the tranquil hush that follows a heavy snowfall and recall the peaceful scenery of the Heian period, the era in which the poem was written.

 

On the inner band, the design captures a 「深々 - SHINSHIN -」snowfall—snow falling silently and steadily, layering the world in stillness. The texture of the snow is expressed in fine detail, reflecting the pale light of dawn. The expansive landscape of the outer ring and the delicate shimmer of snow within work together to form a unified expression of the poem’s world, encapsulating its quiet beauty and timeless atmosphere in a single wearable form.

Craftsmanship and Highlights of 「深々 - SHINSHIN -」

In「深々 - SHINSHIN -」, great care was taken in selecting materials to express the contrast between snow and moonlight. Platinum was chosen to represent the snow, while white gold was used for the moon. Although both are white metals, their differing brightness levels were used intentionally to recreate the scene described in the waka—a moment when the snow appears so radiant at dawn that it could be mistaken for moonlight. The luminous quality of platinum evokes the brilliance of snow touched by first light, outshining even the glow of the lingering moon.

 

The mountain ridgelines carved into the outer band are inlaid with platinum, enhancing the depiction of Yoshino’s snowy landscape as night gives way to dawn. Fine engraving adds texture to the moon and snow surfaces, and the interplay between delicate carvings and subtle material contrasts brings to life the poem’s dreamlike vision.

Details of「深々 - SHINSHIN -」
Primary Material: Tantalum (Ta)
Decoration: White Gold (WG), Platinum (Pt)
Techniques:Takaniku Zōgan (Raised Inlay), Hira Zōgan (Flat Inlay),Usunikubori (Shallow-Relief Engraving), NC Engraving
Size: JP Size 22 / Width: 10 mm
Price: ¥1,048,300 (tax included)

 

※This is a one-of-a-kind piece.
Please note that size adjustments or custom modifications are not available.

 

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