At Tafushi Cape / Those gracious men of the court / gather seaweed. — "Manyoshu" (7th century)

By the Bay of Ami / Lovely maidens board a boat, / their long skirts drenched / by the flowing tide. — Manyoshu

There is a Pure Land of happiness beneath the waves, another Capital where no sorrow is. Thither it is that I am taking our Lord. — "Tales of the Heike" (13th century; spoken by the widow of the defeated commander as she prepares to drown herself and the 8-year-old Emperor Antoku.)