The Tale of Genji

Résumés by Mari Nagase

© UNESCO 2000

Part ITHE PAULOWNIA COURT

The autumn tempests blew and suddenly the evenings were chilly.Lost in his grief, the emperor sent off a note to the grandmother. Hismessenger was a woman of middle rank called Myo-bu. It was on abeautiful moonlit night when he dispatched her.Myo-bu reached the grandmother's house. Her carriage was drawnthrough the gate and made its way through the tangles.The weeds grew ever higher and the autumn winds torethreateningly at the garden.The grandmother was unable to control her tears. After a pause sheread the message from the emperor.He said that he was in a deep grief over losing the lady and could notbear to think of the child languishing in the house of tears.

Myo-bu was much moved to find the emperor waiting up for her.Making it seem that his attention was on the small and beautifullyplanted garden before him, now in full autumn bloom, he wastalking quietly with some women, among the most sensitive of hisattendants. He had become addicted to the illustrations by theemperor Uda for “The Song of Everlasting Sorrow” and to poems onthat subject, and to Chinese poems as well which reminded him ofhis relation with Koi.He listened attentively as Myo-bu described the scene she had found.He took up the letter she had brought from the grandmother tellingof his worry about the future of the child.Looking at the keepsakes Myo-bu had brought back, he reviewed hismemories over and over again, from his very earliest days with thedead lady.

The months passed and the young prince returned to the palace. Atthe age of seven, an embassy came from Korea. Hearing that amongthe emissaries was a skilled physiognomist, the emperor would haveliked to summon him for consultation.He decided, however, to send Genji to the Koro mansion, where theparty was lodged.The boy was disguised as the son of the grand moderator, hisguardian at court. Korean cocked his head in astonishment.“It is the face of one who should ascend to the highest place and befather to the nation,” he said quietly, as if to himself. “But to take itfor such would no doubt be to predict trouble. Yet it is not the face ofthe minister, the deputy, who sets about ordering public affairs.”The moderator was a man of considerable learning. There was muchof interest in his exchanges with the Korean. There were alsoexchanges of Chinese poetry among the three of them. The boy

offered a verse that was received with high praise. The emperorsummoned the new lady, Fujitsubo who resembled the dead lady.Gradually his affections shifted to this new lady who consoled him alot. People began calling Genji “the shining one” and the lady “thelady of the radiant sun”. The emperor wanted the two of them to beclose to each other.

When he reached the age of twelve, he went through his initiationceremonies and received the cap of an adult. It was held in the GrandSeiryouden Hall.The throne faced east on the east porch, and before it was Genji's seatand that of the minister who was to bestow on him the official cap.The freshness of his face and his boyish coiffure were again such as tomake the emperor regret that the change must take place. Thesecretary of the treasury performed the ritual cutting of the boy’shair.As the beautiful locks fell the emperor was seized with a hopelesslonging for his dead lady. The ceremony over, the boy withdrew tochange into adult trousers and descended into the courtyard forceremonial thanksgiving.The emperor was stirred by the deepest of emotions. He had on briefoccasions been able to forget the past, and now it all came back again.Vaguely apprehensive lest the initiation of so young a boy bring asudden aging, he was astonished to see that his son delighted himeven more. Genji married Aoi-no-Ue, the daughter of the Minister ofLeft. The bride was older, and ill at ease with young husband.Fujitsubo was for him a sublime beauty.

THE BROOM TREE

(This is the story when Genji is 17 years old. He spent little time with hisbride. He stayed most of the time in the court and seldom visited her. Butwith his brother-in-law, To-no-Chujo, he was on particularly good terms)The summer rains came, the court was in retreat. It had been raining all day.Genji was back in his own palace quarters. To-no-Chujo was also there.Genji pulled a lamp near and sought to while away the time with his books.Numerous pieces of colored paper, obviously letters, lay on a shelf. To-no-Chujo made no attempt to hide his curiosity.It was not likely that very sensitive letters would be left scattered on a shelf,and it may be assumed that the papers treated so carelessly were the lessimportant ones.To-no-Chujo was reading the correspondence through piece by piece. Thiswill be from her, and this will be from her, he would say. Sometimes heguessed correctly and sometimes he was far afield.

(Two young courtiers, a guard officer and a functionary in the Ministry ofRites, appeared on the scene. They talked on of the varieties of women)The guard officer once had a woman who was a model of devotion; but shewas violently jealous.One day I said to her: If you go on doubting me as you have, I will not seeyou again.She answered: Maybe this is the time, and then, suddenly, she took my hand

and bit my finger.After parting, he never visited her again, and the woman passed away insorrow.

The guard officer talked on. “There was another one besides jealous woman.I was seeing her at about the same time. She was more amiable than the oneI have just described to you. Everything about her told of refinement. Herpoems, her handwriting when she dashed off a letter, the koto (longJapanese zither) she plucked a note on-- everything seemed right. She wasclever with her hands and clever with words.And I learned that I was not her only secret visitor.One bright moonlit autumn night I chanced to leave court with a friend. Hegot in the same carriage and got off in the front of the woman's house.The chrysanthemums were at their best and the red leaves were beautiful inthe autumn wind. He took out a flute and played a tune on it. Blendingnicely with the flute, there came the mellow tones of a Japanese koto.” Afterthat he stopped seeing her.

“Let me tell you a story about a shy woman I once knew,” said To-no-Chujo.“I was seeing her in secret. She was an orphan and had borne a child. Isensed that she had come to depend on me. I went on seeing her, but onlyinfrequently. She did not seem to feel any resentment though I visited soseldom. My affection grew.Later, my wife found a roundabout way to be objectionable, and when Ilooked in on her again the woman had disappeared.” (That woman andchild will appear in the later chapter as Yugao and Tamakazura.)

“When I was still a student I knew a remarkably wise woman. She was mostattentive to my needs. I learned many estimable things from her, to add tomy store of erudition and help me with my work. Her letters were lucidityitself, in the purest Chinese.”(But unfortunately, she was the sort of woman who lacked gentleness.)One day when he visited her, she insisted on talking to me through a veryobtrusive screen. She said she had been indisposed with a malady known ascoryza. “I have been imbibing of a steeped potion made from garlic,” shesaid, and continued that when she had disencumbered herself of this aroma,they could meet once more.But he thought that he had had enough and left her then.

(One day, Genji could not return to his mansion, since his mansion laid in aforbidden direction according to Buddhism.) He decided to visit thegovernor of Kii in Kyoto. The governor’s mansion had been cleaned andmade presentable. The shallow rivers were created pleasingly in the garden.A fence of wattles, of a deliberately rustic appearance, enclosed the garden,and much care had gone into the plantings. Insects were humming, onescarcely knew where, fireflies drew innumerable lines of light. Genji sat inthe east room of the mansion facing the south side of the garden. His menwere already tippling, out where they could admire a brook flowing under agallery. The governor seemed busy and hurried off for viands. (That nighthe saw Utusemi and her stubbornness was what interested him)(He was attracted by her thoughtful character.)

All was quiet. Genji could make his way through to Utusemi. She was sosmall that he lifted her up easily.She stood in confusion. She spoke with great firmness, but her thoughtswere far from as firm. How happy she might have been if she had not made

this unfortunate marriage with the old governor, the father of the Kiigovernor.The first cock was crowing and Genji's men were awake. Genji parted,attracted to her extraordinary coldness.She trembled to think that a dream might have told him of the night'shappenings.

(Genji’s longing was undiminished. He could not forget how touchinglyfragile and confused Utsusemi had seemed.)Genji asked the governor of Kii to introduce him to Kokimi, the youngbrother of Utusemi. He gave the boy a letter for his sister. But Utsusemi gaveno reply to her brother, telling “You are a child, and it is quite improper foryou to be carrying such messages. ” The hand was splendid, but she shouldnot wait for this kind of letter. She belonged to another man, whom shemust abandon if she would follow Genji.

THE SHELL OF THE LOCUST

Genji could not forget Utsusemi. With Kokimi as guide, he returned to thegovernor's mansion. It was a hot summer night. Genji made his waythrough the door and blinds. Utsusemi had been playing Go with anotherlady. One panel of a screen just inside had been folded back, and thecurtains thrown over their frames, because of the heat. The view wasunobstructed. Utsusemi was a small and rather ordinary woman. But theother was very handsome and tall.

Her Go partner stayed overnight with Utsusemi. When everyone went tosleep Genji entered into the room. Detecting an unusual perfume, Utsusemigot up and slipped out of the room leaving her summer robe. Genji wasdelighted to see that there was only one lady asleep. He guessed what hadhappened and felt ridiculous. His heart was resentfully on the other. But thegirl beside him had a certain young charm of her own, and presently he wasdeep in vows of love.

EVENING FACES

In the summer evening, Genji stopped to inquire after his old nurse,Koremitsu's mother, on his way from court to pay one of his calls at Rokujomansion. His carriage was simple and unadorned and he had no servants.Beside the nurse's house was a new fence of plaited cypress. The four or fivenarrow shutters above had been raised, and new blinds, white and clean,hung in the aperture. The white flowers of Yugao, which meant "eveningfaces", were in bloom on the board wall. Genji sent his man to ask the nameof the flower. That was the beginning of the encounter between Genji andYugao.

Koremitsu passed the flower to Genji on a white fan. A little girl of the househanded it to him. As he finished his visit to the nurse, he asked for a torch,and shone its light on the fan on which the evening face had rested. It waspermeated with a lady's perfume, elegant and alluring. On it was a poem, “Ithink I need not ask whose face it is, so bright, this evening face, in theshining dew.” Genji ordered Koremitsu to make inquiries about the woman.

Autumn came. Genji visited the lady of Rokujo. He had cooled toward her,

which made her sleepless. She feared the rumor of their difference in age.On a morning of heavy mist, she lifted her head from her pillow to see himoff. He paused to admire the profusion of flowers below the veranda andsent a little girl to cut them. Chujo, the servant of the lady Rokujo, followedhim down the gallery. She was a pretty and graceful woman. He asked herto sit her with him for a time at the corner of the railing.

The bright full moon of the Eight Month came. Genji stayed over at Yugao’shouse. Towards dawn he was awakened by the plebeian voices coming fromthe shabby house down the street, the sound of millstone and singing ofwild geese. There was a tasteful clump of black bamboo just outside and thedewdrops on the leaves in the front of the garden beamed reflecting themorning sunshine. Autumn insects sang busily. It was all clamorous, andalso rather wonderful. She was so delicately beautiful, which struck himdeeply. Viewing the outside together, they promised their never-endinglove.

One day Genji took Yugao out by carriage and they spent some happyhours. Afterward, it was about midnight and he had been asleep for a whilewhen an exceedingly beautiful woman appeared by his pillow. He awoke,feeling as if he were in the power of a malign being. The light had gone out.He ordered his men to bring the light. He reached for the girl. She was notbreathing. Ukon, her servant lay face down at her side. A devil had seizedYugao and killed her.

Koremitsu wrapped the body and took it to a temple on mount Higashi. Hehappened to know the nun over there. Barely conscious, Genji made his wayback to Nijo. In the evening, he went to the temple. The girl's face wasunchanged and very pretty. The grand tone in which the worthy monk, theson of a nun, was reading a sutra brought on what Genji thought must bethe full flood tide of his tears. Ukon, lying behind a screen, wept too.

Now genuinely ill, Genji took to his bed for one month after Yugao’s death.He had lost weight, but this only made him more handsome. He summonedUkon one quiet evening. The autumn tints were coming over the maples.Looking out upon the garden, he asked about Yugao. Ukon told him that herfather was a guard captain. After his death, To-no-Chujo was very attentiveand bore a very pretty little girl. When To-no-Chujo's wife discovered her,she ran off and hid herself. (This story was told previously in the 9th graphicof chapter 2.)

LAVENDER

Genji was suffering from malaria. He took four or five attendants along tovisit a sage in the northern hills. He was a most accomplished worker ofcures. Genji had once sent off a messenger to him, but the holy man repliedthat he was too old and unable to leave his place. The old man lived in acave surrounded by rocks, high in the hill. The cherry blossoms had alreadyfallen in the city, as it was late in the Third Month. But in the mountain, thecherry blossoms were at their best, which delighted Genji deeply.

Between the cures and incantations during the daytime, Genji walked a fewblocks in the nearby villages. He saw a wattle fence in front of a temple,which was of better workmanship than similar fences nearby. In the eveningGenji took Koremitsu and went to see the place again. Behind the fence, he

could see the nun reading a text spread out on an armrest. She was in herforties and looked cultivated. Then a pretty girl of perhaps ten ran in andcomplained to the nun in a weeping voice that Inuki had let her babysparrows loose. That was the first time Genji saw the Murasaki-no-Ue.

When Genji was invited into the temple, he asked the bishop about the littlegirl. She was a daughter of the Prince Hyobu. Her mother was the sister ofFujitsubo. She was dead and the grandmother, the nun, looked after thechild. Genji proposed to the bishop that he would take care of her but thebishop refused. While the bishop went out to conduct services, Genji visitedthe nun and asked her to take the child with him. But she hesitated becauseof the difference in age and background.

When Genji improved, the bishop prepared a breakfast of unfamiliar fruitsand wine. Genji, the bishop and the sage composed some poems regrettinghis departure. The bishop gave farewell presents: a rosary of carved ebonywhich Prince Shotoku had obtained in Korea, still in the original Chinesebox, wrapped and attached to a branch of cinquefoil pine; and severalmedical bottles of indigo decorated with spray of cherry and wisteria. Thesage offered him a sacred mace that had special protective powers. As alarge party from Kyoto, including To-no-Chujo, arrived, they had anotherparty.

Fujitsubo was ill and had gone home to her family. As Genji wanted to seeher, he pressed Omyobu to be his intermediary. It was a short night insummer and the meeting appeared to be as a dream. He sighed andregretted that he could not fully express his feeling. Since when she had methim before, Fujitsubo had determined that there would not be another night,Fujitsubo was shocked to see him and felt shame that she could not turn himaway. Soon she became pregnant and was tormented with the agony ofguilt.

Returning to Kyoto, he visited his wife, but she, as always, showed nosuggestion of warmth, which made him uncomfortable. After her memorialservice in the autumn, Genji visited the house of the girl, Murasaki. Thehouse was badly kept and almost deserted. Shonagon, the girl's nurse, wasworried about her future. Genji promised her that he would take care of thegirl. The girl came running in; she was a bright lovely child. It was a stormynight. Genji slept beside her protecting her from the trembling thunder.

It was still dark when Genji made his departure, going his word that hewould come back. There was a heavy mist and the ground was white.Passing the house of a woman he had been seeing in secret, he had someoneknock on the gate. There was no answer, and so he had someone else fromhis retinue, a man of very good voice, chant a poem of his. Though therewas a poem given in response, no one came out.

Before Prince Hyobu, the father of the girl, came, Genji took the girl away tohis Nijo residence in the middle of night. Only the nurse Shonagonaccompanied her. Genji prepared a room for her in the west wing where noone was living. At first, Murasaki and the nurse feared what would happento them, but gradually they became accustomed to the new life. Genjiworked hard to make them feel at home. He wrote down poems and drewpictures for her to copy.

THE SAFFLOWER

Tayu, the nun of his old nurse, told Genji that the Princess Hitachi wasliving alone and consoling herself by playing the koto, a Japanese lute. Theprince was touched by the story and visited her in spring. The moon wasbeautiful and nearly full. The Princess was regarding the garden andenjoying the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms. Tayu did not mention toher that Genji was near and asked her to play the koto. Though her touchwas not particularly distinguished, he found it very pleasing.

Listening to the music of the kote, Genji approached the main hall. When heleaned to the bamboo fence to see her closer, there was someone before him.He thought that it must be a young man who had come to see the PrincessHitachi and fell back in the shadows. Then the man talked to him: it was hisfriend To-no-Chujo. They left the palace together that evening. To-no-Chujowas puzzled when they parted, because Genji had gone neither to his Sanjomansion where his wife lived or his own at Nijo. He followed Genji to findout where he would go. Genji regretted being thoughtless.

The preparation for the outing in October had started more than a monthbefore. The Emperor Kiritsubo was set to visit Sujakuin Palace. Young sonspassed their time practicing at dance and music. Not only the flute wasloud, but also the big drums brought out onto the veranda pounded. Genjialso participated in the rehearsals. He was busy and forgot about thePrincess Hitachi.

On a snowy night, Genji visited the Princess Hitachi after a long interval.When the daylight came, he was surprised to see her. She was not at allbeautiful, and was wearing an old-style dress, which was wrong for theyoung princess. The gate was ruined and leaning in the snow. The agedgatekeeper and his daughter tried to open the gate, but it took a long time toopen it until his men pushed. He was extremely sorry for her and resolvedto support her.

After the meeting of the New Year, Genji visited the Princes Hitachi feelingsorry for her. But her red nose emerged in profile, which discouraged himagain. Back at Nijo, his Murasaki was pretty indeed. He asked himself whyhe sought other woman when he had lovely Murasaki at home. She wasdrawing sketches. Genji also drew a lady with a red nose and painted hisnose red as well.

AN AUTUMN EXCURSION

In the Middle of the Tenth Month, there was a royal excursion to the SuzakuPalace.It was the 50th birthday celebration for Ichi-in, who was the Emperor'sfather. Music came from boats decorated as various sized dragons, whichwere rowed out over the lake. People danced to a variety of Chinese andKorean songs. Most admirable flutists were selected when Genji and To-no-Chujo danced the "Wave of the Blue Ocean" together. The dancing was heldamong the falling leaves, whose beauty frightened the people.

On New Year's Day, on his way to the morning festivities at court, Genjiwent to the west wing to see Murasaki. She had already taken out her dolls.

When Genji asked, “As New Year comes, do you feel grown up?” sheanswered, “Inuki has broken this, I am repairing it”. Inuki was the girl whohad let the sparrow out. The nurse, Shonagon, told her, “This year you musttry to be more grown up. You should not play with dolls after the age often”. Murasaki still looked childish.

The Emperor showed off his new born baby saying that he resembled Genjivery much. Genji had a mixed feeling of fear, awe and pleasure. He returnedto Nijo and calmed down in his room. It was early summer and the gardenwas full of wild carnations in full bloom. He broke off a few of them andsent them to Fujitsubo with a poem saying that the paper was weightedwith his tears as with the dew of wild carnations.

The emperor enjoyed the company of pretty women in his court. All thecourt ladies around him were talented and charming. There was a rather oldlady called Naishi. She was wellborn and cultivated, but at the same timevery indiscriminate towards love. When Genji had made a joke about her,she became serious.One day when she had finished dressing the emperor's hair she foundherself alone with Genji. He tugged on her apron. She gave him a sidelongglance that was hidden behind a gaudy fan.

One evening in the cool after a shower, Genji was strolling past theUmmeiden Pavilion. Naishi was playing attractively on her lute. Genjipassed a joyful time with her. Taking a little bit of rest, Genji suspectedsomeone was entering. Gathering his clothes, he hid behind a screen. A manroared in wielding a sword. It was To-no-Chujo. Though Naishi wastrembling, it appeared to be pretence. As Naishi was a woman of the world,she must have had a similar experience before.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

At the end of the Second Month, the festival of cherry blossoms took placein the Grand Hall. Late in the night, Genji went quietly went up towardsFujitsubo's residence, but the door was tightly closed. He made his way tothe gallery by Kokiden's pavilion, where he found the door was open. Thesixth daughter of the Minister of the Right appeared. She recognized hisvoice and did not refuse him. The dawn soon approached. She did not tellhim her name. They exchanged their fans and he was on his way in a hurry.The misty moon of the twentieth day hung over the sky.

The lady of that misty moon, remembering the encounter, was sunk indistress. She had to marry with the crown prince in the Fourth Month. Latein the Third Month, the Ministry of the Right held a wisteria banquet. Heinvited Genji to the festivities. His elegant dress dominated the other guestsand his beauty outshone the blossoms. After playing the instruments, hewent to a corner where the princess of the ministry stood pretending to bedrunk. He tried to find out the owner of the fan. The voice who had repliedto his poem was the lady’s.

HEARTVINE

The Kamo festival was held on the birthday in the Forth Month. The olderemperor's third daughter, whose mother was Kokiden, replaced the highpriestess. Because of this alteration, the processions taking place weregrander than usual. Genji was among the attendants. The roads were full ofpeople and vehicles. The Rokujo lady had also come quietly to see theprocession. But a latecomer took her place: it was Aoi's carriage. Aoi’sservants had broken the stools for her carriage shafts. She was filled withtears at that insult.

On the following day, Genji decided to set out to view the festival withMurasaki. He went to her room in the west wing. Ladies were alsopreparing for the outing. He found that her hair was too long, so hesummoned a doctor to check the Buddhist calendar to confirm whether theday was suitable for a haircut. Then he trimmed her hair himself. She stoodon the Go plate to check the length of her hair.

Since the quarrel over the carriage, the Rokujo lady spent the time restlessly.Rumors spread that her spirit or that of her father clung to Aoi-no-Ue. Thatwas the malign spirit. She herself dreamed that her soul had indeed gone toAoi and tortured her. She believed that your soul left your body when youone hated someone strongly. The odor of poppy seeds never vanished.

Aoi died too soon. This was only after she gave birth to a baby boy safely,which was a great relief to all the people. But she was again seized with themalign spirit and died. Even the old emperor sent a personal message. Hereceived condolences from the crown prince and Fujitsubo. The crowds ofmourners overwhelmed the wide crematory of Torinobe. It was late in theEight Month and a quarter moon still hung. Returning to Sanjo, Genjilamented over the death of Aoi while contemplating the moon of the dawn.

Genji passed his days at Sanjo mourning for his wife. He prayed earnestly,recalling over the past years they had spent together. He missed Murasaki.He went to bed alone and spent sleepless nights. In a late autumn mistydawn, a letter of sympathy was brought in, written on dark blue gray paperattached to a half opened bud of chrysanthemum. The hand was that of theRokujo lady. As he had a horrible experience of facing her spirit at the deathof Aoi, the letter appeared to him empty.

After forty-nine days, he left the minister's place and returned to his Nijomansion. He found Murasaki had grown to be nearest to his ideal. Soon hemarried with Murasaki at the beginning of winter. The ceremony was notheld, but only the nuptial seats were prepared on the third night of thewedding. No grand banquet followed, but the event was limited to just thetwo of them, which was extraordinary. Koremitus himself prepared thesweets, which were delivered to the pillow of Genji by Shonagon and herdaughter Ben.

SACRED TREE

Since the death of Aoi, Genji had stopped his visits to the Rokujo lady. Shedecided to go to Ise with her daughter. It was the beginning of September,and the departure date approached. Genji visited her at the temporaryshrine at Sagano. The autumn flowers were gone and insects hummedweakly. A wind blew lonesome through the pine trees. The low wattle fencesurrounded the shrines and the gate made of black wood gave an awesomedignity. The prince proffered a branch of the sacred tree, and told her in apoem: “With heart unchanging as this evergreen sacred tree, I entered.”After talking through the night, her bitterness was erased.

In the middle of September, the Rokujo lady went down to Ise to escort herdaughter. The family expected that she should be the empress in the future,so she had become the late crown prince's wife at sixteen. But at twenty hehad left her behind. Now at thirty she left for Ise, filled with all thesememories.As the carriages of the ladies were lined up before the mansion of Genji, hesent a poem to be attached to a sacred tree. Then he spent the day alone,sunk in a sad reverie.

The illness of the emperor became worse. Inquiring after his son, theemperor asked Genji to be good to his son and continue the guardianship ofhis son just as until now. He left his estate to the crown prince and Genji. Atthe beginning of November, the emperor died peacefully. For Fujitsubo andGenji, it was a greater pain than anybody else. Ladies assembled at thedeceased sovereign's palace and performed the service of the forty-ninthday.

As the old emperor had died, Fujitsubo returned to her palace in Sanjo. Shecommissioned religious services in hopes of freeing herself from Genji'sattention. She was very careful not to be approached by him. Genji couldmanage to find a way to enter her room secretly. She fainted with pain andfell down. But Genji stayed there even the daybreak came. Omyobu and Benhid Genji in the closet and looked after Fujitsubo. Her brother, Prince Hyobuand her chamberlain came and sent for priests excitedly.

Sulking with the severe refusal of Fujitsubo, Genji went to UnnlinninTemple where either an older brother or her mother, Koi, presided.Borrowing the uncle's cell for fasting and meditation, he stayed for severaldays. He gathered erudite monks and listened to their discussions. The colorof falling leaves was beautiful. He read the sixty Tendai sutras and reflectedon what Fujitsubo thought and on himself. When he returned from thetemple, even the lowest people came to see him off.

Fujitsubo performed the memorial services on the anniversary of the oldemperor in November. In the Twelfth Month, she organized the reading ofeight scrolls. The reading on the first day was dedicated to her father, thelate emperor, on the second to her mother, the empress, and on the third toher husband. The third day was a special day, and the monks read theclimactic fifth scroll. Prince Hyobu and Genji made a procession withofferings. On the last day, Fujitusbo announced her intention of becoming anun, which surprised all of them because of the suddenness.

The arbitration of Kokiden became stronger. The minister of the Left

resigned to show his protest. Genji and To-no-Chujo were also in obscurity.They seldom went to court. They spent their time reading and playinginstruments. On a mild rainy day in summer, To-no-Chujo brought manycollections of Chinese poetry. Genji also opened some cases and took outseveral unusual collections. Inviting court people and doctors, he enjoyedrhyme-guessing games with them.

Oborozukiyo, the lady of the misty moon, was spending some time with herfamily. Genji met her secretly. One night during a great thunderstorm, theminister of the right happened to enter her room. Oborozukiyo slippedthrough the curtains in a hurry with a flushed face. He caught the sash ofGenji entwined in her skirt. Puzzling, he found a paper of Genji’s writings.Enraged by them, he made a report to Kokiden, which became a scandal.

THE ORANGE BLOSSOMS

Reikeiden had been one of the old emperor's ladies. Taking advantage of arare break in the early-summer rains, he visited her. Her residence waslonely and quiet, as he had expected. He talked over the memories of hislifetime with her during the night. The tall trees in the garden becamedarker in the light of the past twentieth day's moon. The scent of orangeblossoms from the neighboring house drifted in, to call back the past. Heheard the call of a cuckoo that was similar to the one he had heard at theInner River on his way here. He met the sister of the lady Hanachirusato,with whom he had had a chance encounter at court before.

SUMA

The scandal of his love affair with Oborozukiyo caused a worse situation forGenji. There was a possibility that he would be exiled. To avoid the worstpunishment, he decided go to the Suma coast on his own initiative in thelate Third Month.Before his departure, he visited his father-in-law at night. His carriage was ahumble one covered with cypress basketwork, so as not to attract the noticeof Kokiden side. He talked of old times with the Minister and To-no-Chujoand lamented the uncertainty of life. His little son Yugiri also aroused histears. He summoned and spent the night with Chunagon. When the moonin its first suggestion of daylight was most beautiful, he got up to leave. Hesat against the railing a corner of the veranda and contemplated the fallingcherry blossoms. Chunagon came out to see him off at the door.

To-no-Chujo and Prince Hotaru, Genji's brother, came calling. Since he wasnow without rank and office, he changed to informal, plain colored dress ofsilk. As he combed his hair he could not help noticing that loss of weighthad made him even handsomer. Murasaki sat behind the pillar gazing athim with tears. Unable to see her sadness, he told her: “I must go into exile;in this mirror, an image of me will remain yet beside you."Prince Hotaru went back in the evening.

On the night before his departure he visited his father's grave in thenorthern hills. He went first to take leave of Fujitsubo to ask her message forhim. The moon had risen and he set out. He was on horseback and had onlyfive or six attendants. He stooped to bow at the Lower Kamo Shrine. Grassesovergrew the path to the grave. The forest was thick. Genji complained to

him that his last will and testament was destroyed, and about other things.When the moon had gone behind a cloud, he seemed to his father as he oncehad been.

The departure was still dark in the night. Genji wore a rough travel dress forhunting. Until Fushimi, they took a land route and then by boat to Naniwa,descending the Yodo river. In those days it took one day from Kyoto toNaniwa. On the following day, they set out to Suma. He missed Murasaki alot. As he had never been on such a journey, he felt helpless. All the sad,exotic things along the way were new to him. The favorable wind broughtthem to Suma at four p.m. on the second day.

His new house was not far away from the place where Ariwara Narihirahad lived before. It was some distance from the coast, in lonely mountains.The fence, grass-roofed cottages, reed-roofed galleries and everything elseabout the place were interesting. The confidential steward, Yoshikiyoassigned the regional people to necessary tasks. The governor of theprovince discreetly performed numerous services for Genji.

At Suma, the melancholy wind was blowing. There was an appealingprofusion of flowers in the garden. Genji came out to the gallery from wherehe had a good view of the coast. Wearing a dark robe loosely tied, heannounced himself as a disciple of the Buddha; he slowly intoned a sutra,which was inauspiciously beautiful. From off shore came voices offishermen raised in song. The barely visible boas were like little seafowl onan utterly lonely sea. He brushed away a tear induced by the calls of wildgeese overhead, almost like the sound of splashing oars. His hand againsthis black rosary was beautiful enough to bring comfort to men who had lefttheir families behind. When he listened to the roar of the wind and thewaves at his pillow, he could not stop his tears. In those nights, he woke upstill in the dark and plucked a few notes on his koto. During the day, hespent time writing and painting to forget his sorrow.

Having been forbidden from writing to Genji by Kokiden at Kyoto, lettersstopped coming. Genji spent unbearable days. The smoke near at handmust, he supposed, be the smoke of the salt. In fact, someone was burningbrushwood. He felt ashamed of himself living among plebeian people.

The day of the serpent in the Third Month is a good day to wash away one'sworries. He summoned a soothsayer to perform the purification. When hepushed the large doll bearing sins into the river, he could see himself in it.He prayed to heaven proclaiming why a blameless person like me had to bepunished. Suddenly the sky turned black and the lightning and athunderstorm came and would not stop.

AKASHI

The days went by and the thunder and rain continued. Genji wasintimidated.A messenger did come from Murasaki. He arrived soaked to the skin,appearing less than human. Genji would not normally have invited in sucha shabbily dressed man. Yet the man brought him affection. He thoughthimself become weak and vulnerable. The letter of Murasaki and his storyabout city made him even lonelier.

On the following morning, when the storm had subsided, an old monk camefrom Akashi to see Genji. Genji was puzzled how the monk could havereached the shore in the severe storm. He sent Yoshiyuki to see the old man.Then he said that he had come here to take Genji to his own place, as he hadbeen instructed in a dream. Genji also had a dream of the old emperor whohad come through the skies to help him. After deliberation, he decided to gothe Akashi coast. Taking along only four or five attendants, he boarded aboat. Then a strange wind came up and they arrived at Akashi as if they hadflown.

On a quiet moonlit night in the Fourth Month, he could see the Awaji Islandin front of his new residence. The sea was like the familiar water of hisgarden in the city. He took the seven-stringed koto, long neglected. Themonk, who was conducting his practice in the temple and his daughter,Akashi Princes who lived in the hills, were moved by the sound. Castingaside his beads, he came running to the main house. Sending to the houseon the hill for a lute and a thirteen-stringed koto, he played with Genjitogether. Until late at night they played the instruments. The old man toldthe story of his past and asked Genji to marry his daughter.

In the city, on the night of a storm, the emperor Sujaku had a dream. Hisfather stood at the stairs of the east garden of the Seiryo chamber and had agreat deal to say about Genji. Perhaps because his eyes had met the angryeyes of his father, he came down with a very painful eye ailment (In thegraphic, the old emperor stands in the gallery.) On the very same night,Genji also had a dream about the old emperor at Suma. He encouragedGenji and told him to leave the Suma shore.

Accepting the demand of the old monk, Genji invited his daughter to cometo his house. But she refused to be summoned like a servant. Yielding to herresistance, Genji went on horseback to the hill with Koremitsu on the nightof the near full moon. The coast lay full in sight below. He would like toshow it to Murasaki. The temptation was strong to turn his horse's head andgallop on to the city. On seeing the monk’s daughter, Princess Akashi, Genjiwas strongly impressed with her nobleness.

Late in the Seventh Month, the emperor issued an order to summon Genjiwho had become twenty-eight years old. The Akashi lady was pregnant. Ashe could not take her along, he comforted her with promises that he wouldchoose an opportune time to bring her to the city. The lady was sunk in thedeepest gloom fearing to be left alone and longing for the love of Genji. Themonk became senile, lamenting that his daughter could not go with Genji.On a moonlit night, while conducting his practice, the monk fell into thebrook and bruised his hip on one of the garden stones.

CHANNEL BUOYS

From about the beginning of the Third Month, Genji thought about theAkashi lady, for her time was approaching. He sent off a messenger whoreturned with good news that a girl was safely delivered on the sixteenth.He was reminded of what a fortune-teller had once told him. Genji wouldhave three children who would be certain to become emperor, empress andchancellor. Genji badly regretted letting his daughter not be born in Kyoto.

When the long rains of early summer came, he paid a visit to Hanachirusato,

the lady of orange blossoms. She was totally dependent on Genji. Throughshe saw little of him, she never showed her resentment like a modern girl.He knew that she would not make him uncomfortable. He was himself verybeautiful in the misty moonlight. She was waiting for him out near theveranda, in contemplation of the night. From nearby there came the metalliccry of a water rail. Her soft and modest character pleased Genji.

In the autumn Genji made a pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi shrine. It was abrilliant progress, thanks to his prayers. A huge number of attendantsparticipated. Men who had in earlier days led bitter lives like Koremitsu andYoshikiyo were among them. For the Akashi lady it was tormenting to seethe entire splendor but not see Genji himself. Even a small child like Yugirihad his own servants. The lady felt the difference between Genji and herown family. It seemed that her daughter was utterly significant. As shethought that the god would scarcely notice her little offering, she directedher boat to Naniwa.

Returning to Kyoto, the Rokujo lady fell ill and died. In his retreat, holding areligious service, Genji sent frequently to inquire after her daughter toconsole her. It was a day of high wind, driving snow and sleet. He thoughthow much more miserable the weather must seem to her. Genji sent a poemsaying that the spirit of her mother would watch over her. He wrote it witha dazzling brush on a paper of cloudy azure.

THE WORMWOOD

While Genji had descended to Suma, no one took care for Suetsumuhana,the Princess Hitachi.Her house was deteriorating. The owls hooted in the forest. The strangephantoms called Kodama appeared. The rushes were thick and wormwoodtouched the eaves; bindweed had firmly barred the gates. The boysdeliberately drove their cows and horses around in the spring and summer.A typhoon blew down the galleries of her house. Even robbers passed,finding there nothing to see.

Princess Hitachi had an aunt who had a grudge against her sister, themother of the princess. Now that her sister's house was in ruins she wouldhave liked to hire her niece as governess. The aunt was proud of herhusband who was presently appointed assistant viceroy of Kyushu. Parkingher luxurious cart in front of the mansion, she pleaded with her lady to gowith her. When the princess refused to go, she got so angry that she took allthe reliable women. The princess was in such despair she wept.

Wisteria blossoms, trailing from a giant pine, waved gently. The branches ofa willow dropped to the ground in a great disordered forest, which Genjiremembered. He had his carriage stopped, and sent Koremitsu to see theinterior. He knew Suetsumuhana still lived there. Koremitsu beat at thegrass with a horsewhip and led Genji, whose feet and ankles were soaking.The Princess Hitachi, who had not changed, impressed him.

PATCH

It happened that the party of Utsusemi, the wife of the vice-governor ofHitachi, who was on the way to return to Kyoto, and Genji's party, who wason a journey to Ishiyama shrine came across each other at the Osaka barrier.The vice-governor pulled his ten carriages to a stop under the cedars at thetop of the barrier rise. Their coachman knelt respectfully for Genji to pass.Genji gave Uemonsa (formerly Kogimi) a message for his sister. Heremembered their old days, which she too was unable to forget.

THE PICTURE CONTEST

Genji and Fujitsubo had made every effort to send Akikonomu, the formerhigh priestess of Ise to the court to strengthen the position of Genji in thegovernment. Therefore, Suzaku, the former emperor, was disappointed ashe had been in love with her for long time. They would be a perfect coupleas they were the same age. Imagining the feeling of Suzaku, Genji gavecareful instructions to the superintendent for her marriage. He did not wishthe Suzaku emperor to think that he was managing the girl's affairs.

The present emperor Reizei loved paintings. To amuse him, a contest ofpaintings was held between two parties in the court. On the left, the PlumPavilion and Akikonomu faction had seated themselves wearing red robesand put all paintings in red boxes. On the right, the Kokiden faction in bluerobes had lined up with their paintings in blue boxes. Genji and To-no-Chujo were present. Prince Hotaru acted as umpire. Although many famouspaintings of the four seasons and Tsukinami were brought in, Prince Hotaruhad not reached a final decision. Finally, the Suma scroll was offered byGenji, and that brought the victory to the left faction. (The graphic of thisscene was created after a model of the contest held at court in the fourthTentoku era.).

THE WIND IN THE PINES

In autumn, the Akashi lady and her mother with a little girl took the boat togo to Kyoto, escorted by Genji's servants. But they were sad thinking of theold man who had to stay alone. He believed in the bond between hisdaughter and Genji and that the little one would bring pleasure to thepeople of the country. So he determined to stay alone and continued hisprayers for the future. But his face was twisted with sorrow.

Genji prepared a residence for Akashi lady at Oi villa whose scenery had thesame taste of the seashore of Akashi. The garden water was pleasant andinteresting. But Genji did not visit her soon. With little to occupy her, thelady felt sorrow and missed her home. Taking out the seven-stringedChinese koto that Genji had left with her, she played a brief strain to thewind in the pine trees. As her mother resting beside her made a poem ofAkashi, the lady replied with a poem.

On the third day of his visit to Akshi, Genji moved to Katsura, becausemany court people had come over to Oi in search of him. An impromptubanquet was held. The voices of fishermen made him think of the seawomen in Akashi. The young falconers offered a sampling of their take, tied

to autumn reeds. Wine cups were tossed back and forth. People enjoyedpoems and music. At the end, even the emperor delivered his personalmessage.

A RACK OF CLOUD

When the snow had melted in the Twelfth Month, Genji paid his next visit totake the little princess to Kyoto. The Akashi lady resumed the struggle tocontrol herself, which was not entirely successful. As the little girl tried tojump innocently into the carriage, the lady approached as far as the verandato which it had been drawn up. Only the nurse and a young woman calledShosho got into the carriage, taking with them the sword and a sacredguardian doll. Genji could imagine the lady's anguish at sending her childoff to a distant foster mother. She wrote a poem asking when she could seeher daughter next.

Taking more than usual care, Genji chose robes for the visit to the Akashilady in Oi. His trousers were beautifully dyed and scented, and over themhe had thrown an informal court robe of white lined with red. Looking afterhim as he came to say goodbye, his radiance competed with the eveningsunlight. The little girl clung to his trousers and begged to go with him.Looking fondly down at her, Genji sad "I'll be back tomorrow". Murasaki feltvaguely apprehensive.

Fujitsubo had passed away in the Third Month at the age of thirty-six. Asshe had offered her faith and devotion to everybody, grief descended on thecourt. Not wanting to be seen weeping, Genji withdrew to the chapel, andspent the day there in tears. Wisps of cloud at the crest of the mountains inthe clear evening light were colored in gray, which resembled his mourningweeds.

THE MORNING GLORY

He paid a visit to Princess Asagao, whose name meant “the morning glory.”Her attitude was very stiff and formal. He came back and lay awake withdisappointment. He had the shutters raised early and stood looking out atthe morning mist. He broke off a morning glory in the garden and sent it toAsagao with a poem saying, “I wonder if the flower has been taken past itsbloom”.

In the Eleventh Month, the festival was canceled. Genji set off forMomozono mansion again. The traffic seemed to be going through the northgate. It would have been undignified for Genji to join the stream, and so hesent one of his men in through the great western gate. A chilly-lookingporter rushed out to open it. But the gate was rusty, which gave him greattrouble. Genji murmured, “ When did wormwood overwhelm this gate? Thehedge is now under snow, so going to ruin”.

There was a heavy fall of snow. In the evening there were new flurries. Themoon turned the deepest recesses of the garden into a gleaming white. Thecontrast between the snow on the bamboo and the snow on the pines wasvery beautiful. The flowerbeds were wasted, the brook seemed to send up astrangled cry, and the lake was frozen and somehow terrible. Genji sent littlemaidservants into the garden, telling them that they must make snowmen.

They seemed to enjoy themselves, which was all very charming. At night,Genji confessed to Murasaki his love affairs with various women.

THE MAIDEN

Genji thought that Yugiri should go to the university to become a minister ofstate. So he put him in the sixth rank of the university, which surprisedpeople who had expected that Yugiri would be promoted rapidly. Genji hada strong intention to promote the solid education of knowledge. Genjiconducted mock examinations the day before the exam, inviting tutors toattend. Yugiri studied hard and passed the test for formal commencement ofstudies within six months. Genji was satisfied with Yugiri’s result.

Genji was this year to provide a dancer for the Gosechi dances at the harvestfestival, in the Eleventh month. The prettiest and talented girls were selectedfor the Lord's inspection. Genji ordered a final rehearsal for the presentationat court. He had chosen one of Koremitsu's daughters among them. Theglimpse of Koremitsu's daughter had excited Yugiri. He delivered her a loveletter, which amused Koremitsu. (Koremitsu is one of Genji's closestservants.)

The new grand Rokujo mansion was finished. Lady Murasaki, Akikonomu,the lady of orange blossoms and Lady Akashi moved in. Genji lived withMurasaki in the southeast quarter, where spring blossoming trees andbushed were planted in large number. The hills were high and the lake wasmost ingeniously designed. Planted in the forward parts of the garden werecinquefoil pines, maples, cherries, wisteria, yamabuki and rock azalea, mostof them spring season trees and shrubs. Touches of autumn too werescattered through the grove.

The southwest quarter was assigned to Akikonomu. For her mother, LadyRokujo had once lived there. The hills, preserved from the old garden, werechosen for their rich autumn colors. Clear spring water went singing off intothe distance, over rocks designed to enhance the music. There was awaterfall, and the whole expanse was a wild profusion of autumn flowersand leaves. The beauty of falling leaves exceeded that of the mountains ofSagano, a reputed place for autumn sight seeing.

The lady of orange blossoms lived in the northeast quarter. A cool naturalspring and shadow of trees were designed to give the image of a summertown. In the forward parts of the garden the wind blowing through thicketsof Chinese bamboo would be cool in the summer, and the trees were as deepas mountain groves. There was a hedge of mayflower as well as oranges,wild carnations, roses and gentians to remind of days long ago, and a fewspring and autumn flowers too. Here, the lady of orange blossom took careof Yugiri and Tamakazura.

A part of the northeast quarter was fenced off for equestrian grounds.Because the Fifth Month would be its liveliest time, there were irises alongthe lake, from where people could enjoy horse races and equestrian archery.On the far side were stables where the finest horses would be kept.A Lady Akashi lived in the northwest quarter. Beyond artificial hillocks tothe north were rows of warehouses, screened off by pines, which would bebeautiful in new falls of snow.

THE JEWELED CHAPLET

The year passed. Genji did not forget Yugao of the evening faces, who haddied suddenly a long time ago. Her daughter went down to Dazaifu at theage of four, because the nurse's husband had been appointed deputy viceroyof Kyushu and the family had gone off with him to his post. Not knowing ofher death, they prayed for information of any sort about the mother. Theycould not find any way to seek her father, To-no-Chujo. The nurse finallydecided that she would keep the child to remember the mother by. Whenthey set off, the child asked “Are we going to mother's?” The nurse and herdaughter wept.

Years passed. The girl was even prettier than her mother. The young gallantof the region called Taifunogen heard about her and sent letters. ThenTaifunogen decided the date of marriage one-sidedly. The nurse and herfamily set for Kyoto to escape from him. Although they had providedthemselves with a fast boat and the winds did good service, and their speedwas almost frightening, a pilot found them and almost reached them at EchoBay. But the pursuit of the gallant was more threatening than that of thepilot. Fortunately, they had escaped from the pilot and Taifunogen and wererelieved when they reached the Yodo River.

Returning to Kyoto more than fifteen or sixteen years later, the family of thenurse found difficulties in living. They prayed for god to save them. Inautumn, they made pilgrimages to Hatsuse on foot. The walk wasexhausting for the girl. When they lodged at the Tsubaki Market, Ukonhappened to be staying in the same place. Looking through an opening inthe curtains, she was surprised to find the old familiar faces. Ukon paid visitto the temple every year to pray for the gods to find the girl of the eveningfaces.

The nurse and Ukon were in tears. The nurse’s party and Ukon arrived intime for the evening services. The temple swarmed with pilgrims. As theseat of the party was far from the front in the temple, Ukon invited them toher place almost under the Buddha. She could make this kind ofarrangement owing to the special privilege of her master Genji, thechancellor. They stayed there for three days. Ukon prayed for good luck forTamakazura.

Ukon told Genji what had happened. He decided to adopt Tamakazura ashis daughter and assigned the lady of the orange blossoms to take care ofher. On the night when Tamakazura moved into the west wing of thesummer quarter, Genji saw her for the first time. When he pushed away thecurtain of the porch, she was confused and looked away. But he had seenher enough to be very pleased. He was moved, and brushed away a teartelling that there had been no time through all years when she was out of hismind.

Genji went to the little princess of Akashi on New Year’s Day. Her page girlsand young servants were out on the hill busying themselves with seedingpine to learn the fortune of that year. The Akashi lady had sent over someNew Year delicacies in bearded baskets and with them a warbler on a verycleverly fabricated cinquefoil pine branch. A poem was attached saying thatshe was waiting for the first warbler.

THE FIRST WARBLER

When the busy day of the New Year ceremonies finished, Genji went callingon Suetsumuhana, the safflower princess. Her hair had been her only charmwhen she was young, but now the flow was a white trickle. Her nose wasred on her white face as before. He arranged the curtain not to see herprofile. As she looked cold, he sent to the Nijo warehouses for figured silks.Yet the plantings were fine. He spoke very softly that it seemed a pity thatthere was no one to appreciate the rose plum, just coming into bloom.

BUTTERFLIES

To reply to the Empress Akikonomu, who had sent an ornamental box ofarranged autumn leaves and flowers in the last autumn, Murasaki wouldhave liked to answer properly by showing off her spring garden. Genjiagreed, but casual visits were out of question for one in her position.Numbers of her young women were rowed out over the south lake, whichran from her southwest quarter to Murasaki’s southeast, with a hillockseparating the two. Genji’s entourage was deliciously exotic. The dragonand phoenix boats were brilliantly decorated in the Chinese fashion. Theprofessional flutists struck up a melody. The little pages and helmsmen,their hair still bound up, wore Chinese dress. A willow trailed its branchesin the deepening green, the cherry blossoms were at their best, the wisteriawas rich, and yellow yamabuki reflected on the lakes as if about to join itsown image. Waterfowls swam holding twigs in their bills. Genji and someyoung women watched from the angling pavilion.

There was to be a reading of the Prajnaparamita Sutra commissioned byEmpress Akikonomu. Murasaki had prepared the floral offerings. She choseeight of her prettiest girls to deliver them, dressing four as birds and four asbutterflies. The birds brought cherry blossoms in silver vases, the butterfliesbrought yamabuki, the yellow flowers, in gold vases. After they handedover the flowers to the monks, the girls started dancing. The music for thedance of the birds rang forth to the singing of warblers, to which thewaterfowls on the lake added their clucks and chirps. The butterfliesseemed to fly higher than the birds as they disappeared behind a low fenceof yamabuki. It was with great regret that the audience saw the dances cometo an end.

FIREFLIES

Unaware that Genji had arranged it, Prince Hotaru was delighted to receivea positive invitation from Tamakazura. The seat for the prince was preparedin front of her, just separated by curtains. Genji had earlier put a largenumber of fireflies in a cloth bag. Now he released them. Prince Hotaru wascertain to look in Tamakazura’s direction. Genji wanted him to suspect her.The prince was excited to feel that she sat so close to him.

On the fifth day of the Fifth Month, Yugiri brought some friends to Rokujoafter a ceremony of equestrian archery at court. They enjoyed some moreequestrianism, which was again more varied than that at the palace. Thelady of orange blossoms, Tamakazura, and her servants watched from thegalleries of the northeast quarter. The women on the southeast quarter were

watching from the distance. Genji went out to look at the equestrian ground.Genji often held similar events at his residence, as a demonstration of hispower.

WILD CARNATIONS

It was a very hot day. Genji was cooling himself with his son Yugiri in theangling pavilion of the southeast quarter. Several of To-no-Chujo’s sonscame over. “You came at a very good time”, said Genji. “I was feeling boredand sleepy”. Fresh fishes from the West River and Kamo River were broughtin and cooked in front of Genji. He was amused with the gossip of theirfather who recently had found his stray daughter, called Omi-no-kimi. Asthe sons thought that it did not bring honor to their father or to the family,they seemed uncomfortable. Genji was angry that To-no-Chujo hadprevented the love of his son Yugiri for his daughter Kumoinokari. Offeringwine, ice water and rice, he made fun of Chujo.

To-no-Chujo went to Kumoinokari’s room unannounced. She was napping,very small and pretty, and managing to look cool in her single gossamerrobe. Her head was cradled on one arm. The hair that flowed behind her innatural tresses was neither too long nor too thick, but was neatly cut. Shelooked up at him as he tapped with his fan, her eyes round, and the flushthat came over her face delighted him. He lectured her to be vigilant even inher room and forbade her to see Yugiri.

Later he passed the room of Omi-no-kimi who was at a backgammoncontest. Rubbing her hands, she was tattling off her prayer at a mostwondrous speed. Omi was pretty and had beautiful hair. But a narrowforehead and a torrential way of speaking canceled out her good points. To-no-Chujo reprimanded her to slow down her speech. Replying that thespeed was in her nature, she showed no sign of shame. It made Chujouncomfortable to realize that he might have been looking at his own mirrorimage.

FLARES

In the Seventh Month, Genji stayed very late in the Tamakazura’s room.Leaving his heart behind, he was about to leave, when he noticed that thelamps in the garden were low. Saying that an unlighted garden on amoonless summer night could almost be frightening, he sent a guard officerto stir and refuel them under a spindle tree far enough from the house sothat the interior remained cool. In the soft light of the moderate flare, thelady was more beautiful than ever. The koto, Japanese zither, is seen againstthe spot where they had pillowed side by side a moment ago. Genji regardsTamakazura reluctantly.

THE TYPHOON

In Empress Akikonomu’s autumn garden, the plantings were more beautifulthan usual. All the autumn colors were gathered together, and emphasizedby low fences of black and red. Though the flowers were familiar, theylooked different in shape. The morning and evening dews were like gem-studded carpets. She returned to her residence in Rokujo. They forgot thespring’s garden, which had been so pleasing a few months before.

As the Empress Akikonomu was ill, Genji sent Yugiri to the palace with amessage. He could see from the south veranda of the east wind in thesouthwest quarter that two shutters and several blinds had been raised atthe main hall. Women were visible in the dim light. Some young womenhad come forward and were leaning against the balustrades. Little girlswere pouring water into the insect cages and picking wild carnations. WhenYugiri stepped forward, the women withdrew calmly. He felt the elegancemaintained by Akikonomu.

THE ROYAL OUTING

In the Twelfth Month there was a royal outing to Oharano. All the ministersand councilors and whole court had turned out for the occasion. The princesand high officials were beautifully fitted out. Their guards and grooms, verygood-looking, had put on special dresses. The princes and high courtiers incharge of falcons were in fine hunting dress. The falconers from the royalguards were even more interesting, all in printed robes of most fancifuldesign. Even the skies seemed intent on favoring the occasion, for therewere flurries of snow. The procession left the palace at six in the morningand proceeded south along Suzaku Avenue and west on Gojo. Carriages ofviewers lined the streets all the way to the river Katsura. The princes ofRokujo and Tamakazura were among the spectators. Tamakazura paidspecial attention to the Emperor Reizei, her own father, To-no-Chujo, PrinceHotaru and General Higeguro. The emperor in his red robe, who resembledGenji, attracted Tamakazura. It was her opinion that no one compared withhim.

At the beginning of the Second Month, Genji set out for Sanjo to inquireabout Princess Omiya, who had been ill. At that moment, he told hereverything: that the father of his adopted daughter Tamakazura was To-no-Chujo, the Minister of the Interior at present.. Surprised with this news, shecalled the minister who came over with his many children to see Genji. Genjitold him about Tamakazura’s past and asked him to do the honor of tyingthe ceremonial apron for her. They laughed and wept and the earlierstiffness disappeared. It was very late when they went their separate ways.

PURPLE TROUSERS

Genji sent Yugiri to Tamakazura with a message from the emperor tosummon her to the court. She had been friendly enough in the days when hehad thought her his sister, and it did not seem right to be suddenly cool anddistant. She received him at her curtains as before. He had not forgotten theglimpse he had of her the morning after the typhoon. Now the situation hadchanged, and he had come provided with a fine bouquet of purplepantaloon to attract her attention. But her answer was careful. The ribbonsof his cap were tied up in a sign of mourning for his grandmother.

The Ninth Month came. The time approached for Tamakazura to start herservice at court. Her women brought messages to her from various suitors.She had them read to her. General Higeguro wrote that he would doeverything to get her during the Ninth Month. Prince Hotaru wrote her notto forget him even in the court. The royal guard Sahyoenokami wrote that itwas difficult to forget her. Although Higeguro showed his strong intention

to marry her, Tamakazura only replied to Prince Hotaru.

THE CYPRESS PILLAR

Unexpectedly, Tamakazura married the black bearded General Higegurowhose wife was a daughter of Shikibukyo, a royal prince. Higeguro had noexperience with other women for a long time. Now he had to visitTamakazura at Rokujo, which made him uncomfortable. Therefore, hedecided to redecorate the east wing of his house. The house was ruined forhe did not maintain it well .

The wife of Higeguro had been beautiful when she was young. But a malignpower had made her behavior eccentric and violent for many years. Therewas no affection between them. One evening, it was snowing outside.Higeguro tried to persuade his wife to accept his new marriage withTamakazura. As she seemed to be calmed down, he began to prepare for anouting. Suddenly she stood up, swept the cover from a large censer, steppedbehind her husband and poured the ashes over his head. A malign spirithad captured her.

The Prince Shikibukyo got angry because his stepson stayed withTamakazura. So he made his daughter and his granddaughter return to hisresidence. Divorce in those days was no different from today. She came backher to her home with furniture that she brought in when she married.Women who lost their jobs went away separately. Higeguro’s favoritedaughter Makibashira was reluctant to go with her mother. She set down apoem on a sheet of paper and thrust it into a crack in the cypress pillar,writing not to forget her.

Tamakazura was assigned apartments on the east side of the palace.Higeguro continued to stay in the guard’s quarter. He wanted her towithdraw from the court immediately. When she was wondering how toreply to a poem from Prince Hotaru, the emperor came calling. He wasunbelievably handsome and the very image of Genji. He reproved her forhaving gone against his wishes. She did not wish to seem coy. Higeguro wasrestless knowing that the emperor had called on Tamakazura.

A BRANCH OF PLUM

Prince Hotaru came calling on the tenth of the Second Month. A gentle rainwas falling and the rose plum near the veranda was in full and fragrantbloom. The brothers were admiring the blossoms when a note cameattached to a plum branch. It was from Princess Asagao. She had also sent abox containing large balls of perfume. In the letter, she said she would likehim to deliver this present to the princess of Akashi. Prince Hotaru admiredthe beauty of the decoration and Genji wrote a poem of appreciation.

It was now decided that Genji’s daughter would go to court. Genji collectedbooks and scrolls for her library. He invited the finest calligraphers to createmasterpieces. Selecting poems from these admired anthologies, Genji triedseveral styles with fine results, formal and cursive Chinese and the moreradically cursive Japanese “ladies hand”. He secluded himself as before inthe main hall for concentration. He had with him only two or three womenwhom he could count on for comments. He seems to be enjoying his job,

taking a brush between his teeth.

WISTERIA LEAVES

Early in the Fourth Month, the Minister of the Interior (To-no-Chujo)arranged a banquet of wisteria, which was full in bloom. He invited Yugiri.The Minister had begun to grow restless when finally Yugiri arrived. Whenthe moon came out, the wine was served. Pretending to be very drunk, theMinister admired Yugiri who had waited long and well to obtain permissionto marry his daughter, Kumoinokari. The long-standing ill feeling betweenthem disappeared. Kashiwagi broke off an unusually long and rich spray ofwisteria and presented it to Yugiri with a cup of wine. That was a romantichappy ending for Yugiri and Kumoinokari who had been separated for sixyears.

Yugiri was promoted to middle counselor. He moved into his grandmother'sSanjo house, which was filled with many good memories. One beautifulevening sitting near the veranda, Yugiri and Kumoinokari exchanged poemsrecalling the grandmother who had always protected them. Having heardthat the garden was in its autumn glory, To-no-Chujo stopped by on his wayfrom court. As the house was where he had lived in his young days, theMinister of the Interior was moved finding that the couple now lived therehappily.

The present emperor Reizei and former emperor Suzaku paid a state visit toRokujo, which was an extraordinary event. Genji’s preparations werebrilliant. The royal party went first to the equestrian ring where the ritual ofreview was performed in finery. Then the party moved to the southeastquarter for the banquet. The lieutenants of the inner guards of east and westadvanced and knelt before the royal seats, one presenting the take from thepond and the other a brace of fowl caught by the royal falcons in thenorthern hills. The emperor ordered Genji to move up to sit at the samelevel, which showed Genji off in utmost glory.

The Suzaku emperor had been ill since his visit to Rokujo. It had been hiswish to take holy orders and retire from the world. But he worried aboutwhom his daughter, the Third Princess could look to for support when hefinally withdrew from the world. Her mother, a sister of Fujitsubo, had diedin disappointment. Yugiri came to see him. Intending to marry Kumoinokarisoon, he was in the full bloom of youth. The emperor looked at himwondering whether he might not offer a solution to the problem of the ThirdPrincess. The emperor asked Yugiri to take his message that he would like tosee his father Genji ardently.

Part IINEW HERBS, PART I

The ceremony of the initiation of the Third Princess took place at the end ofthe year. A large array of splendid gifts came from the Suzaku emperor andothers. From Akikonomu came some combs, which had been sent by theSuzaku emperor when she married. With them a poem:“I fear these little combs are scarred and worn, I have used them to summonback an ancient day”.The Suzaku emperor chanced to be beside the princess when the gifts weredelivered. He traced back his memories.

The Day of the Rat fell on the twenty-third of the First Month. On that day,people celebrated the Genji's fortieth birthday. Tamakazura came with somenew herbs that promised long life. She had brought her two sons. Heryoung and beautiful face reminded Genji of his old age and his lost days.Deferring to the illness of the Suzaku emperor, the concert was an easy andinformal one. The Minister (To-no-Chujo) played the Japanese koto and thePrince Hotaru played the Chinese koto beautifully, which made the concerteven more remarkable than usual.

Towards the middle of the Second Month, the Third Princess came to Rokujoto marry Genji. Genji could not refuse the request of Suzaku who had beenlooking for someone to support for his daughter.There was also another reason that Genji was induced to marry her. For theThird Princess was a niece of Fujitsubo. It was an unsettling time forMurasaki, but she did not show her feelings and indeed helped with all thearrangements in Rokujo. But her pray worked out and made Genji return toher place early in the morning. While the Murasaki let him wait for a whileoutside, he viewed the patches of snow in the garden. The nape of thekimono of Murasaki, lying there alone, was completely wet.

The Suzaku emperor moved into his temple in the West Mountain after themarriage of his daughter with Genji. Genji had wanted to see Oborozukiyoagain for long time. Though quite aware of the impropriety, he went to seeher secretly. Remembering a wisteria party long ago, she could not totallyrefuse him. On the following morning, Genji gave her a spray of wisteriasaying “ I have not forgotten the depths into which I plunged”.

In the Tenth Month, Murasaki made offerings in Genji’s honor. Choosing atemple in Saga, she commissioned a reading of the sutras for the protectionof the realm. Ending the fast, a banquet was arranged at the Nijo residenceand attended by many people in festive dress. The musicians took theirplaces. Yugiri and Kashiwagi went out and danced under a tree of plumrouge. For the old members of the audience it evoked the image of youngGenji and To-no-Chujo’s dance long before, “Waves of the blue Ocean”.Genji was in tears as memories flooded back.

In the middle of the Third Month, the Princess Akashi gave birth. It was aboy. A gift from the old Akashi monk was delivered with his letter sayingthat the birth of the prince was determined according to his dream. What he

had done and his prayer in the past was to fulfill the dream. As it hadbecome true, he would like to withdraw from the world and go off into thedeep mountains. The old nun’s grief was limitless.

Kashiwagi was very disappointed that the Third Princess who had gone toGenji, and he was still longing after her. In the late spring, there was afootball game in the northeast corner of the Rokujo garden. When a cat camerunning, the curtain was pulled back to reveal the woman behind ininformal dress. Her profile framed by beautiful black hair was elegant. Itwas the first time for Kashiwagi to see the princess. He pretended thatnothing had happened, but Yugiri knew that Kashiwagi had seen theprincess. As she was the wife of Genji, it was forbidden love. Kashiwagicalled the cat and took it up in his arms. Mewing prettily, it brought theimage of the Third Princess back to him.

NEW HERBS, PART II

On the last day of the Third Month there was a large gathering at Rokujomansion. Kashiwagi had decided to go thinking that he might feel lessgloomy to be near to the Third princess. All the court people had alsoparticipated in the archery competition. Evening came, a pleasant breezemade the guests even more reluctant to leave the shade of blossoms. A fewof them had too much to drink. The two generals, Higeguro and Yugiri,joined the other officers in the archery court. Kashiwagi was lost in thought.From time to time he would look vacantly up at the trees. Yugiri noticed andwas worried about him.

Then four years went by uneventfully. The reign was now in its eighteenthyear. On the occasion of his illness, the emperor withdrew to his crownprince. The son of the Akashi princess became the crown prince. The dreamof the Akashi people had nearly been accomplished. Genji went onpilgrimage to thank the god of Sumiyoshi with the Akashi people andMurasaki. It was late in the Tenth Month. The refrain of the Kagura music “Thousand years” continued in front of the shrine covered by a floweredtapestry, which was spread against the evergreen pines for the whole nightto summon limitless prosperity for Genji.

Genji had given lessons of koto to the Third Princess so as to be appearinggrown up at the celebration of the jubilee of the Suzaku emperor. On the 19th

of the New Year, he had a female concert for the rehearsal. The lady Akashiplayed the lute, the lady Murasaki the thirteen-stringed koto, the Akashiprincess the sho piper and the Third Princess the seven-stringed koto. Itlooked like the magnificent concert symbolized the glory of the Rokujo. But,on the following morning -- maybe she was relieved to see the orders inRokujo -- Murasaki had a high fever and a dark change began.

The disease of Murasaki was heavy. Genji was at her side all the day. On theother hand, Kashiwagi was still thinking of the Third Princess. Guessingthat the Rokujo mansion would be deserted, his yearning had grownstronger. It was the eve of the Kamo festival when he succeeded in enteringher bedroom. But his feeling was far from simple happiness. Out of passion,it was a terrible thing to betray Genji whom he respected. A feeling of guiltoverwhelmed him.

The Third Princess was not well because of her sin. Hearing the report of herillness, Genji came to see her in Rokujo. Then a messenger came from Nijoresidence that the lady had expired. He rushed off. At Nijo, the priest wasleaving. Genji prayed to let her stay just a little longer and asked the priestto pray again. As though his intense prayer might have reached to theBuddha, the evil power of the late Rokujo lady disappeared. Murasakinarrowly escaped death.

When the flower of lotus was full in bloom, though Murasaki was ill in bed,she could have her hair washed. It was only a rare occasion that she couldraise her head a little bit. It pleased Genji very much. There were tears in hiseyes. “I as almost afraid at times that I too might be dying.” Though he feltno great eagerness to see the Third Princess, it was not allowed him toneglect her because of the present emperor and Suzaku Emperor.

At last, the ceremony of the visit of the Suzaku emperor was decided in themiddle of the Twelfth Month. Preliminary rehearsals were conducted. AsGenji knew of the relation between the Third Princess and Kashiwagi,Kashiwagi was reluctant to visit Rokujo. Persuaded by his father, theMinister (To-no-Chujo), and strongly invited by Genji, he set out. In front ofvisitors, Genji talked to him amiably, which made him uncomfortable.

Losing the will to live, Kashiwagi contracted a fatal disease on returningfrom the preliminary rehearsal. Though Genji’s manner was jocular, eachword seemed to Kashiwagi a sharp blow. Genji fiercely surveyed Kashiwagi.Lamenting his life, which went differently from his wish, he still thought ofthe Third Princess. In his letter he pleaded to her to write him even oneword of pity. Finally, the Kojiju, who was a servant close to his house,delivered an answer. He sent for a lamp and read the princess’s note thatsaid only, “You speak of the smoke that lingers on and yet I wish to go withyou.”

THE OAK TREE

That evening, the Third Princess was taken with severe pains and at sunrisewas delivered of a boy who was named Kaoru. The ceremonies were of theutmost dignity. But the coldness of Genji hurt her deeply. When her father,the Suzaku emperor, came to see her, she asked him to administer vows. Thenews that the Third Princess had become a nun pushed Kashiwagi nearerdeath. He passed away asking Yugiri to take care of his wife, the SecondPrincess.

In the Third Month, the ceremony of the fiftieth day was taking place. Thechild was elegant and charmingly different from other children. Looking atthe face of child, Genji shed tears for Kashiwagi, who had not lived to seehis own son. He wept for the boy who had to bear the burden of such asecret in his future. Genji felt sorry for himself too who held in his hands ason not his own, at his old age.

Yugiri frequently visited the widow of Kashiwagi, the Second Princess, tokeep his word to his closest friend. Gradually he became impressed by hercalmness. In the Fourth Month, reproaching her cold attitude, Yugiri gaveher the intertwined branches of an oak (a symbol of Kashiwagi) and a maplewith a poem: “By grace of the tree god let the branch so close to the branchthat withered be close to the branch that lives”. But she kept on seeing him

formally from behind a curtain. His affectionate approach was an annoyanceto her.

THE FLUTE

The anniversary came of the death of Kashiwagi. As the Suzaku emperorworried about the Third Princess who had withdrawn from the world as hehimself had, he sent her bamboo shoots and taro root of the mountainharvests. Genji came upon her in tears. Looking at the girlish beauty of herprofile, Genji told her of his regret to let her retreat from the world. Able towalk a few steps, the little boy Kaoru tottered up to a bowl of bambooshoots and bit at one. Watching him still young and tiny, he realized his oldage and wondered how long he could continue to live.

On an autumn evening, Yugiri visited the Second Princess, Kashiwagi'swife. The mother of the Second Princess, Lady Ichijo, gave him a flute,which Kashiwagi had left. At night, Kashiwagi appeared in a dream ofYugiri’s and told him , “I did not mean it for you.” Yugiri described hisdream to Genji who took the flute, saying that he should be responsible forkeeping it. Yugiri also described the moment of death of Kashiwagi, whohad wanted Genji to apologize. It had not been a very satisfying answer forthis apology from Genji.

THE BELL CRICKET

In the summer, when the lotuses were at their best, the Third Princessdedicated to the chapel a holy image of Buddha made of sandalwood. Thesight of the chapel moved Genji to tears. “And so here we sit side by side ata ceremony like this. Who would have expected it?” He wrote a poem thatthe separate drops of dew on the leaf of the lotus would share a lodging inthe next world. She answered coldly: “Together, you say, in the lotusdwelling to come. But may you not have certain reservations?”

Genji tried to comfort the Third Princess, who was leading the lonely life ofa nun. But in his depths, he could not give her up. Autumn insects werereleased to convey the atmosphere of an autumn field. On the night of thefifteenth of Eight Month, Genji called for a koto and treated her to a rareconcert. Prince Hotaru, Yugiri and other courtiers came seeking theenjoyment of a moon-viewing fete.

EVENING MIST

Yugiri was an honest man who had never had a love affair before. But now,he was deeply in love with the Second Princess. As the Ichijo Lady hadsuffered from evil spirits, she came to the Ono Villa to take treatment. ThePrincess did not stay behind in the city but came with her mother. Yugiritook every preparation for that. Using the good excuse of seeing the IchijoLady, he himself visited them. On the night of the twentieth of the EightMonth, he sent back all his men and left alone to pursue the Princess.

The Princess tried to escape into a back room. Holding the bottom of herkimono, Yugiri stopped her and tried to win her: “You cannot pretend not toknow about these things.” She was wretched with such treatment. He tried

to force her to the moonlight and continued to try to seduce her. Keeping herheart closed, she held stubbornly back. Without any further result, the dawnapproached.

Although the Princess resisted Yugiri, a miserable fate result awaited her.The healer, who was there to comfort her mother, saw Yugiri leaving theroom of the princess in the morning. She was now considered a loosewoman. As there was no solution but marriage to protect the princess fromthe gossip, the mother wrote Yugiri a letter requesting him to come. Just ashort note arrived, but Yugiri himself did not come. The honor of the formerroyal princess thus stained, the old lady suddenly died in despair.

Actually, the letter of the old lady had not reached Yugiri. His wifeKumoinokari had taken it away out of jealousy. Astonished by what hadhappened, Yugiri helped with the funeral, and the princess kept herdistance. She thought that her mother had died because of the cruel attitudeof Yugiri. On the thirteenth of the Nine Month, as he could not bear thesituation, he set off for Ono. The mountains nearly in the deep autumn,looked full of melancholy, sealing the sorrow of the people. He stood at thedoor and raised a fan to his eyes, with an elegance which even women couldnot have imitated. Talking with Koshosho, the servant of the princess, Yugiriasked her to convey his feelings. But the princess did not relent.

By the time the memorial services of the forty ninth day of the Ichijo ladycame around, rumor about the two of them had spread. Being restless,Yugiri started the necessary preparations to accept her into the Ichijomansion, as if the dead lady intended it. On the appointed day, he came toOno cordially to escort her. In tears, she was finally shown into a carriage.She had brought the sword and the seal of the royal impress, a sutra box anda memento of her mother.

The Ichijo house was now filled with life. Yugiri had taken the main room asthe master of the house. To flee from the pursuit of Yugiri, the princesslocked herself in a closet, a measure that could not continue forever. Withthe help of Koshosho, he persuaded her to accept him. Yugiri’s affairs hadcaused various regrettable effects. For one thing, his wife Kumoinokari hadreturned to her house.

THE RITES

Murasaki had been in bad health for almost four years. She wanted to be anun to prepare herself for the next world. Although Genji himself wanted tobe a priest, he refused to listen to her wish, fearing separation from her. Itwas the tenth day of the Third Month, when the cherries were in bloom. Onher request, services for the lotus sutra were performed. Looking out uponthis magnificent scene longingly, Murasaki thought of how little time shehad left.

On one cool autumn evening, Murasaki enjoyed a private talk with Genjiand the Empress Akashi. The following morning, she faded away.Distraught at her death, Genji requested Yugiri to call someone toadminister vows. Yugiri replied: “It is too late to do so. Changing her figurewould make the sorrow deeper.” But he summoned several of the priestsand asked them to do whatever could still be done.

THE WIZARD

Genji spent life comforting his easily disturbed feelings. Only memories ofMurasaki came to him. The spring, Murasaki’s favorite season, came aroundagain. “My cherry”, Niou said proudly, who was also her favorite boy.Looking at his pretty face, Genji could not stop smiling. Niou was his onecompanion.

Genji sometimes visited the Third Princess, the Akashi lady, and the lady oforange blossom, which gave him a vicarious hint of Murasaki. There stillseemed to be one lady to whom he was not indifferent. That was Chujo, whohad worked for Murasaki. It was about the time of the Kamo festival; whenhe came in she was having a nap. Genji said, picking up a sprig ofhollyhock, “It is so long since I have had anything to do with it”, to the lady,who made haste to put herself in order.

The Tenth Month was always a time of gloomy winter showers. Genji feltmore lonesome than ever. Looking up into the evening sky helplessly alone,he envied the wild geese overhead, which were returning home. “O wizardflying off through boundless heaven, find her whom I see not even in mydreams.” The inconsolable days went by, and his longing for Murasakiincreased.

Part IIIHIS PERFUMED HIGHNESS

The shining Genji was dead, and there was no one quite like him. Niou, thethird son of the present emperor, and Kaoru, the young son of Genji’s ThirdPrincess, were both thought by the world to be uncommonly handsome.Kaoru was a constant companion of both the reigning emperor and theretired Reizei emperor. He had a mysterious fragrance around him. As hehad been in doubt about his birth since childhood, he wanted to retreat fromthe world. Niou was his rival in everything and especially in thecompetition to be pleasantly scented. He looked for blossoming flowers toblend with perfumes to wear. Their characters were different. Niou wasfrivolous and Kaoru prudent. Everyone called them “fragrant captain” and“his perfumed highness.”

THE ROSE PLUM

The oldest surviving son of the late To-no-Chujo was now the LordInspector. He wanted Niou to marry with his second daughter. Fortunately,Niou favored his son who was born of the Lord Inspector and his secondwife Makibashira. He had never forgotten the pleasure, which the late Genjihad given him, when he was a pageboy. He broke off a rose plum branchand handed it to his boy with a poem, "A purposeful breeze wafts forth thescent of our plum. Will not the warbler be first to heed the summons?" But,the prince Niou was interested in the stepdaughter of Makibashira ratherthan in the second daughter.

Kaoru called on Tamakazura with a New Year’s greeting. She was in herchapel and invited him to join her. The plum on the eaves was sending forthits first buds and the warbler was still not quite able to sing. Somethingabout his manner made the women want to joke with him, but his replieswere brusque. Tamakazura reproved them for their bad manners saying,“Do not make fun of the prudent young man.” Kaoru was not proud of histitle, “Lord Proper.” Kaoru was fond of the older daughter of Tamakazurawho also wanted him for her husband.

BAMBOO RIVER

Kaoru did not like being Lord Proper. Late in the month the plum blossomswere at their best. Thinking it a good time to show them the other side of hischaracter, he went off to the mansion of Tamakazura. He saw that anotheryoung gentleman had preceded him. It was Yugir’s son, the lieutenant. Hewas also in love with the oldest daughter of Tamakazura. Some women hadstarted playing kotos and flutes, and asked the guests to join them.Tamakazura was in tears because Kaoru resembled her late brotherKashiwagi. Cups were changed on and on, the party became its best whenpeople sang “Bamboo River” together.

It was now the Third Month. The cherries were full in bloom. Princesseswere seated at a Go board making the disputed cherry tree their stakes.

They had quarreled since their childhood over whom the tree belonged to.They came out to the veranda as evening approached. The blinds wereraised. Some ladies also joined them. Yugiri’s son, the lieutenant, came againto visit the son of the house. Finding an open gallery door, he peered inside.The divine beauty of his princess dazzled him.

The older girl was presented at the Reizei Palace, which disappointed thelieutenant. Kaoru, on the other hand, had not been in love with her strongly.Being at the palace from morning till night, Kaoru realized the loss of thegirl and felt like being left alone. One evening, when he was strolling withher brother the chamberlain, they came to a five leafs pine tree before whathe judged to be the curtains of the new lady. Hanging from it was a very finewisteria. Kaoru recited regretfully, “These blossoms, were they more withinour reach.”

The New Year came and there was caroling. Kaoru was named master ofone of the two choruses and Yugiri’s son lieutenant was among themusicians. There was a cloudless moon when they were at the Reizei palace.The carolers felt the keen eyes of the audience peering from inside. On thefollowing day, Kaoru was engaged in conversation with the new lady at agallery door. “Bamboo River is not my favorite song, But somewhat striking,its effect last night.” Responding to her, he was in tears, which brought himback to his lost love.

THE LADY AT THE BRIDGE

At Uji, some miles to the southeast of Kyoto, the Eighth Prince livedquietly with two daughters. One warm spring day, looking out over thegarden, they made poems on the mallards, which were swimming about thepond. In earlier years, he had considered these small creatures as uncertainexistence, which only lived in vain on the surface of water. Now, after hiswife had died, he felt something like jealousy towards them chatteringhappily to each other wing to wing. He had renounced the world and takencharge of bringing up his daughters. He thought that life was uncertain,which had affected the way of thinking of his daughters since theirchildhood.

While the Eighth prince was away seeing the priest in the deep mountain,Kaoru came to visit him. He chanced upon his two princesses. He could seethem under the autumn moon, which burst forth in all its brilliance. Then,the mist deepened until he could barely make out the figures of theprincesses. Again when the moon became bright, the younger princess gailysaid, “This plectrum does quite as well as a fan for bringing out the moon.”The other, who had a koto before her, looked contemplative and prudent.According to the story, the Eighth Princes taught the lute to the older girland the thirteen-stringed koto to the younger. In this graphic, thecombination is opposite. For three years, Kaoru constantly visited Uji. But itwas the first time that he could see them. (Anyway, this is an unforgettablescene for Kaoru. Their beauty has imprinted clearly on his mind.)

The old woman Benn, who was the first cousin of Kojiju and of the EighthPrince’s deceased wife, received Kaoru. Her mother had worked for the lateKashiwagi. Talking with her, he vaguely understood the secret of his birth.Towards the dawn, the mist lay over the mountains. As he stood up to leave,the bell of the monastery sounded in the distance. The sadness of his own

life and of the princesses’ poured over him. He and the older princess,Oigimi, exchanged poems.

The time approached to return to Kyoto. Kaoru regarded the Uji River withhis men. He saw some that were fishing for Hiuo, the renowned fish, usingnets, and others who made their way up and down the river on unsteadysmall boats piled with brushwood. “Each boatman is pursuing his own sadsmall livelihood at the uncertain mercy of the waters. It is the same with allof us,” thought Kaoru to himself.

Kaoru again summoned the old woman Benn. She gave him a testament thatproved that Kaoru was a son of Kashiwagi. Benn was a daughter of hisnurse. When Kashiwagi died, he asked her to keep a role of paper relatingthe affair with the Third Princess. After twenty years, the musty documentswere finally handed down to Kaoru, the illegitimate child of the ThirdPrincess. It would have been a disaster if someone had founded out thetruth. Trembling inside, he received them with outward calm.

BENEATH THE OAK

When Niou made a pilgrimage to Hatsuse, Kaoru accompanied him.Leaving Yugiri's second house at Uji, Kaoru and Niou boarded a boat withsome princes who were fond of music. They made a visit to the EightPrince's villa, which was across the river. A landing had been built from theriver to the villa, and was furnished with step. These were in good taste andsuitable for a mountain dwelling. The river music called “Kansuiraku” wasplayed as they were rowed across. The music became clearer when theyapproached the villa.

The Eighth Prince, who had been serving at the monastery of the abbot, diedon the twentieth of the Eighth Month. The shutters facing the mountainwere raised and the princess, lost in their own sad thoughts, was looking upat the moon in the early morning sky. Then a messenger arrived andreported to them that the Prince had passed away in the night. The sound ofthe monastery bell came across the surface of the clear water. The princesseswere struck by a strong sense of loss.

Prince Niou, who had already exchanged poems several times, sent a letterof condolence. The messenger of Niou, receiving a reply from the Princesses,made his way through the wilds of Kohata Mountains. He spurred his horseon, not allowing it to pause even for their dense bamboo thickets, andreached Niou's mansion in remarkably quick time. The round trip betweenUji and Kyoto by this brave messenger was proof of Niou’s passionatecharacter.

The snow brought the end of the saddest year. From the monastery, priestsand acolytes delivered the charcoal as usual. The princesses gave themcotton garments to protect them against the winter cold. They went to theveranda and watched in tears as priests and acolytes now appeared amongthe drifts and now disappeared again towards the mountains. Facing themountain where their father had died, they were in deep sorrow.

Kaoru paid his visit late in the year. The snow was deep. Kaoru asked toopen the chapel where the Eighth Prince practiced and, clearing the dustaway carefully prayed to Buddha. “Beneath the oak I meant to search for

shade. Now it has gone and all is vanity.” Numerous eyes were upon him ashe stood leaning meditatively against a pillar. The young maidservants weremoved by his handsome face.

TREFOIL KNOTS

In the autumn, the Uji princesses prepared for the anniversary of theirfather's death. Kaoru took care of them as far as he could. Kaoru camehimself and wrote out a petition for memorial services. The princesses werespinning thread for decking out the sacred incense. While he had a brush inhand he jotted down a verse: “As braided threads, may our fates be joined,may we be together always.”

Kaoru rested at Uji. In the middle of night, he was able to approach Oigimiand talked to her closely. Her solemn attitude stopped him from going far.The dawn came on, bringing an end to nothing. The sky was a whirring ofwings close by as of flocks of birds. From deep in the mountain, the mainbell came faintly. Sent out from her room in vain, Kaoru was filled with anempty sorrow.

One day, Kaoru succeeded in entering the room of the princess. But Oigimi,who wished Kaoru to marry Nakanokimi, her younger sister, sneaked out ofthe room to ask her to take care of him alone. Surprised by the stubbornattitude of Oigimi, Kaoru passed the night with Nakanokimi, much as hehad an earlier time with her elder sister. Oigimi received a poem from Kaoruwho had returned in vain. He insisted on writing that he longed for Oigimi.Oigimi, still wanting her sister to take her place, asked Nakanokimi to reply.But Nakanokimi left it to Oigimi.

Kaoru was not prepared to switch his affection to Nakanokimi. So he made aplan to introduce Niou to Nakanokimi. He led Niou towards Uji. Theirmeeting ended as Kaoru wished. The night of their marriage, peoplewondered whether Niou would come from Kyoto. Then, about midnight, hecame in upon a rising wind. Nakanokimi, who was happy with thisunexpected marriage, was pleased by the gentle and sweet words of Niou.As dawn began to move over the sky, his attendants hastened him noisily toreturn to Kyoto. Hating to go back, he returned hesitatingly. Stopping againand again, he wrote her farewell poems to which she later replied.

From early in the Tenth Month, Niou organized an autumn excursion toenjoy the coloring leaves. Although it was carefully planned, the eventexpanded immediately. Kaoru sent off a long letter to Uji. “Niou will ofcourse want to spend a night, and you should be prepared.” Music andother exciting sounds came from the boat as it was poled up and down theriver. The roof of the boat was decorated with scarlet leaves. The musicreached to the Nakanokimi who was waiting happily. Hearing the sound ofthe party on the boat, she was comforted herself. Even though she couldscarcely see him (like the princess of the weaver in a fairy tale, who saw herlover once a year on the seventh of the Seventh Month, the day of Tanabata)she felt happy that the prince would not abandon her. The boat arrived atYugiri’s second house across the river. During the whole night, Niouthought of seeing Nakanokimi.

The soul of the Eighth Prince could not attained nirvana. So the abbotdispatched the priests to the villages near the city to pray to Buddha. Theycame around to Uji where now Oigimi was ill in bed. Moved by the voice of

the priest chanting the sutra, Kaoru wrote a verse on the uncertainty of theworld to Nakanokimi beside him.

Oigimi faded away like a vanishing flower. “Was it a dream?” Tuning up thelight, Kaoru gazed at her dead face. She was beautiful as ever as and lookedasleep. He combed her hair, and the fragrance came from it. He wished hecould go on gazing at her forever as at a shell of a locust.

Deep in sorrow at the death of Oigimi, Kaoru stayed at Uji. In the eveningthe moon rose in a sky that was clear after the heavy snow. When he rolledup the curtains, the bell rang at the monastery in the mountains. In thebrilliant moonlight, the mountains were reflected in the icy river as in amirror. In unbearable sadness at losing Oigimi, he would like to havelooked for a way to kill himself. He envied the Boy of the Himalayas (theBuddha in a former life), who was allowed to sacrifice himself for the sakeof learning.

EARLY FERNS

Oigimi had gone and the New Year came. But the spring sunlight broughther only grief. The spring products like the earliest fern shoots and acolyteswere delivered from the abbot. The attached letter wished her happinessand long life. He wrote it with Kana phonetic script in a bad hand.Nakanokimi was much moved, for she knew he was not accustomed towrite in Kana.

The prince Niou decided to accept her into his mansion in Kyoto. One daybefore the move, Kaoru appeared at Uji. He spent the day with Nakanokimi,recalling the dead lady. The scent and color of the rose plum below theveranda brought poignant memories. Remembering the night they passedtalking together, he was left berating himself for having so generouslyhanded her over to Niou.

In the evening on the seventh day of the Second Month, the procession ofNakanokimi set out for Niou's Nijo mansion in Kyoto. A number ofmedium-ranking courtiers arrived drawing the carriages. Niou had wantedto come for her himself. Though he usually avoided any unnecessarydisplay, his carriages were gorgeously decorated to show off his power.Kaoru too had prepared the small and intimate details. A mist softened thebright half-moon. The road was long and it led through precipitousmountains. Now she began to see why his visit had been infrequent.Looking vaguely at the mysteriously beautiful mountains, she was thinkingof her uncertain future. She longed for the days when she had lived with hersister.

THE IVY

Kaoru came to the palace as ordered. The emperor pulled up a Go board.“There is something I might wager,” said the emperor, “but I am not quitesure that I have the courage.” The emperor secretly wanted Kaoru to takethe Second Prince as a wife. The emperor lost the game and told Kaoru, “Iwill let you break off a blossom.” Immediately guessing what he meant,Kaoru went down into garden and broke one of the chrysanthemums.Returning, he offered a cautious verse, saying that if he had found an

uncommon flower, he would pluck it in a suitable way.

The marriage was arranged between Niou and Rokunokimi, the sixthdaughter of Yugiri. Nakanokimi was filled with sorrow. Kaoru came tocomfort her. Astonished by the resemblance between the two sisters, hisregret increased to have refused Nakanokimi in spite of Oigimi's wish. Shehad wanted Kaoru to marry her sister. He bought a morning glory that stillpreserved the dew and thrust it under the blind. He recited a poem ofregret, comparing their relationship to that of dew and flower. Nakanokimifelt herself like the dew left behind after the death of a flower.

On the night of her marriage with Rokunokimi, Niou left Nakanokimi withwords of comfort. Her anguish increased while she was looking up at therising clear moon, which was the same moon of the “Mount WomenForsaken.” This refers to the mountains where old women were abandoned.The sound of a pine breeze penetrated her mind violently. Although life inthe Uji village was severe, she thought that she had never beforeexperienced such a strong autumn wind as this. She longed for the life shehad led at Uji.

The nuptial ceremony was held at the residence of Yugiri. The room wasprepared at the southeast corner of the main hall. Invited by Yugiri, Kaoruparticipated in the banquet. It was after dark when Niou made hisappearance. The cups were emptied one after another. When Kaoru refilledthe cup of Niou, he smiled to cover his embarrassment. No doubt he wasremembering his own complaints about the excessively proper household.

Troubled once more by insomnia, Kaoru went to the room of a certainAzechi and there passed the night. He had many servants who consoledhim. He left her room at midnight to hide from the eyes of others. Azechiwas evidently annoyed. Trying to cheat her, he wrote a poem of farewell andmade an excuse to leave, saying that he could not miss the chance to see abeautiful moon like this. Spreading confusion behind him, he made hisdeparture.

The end of the Ninth Month, Kaoru visited Uji. He talked with the nun Bennabout his longing for the old days. He heard from her that there was a girlcalled Ukifune who was a stepsister of Oigimi. She was pretty andresembled Oigimi. Fascinated by these remarks, Kaoru asked her to pass onhis message to the girl. Kaoru stayed there overnight. As he prepared toleave in the morning, he gave gifts to the nun and the priests. Viewing thebeautiful autumn leaves that covered the earth, he could not leave thereeasily. He ordered one sprig of ivy climbing the trees to be broken, thinkingthat even so small a gift would please Nakanokimi.

Nakanokimi gave birth to a prince. A gorgeous celebration was prepared,which proved that the status of Nakanokimi was secured. At the celebrationon the fifth night, Kaoru took the initiative. To Nakanokimi he sent thirtytrays on stands and five sets of swaddling clothes, which were allelaborately made. There was nothing grand about these gifts, but closeinspection revealed an uncommonly fine taste.

In the Second Month, Kaoru took the Second Princess of the emperor for hisbride. At first, Kaoru visited her in the palace. Later, the Second Princesswas allowed to move to Kaoru’s mansion. On the day before her removal,the emperor was hosting a wisteria-viewing banquet. People were surprised

at this extraordinary marriage, in which a princess of an emperor became abride while he was still in his reign.The Lord Inspector, Azechidainagon, who was the eldest son of the late To-no-Chujo, was jealous about the luck of Kaoru, for he had wanted to marrythe mother of the Second Princess in the past but was unable to.The concert for the banquet continued until midnight. Each guest was askedto write poems and put them on the lectern that had been prepared at thecorner of the south garden. Some toasted the glory of the emperor andothers the prosperous future of Kaoru. In the middle of the highest festivity,Kaoru was still not happy. He was sunk in loneliness.

Toward the end of the Fourth Month, Kaoru set out for Uji to inspect theprocess of building the chapel. A procession of woman’s carriages was justthen coming across the bridge at Uji. Guarded by a band of rough EastCountry soldiers and servants, it was obvious that a provincial lady wasinside. Kaoru sent to ask who she might be. The answer came that thedaughter of the old governor of Hitachi had been to the temple of Hatsuse.Kaoru had happened to come across the girl about whom the nun told himthe other day. Kaoru tried to see her secretly.

THE EASTERN COTTAGE

Aware of the difference in status, Chujounokimi, the mother of Ukifune,arranged her marriage with a lieutenant. For she thought that Kaoru wasbelonging to the higher status. On the other hand, the husband, thegovernor of Hitachi, loved his real daughter rather than his stepdaughterUkifune. As he was a wealthy man, he collected some pieces of lacquer andinlay for his daughter. A teacher of lute and koto was summoned to give herlessons, which was unusual. Each time the daughter mastered one piece, heburied the teacher in gifts of gratitude. On a pleasant evening, when theteacher and daughter played in a concert, he rejoiced in tears at hearingthem.

Finding Ukifune to be the stepdaughter of the governor, the lieutenantchanged his mind and would have liked to marry off his real daughter. Forhe needed substantial support from the governor. Delighted with his changeof mind, the governor and a nurse adored his real daughter. The room thathad been appointed for Ukifune was provided as a guestroom. While thegovernor entertained the lieutenant, Ukifune had to withdraw to an innerroom.

The mother of poor Ukifune asked Nakanokimi to take care of her. She sawprince Niou by chance through a crack between two doors. He wasradiantly beautiful. He was about to leave for the palace to visit the sickempress. As the little child came out from behind the curtain, he turned andtook him in his arms. This glorious happy scene caught her eye.

Leaving Ukifune to the place of Nakanokimi, the mother, Chujounokimi,went back to the house of the governor. Then Niou accidentally passed theroom and found her there. She was very pretty indeed. He caught herhands, which were holding a fan. He approached her asking, “What is yourname?” Ukifune was horrified and wondered whether this man might beKaoru who was looking for her. Nothing further happened, but it was anunforgettable encounter for Niou.

When Chujounokimi returned to her house, she found the lieutenant cometo see his wife. She had already seen him at the Nijou mansion. He was theone who had behaved clumsily in front of Prince Niou. Therefore, he lookedstupid one trying to show himself off as a man of taste. “What a miserableperson he did look beside the prince. I wonder how he is as a poet.” Shethought she would put him to the test. She sent him a poem about a bushclover.

Hearing that the prince Niou had seen Ukifune, Nakanokimi hid Ukifune inthe cottage at Sanjo, where Kaoru came for the first time. He sent the nunBenn beforehand as a go-between. His visit upset the people, who wereunprepared. It was raining hard. The watchmen called out in strange EastCountry accents. Seated at the edge of the rainy veranda, Kaoru recited apoem just like a song, Saibara: “So long in the rain at the eaves of youreastern cottage.” The remarkable fragrance of Kaoru came in on the coolbreeze.

Kaoru moved Ukifune from Sanjo to Uji. As soon as he arrived at Uji, herealized that this was the place where the soul of Oigimi rested. He was verymuch moved. Ukifune was treated well here as the hostess of the house.Facing the elaborate garden and taking account of the surrounding sceneryof river and mountains, she felt proud of herself. At the same time, she feltfear for her future, about which Kaoru kept silent.

A BOAT UPON THE WATERS

One day early in the New Year, when Niou was at Nakanokimi, a mallet andan artificial seeding pine were delivered there from Ukifune as a New Year’sgift. A little girl came in and handed the princess a letter. “Would the letterbe from Kaoru?” “It is a private letter between women,” she replied and lethim read it. While reading, Niou intuitively understood that the girl, whohad become unforgettable since he saw her at Nijo, had written the letter.He left the place recommending that Nakanokimi should reply. He made uphis mind to look for Ukifune at Uji.

Niou went secretly to Uji with his secretary. In the middle of the night, heentered the house and had a look at the interior through a crack in theshutter. As he suspected, there was Ukifune. She lay vaguely gazing into thelight, her head pillowed on one arm. There was an unmistakableresemblance between the girl and his lady Nakanokimi. According to thetalk of some women who were sewing, it seemed that the mother wouldcome the next morning to take her sightseeing. One of them, called Ukon,said, “I’m sleepy. Leave the rest for tomorrow,” gathering up the half-sewngarments and hanging them over the curtain rack.

Niou and Ukifune passed the night. On the following morning, he sent foran inkstand and drew some interesting pictures to amuse Ukifune. Hesketched a most handsome couple lying together. “You must look at this andthink of me when I am not able to visit you. If only we could be togetheralways.” And he shed a tear. Then they exchanged poems. He thoughtobedient and naïve Ukifune adorable.

Niou came back to see Ukifune again. This time he stayed three nights. Onthe last night, reluctantly he set out for Kyoto. “My soul,” he whispered ashe made ready to go, “does it linger on in your sleeve?” There was a

message from Her Majesty that she was very angry, and so were theministers at Kyoto, for his absence. He mounted his horse to try to return toher. His men hurried on their way. The two courtiers of the Fifth Rank whohad come with him led his horse through the mountains.

After some interval, Kaoru came over to Uji. The hills were veiled in a mistand far down the river, faggot-laden boats were weaving in and out.Ukifune reminded him of Oigimi. He was lost in thoughts of the past.Ukifune was also lost in thoughts of her growing trouble with Niou. Hersilence gave him an impression that she had matured over the months.Kaoru was very happy about that.

Niou appeared again at Uji. He took Ukifune by boat to a small hiddencottage. She clung to Niou, frightened by the distant shore. He wasdelighted. The moon in the early morning sky shone cloudless upon thewaters. They were at the Islet of Orange, said the boatman, pulling up to alarge rock over which trailed long branches of evergreen. They exchangedpoems of everlasting love that compared their love to the pine trees.

Ukifune received letters from both Kaoru and Niou. One day, twomessengers crossed paths. Kaoru’s messenger asked, “What brings you hereinto the country side?” “I deliver my own notes,” answered the Niou’smessenger. Asked more severely, he said, "A governor Tokikata is in touchwith someone here.” Kaoru’s man was puzzled by this strange reply. Later,Kaoru found out the relationship between Ukifune and Niou.

Kaoru put out guards for surveillance of Ukifune’s house, to prohibit theapproaches from Niou.Irritated by the strong desire to see Ukifune, Niou himself rushed off to Ujiat the risk of his life. He tried the reed fence that had admitted him before,but the guards were more alert. Numbers of dogs came out barking fiercely.Niou asked his companion Tokikata to see Ukifune's maidservant. He wasable successfully to take her out from the house and lead her to Niou.Tokikata spread a saddle at a spot that was backed by a woodcutter’s fenceand protected by brambles and matted grasses. Niou dismounted. Thewoman explained the situation. He was in tears, realizing that it wasimpossible to see Ukifune. She comforted him saying, “I will do everything,even if it means ruining myself.”

THE DRAKE FLY

Sensing something out of the ordinary in the last note from Ukifune, Niouimmediately dispatched Tokikata to Uji. When he arrived there, he foundthat Ukifune had died suddenly. As the answer about the cause of her deathwas very hesitant, he intuitively understood that Ukifune had diedextraordinarily. And he confirmed that Kaoru was not connected with this.He thought it would not be proper to press the inquiry, and went back toNiou.

The summer of the Fourth Month came. Kaoru was deep in sorrow whenthe day came that was appointed for Ukifune to move to the city. The scentof the orange blossoms near the veranda brought back memories. A cuckoocalled and reminded him of the past. He sent a poem to Niou to hint to himwhat had happened, “You may weep also remembering Ukifune.” Niou waswith Nakanokimi and wrote him back a poem, but which was not a direct

answer.

Kaoru paid a visit to Uji. He talked with Ukon, the maidservant of Ukifune,and heard from her about what exactly had happened. Ukifune had beencaught in an impossible dilemma about what to do and she had thrownherself into the river. Her heart was so fragile. “If I had not left her in thiswilderness,” Kaoru regretted. He also felt very sorry for Ukifune's mother.He went to sit in the garden, with deep moss for his cushion, and looked atthe steep mountains around. He thought of the common pun on the soundsof Uji and “ushi”, which meant “gloomy.” The life of Uji was gloomy.

In the middle of summer, Kaoru had a chance to see the First Princessthrough some curtains. He had been interested in her for some time.Dressed in a robe of white gossamer, the princess was incomparablybeautiful. She was watching half-smiling at the women who were trying tohold some ice. Some had it in their hands and pressed to their breast andothers to their head to get cool. One of them wrapped up the ice in paper togive to the princess. “No thank you. I do not like dripping water.” Herdimly heard voice excited him enormously.

In autumn, Kaoru went to the women's quarter at the galleries. He told them," How pleasant if we could all be friends. You can trust me.” First an oldand experienced woman named Bennomoto spoke up. It seemed they werepracticing their calligraphy. Several delicate flowers lay there. Some of theladies slipped behind some curtains and others behind some open doors. Heexchanged poems about maiden flowers with one of them.

There was a lady called Miyanokimi whose father was the empress'sbrother. As he had died she had entered the palace. One day, Kaoru talkedwith her about the uncertainty of the life of women. He thought about thetwo princesses of the Eighth Prince and his destiny that he could not marryeither of them. Fragile and insubstantial drake flies were flitting back andforth in the evening light. He wrote a poem “I see the drake fly, take it up inmy hand and then it is gone.”

AT WRITING PRACTICE

As the mother of the bishop of Yokawa was taken ill, he descended themountain to see her. His disciples found an expanse of white behind the Ujitemple. They brought their torches and approached the figure. It was a girlwith long and lustrous hair leaning against the root of a tree. They tried totake her clothes off to find out whether she was human or a fox, which hadtaken a human shape. Then she wept bitterly. It was not a fox but Ukifune.The bishop took her to his sister who lived as a nun in the Ono village.

Autumn came in the village of Ono. The maidservants raised their voiceshappily with local songs while cutting rice at the gate. The clacking of thescarecrows brought Ukifune, who had recovered, memories of her girlhoodin the remote East Country. At night, the nuns started playing kotos andinvited her to join in. She was not good at tasteful pleasures. She only tookup a brush and set down a poem about her miserable destiny. She was leftalone with her thoughts.

The old nun had a son-in-law who was a guard captain. Since he had seenUkifune briefly, he had been unable to forget her back in the city. But it was

too early to write a letter. Toward the middle of the Eighth Month, on afalconing expedition, he again visited Ono. He met the nun and told her thathe was fond of a girl like Ukifune who was not talkative. She said “Ukifunewants to say goodbye to the world. But I think it would be difficult for a girlto abandon her long future.”

The nun had lost her child a long time ago. So she thought of Ukifune as herown girl. She made a pilgrimage to Hatsuse to show her gratitude. Duringher absence, just as the moon came flooding over the hills, the captainappeared. The girl fled aghast to the rear of the house. The younger nunShosho urged Ukifune to greet him, saying “You are not sympathetic. Atleast hear what he has to say.” Knowing that the nun was away, hegrumbled persistently over her stubbornness. She recited a poem, but at theend fled to the old nun’s room.

On the following day, the bishop arrived. Ukifune asked him to administerher vows and become a nun. By the time the younger nun came back, thehair over her forehead was cut off. He admonished her, saying “You shouldnot regret what you have done in spite of your youth and beauty.” She wasdelighted that she could make a decision by herself against the protestationof others.

THE FLOATING BRIDGE OF DREAMS

The spring came back to the village in the mountains. Ukifune exchangedpoems with the nun to wish her a long life, sending the first spring shoots. Arose plum was blooming near the eaves of her room. Its color and itsperfume were the same as they had always been. It reawakened hermemories of Niou in the past. She had a girl of lower rank break of a sprigand set down a poem. The writing of poems about her memories became apractice to ease her mind in those days.

The Yokawa bishop told the empress a story of a girl, which Kaoru heard viaKosaisho. On the way home form Mt. Hiei, he visited the bishop. He wasconfident that the girl was Ukifune. The young brother of Ukifuneaccompanied him. He introduced this handsome boy to the bishop as amessenger and asked him to write a letter to be delivered to Ukifune.

In the Ono villa, Ukifune was gazing at the fireflies along the garden brookand recalling her memories of the past. Over the valley, one could see a largenumber of people with their torches. The nun and others came out to theveranda to see them. According to the letter from the bishop, people said itmight be Kaoru’s procession. Ukifune tried to put herself into meditationupon the name of Buddha to forget the past.

The boy delivered Ukifune the letter from the bishop and Kaoru. The nunpushed the letter towards her. But she showed no interest. It was written inan excellent hand and sent forth an extraordinary fragrance. She did notwant him to see her, having become a nun. She collapsed in tears. To therequest to reply, she said “There may have been a mistake.” Without readingthe letter, she pushed it back towards the nun.