Chapter I: Preface

This is the last volume but one of _The Tale of Genji_ proper. Between volumes IV and V there is a gap of eight years, during which Genji has died. Volumes V and VI contain the sequel, ‘the ten Uji chapters,’ as they are called in Japan, which deal with the fortunes of Genji’s supposed son Kaoru, and his grandson (the Akashi Princess’s child) Niou. The name ‘Genji’ (member of the Minamoto clan) applies equally to his descendants, so that in Japanese the sequel too can be called _The Tale of Genji_. But in English it needs a new name, and I have called it _The Tale of Kaoru_. Thus _The Tale of Genji_ itself will be complete in four volumes, and will be followed by a sequel in two volumes.

I wish here to thank Mr. R. C. Trevelyan and Miss Sybil Pye for the care with which they have read the proofs of the present volume. The fact that the heroine of the story and the writer of it are both called Murasaki is somewhat confusing. I will therefore here point out that the name ‘Murasaki’ was given to the authoress as a nickname, in allusion to the heroine of her book. Her real name is unknown to us. For the origin of the nickname, see below, p. 23.

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE 7
LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS 11
SUMMARY OF VOLUMES I AND II 13
INTRODUCTION 15

CHAPTER
I. A WREATH OF CLOUD 35
II. ASAGAO 68
III. THE MAIDEN 91
IV. TAMAKATSURA 147
V. THE FIRST SONG OF THE YEAR 200
VI. THE BUTTERFLIES 218
VII. THE GLOW-WORM 240
VIII. A BED OF CARNATIONS 264
IX. THE FLARES 291
X. THE TYPHOON 296

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS

(alphabetical)

Akashi, Lady of Whom Genji courted during his exile.

Akashi, Princess from Daughter of the above by Genji.

Akikonomu, Empress Daughter of Rokujō.

Aoi Genji’s first wife.

Asagao, Princess Daughter of Prince Momozono Shikibukyō,
courted by Genji since his boyhood,
without success.

Ateki Daughter of Tamakatsura’s old nurse.

Bugo no Suke Brother of the above.

Chūjō, Lady Tō no Chūjō’s eldest daughter (called
Kōkiden in the original, but this renders
her liable to confusion with Genji’s
step-mother).

Emperor, The Old Genji’s father.

Falling Flowers, Lady Sister of one of the Old Emperor's Sister
from the Village of of one of the Old Emperor's Court-ladies
under Genji’s protection.

Fujitsubo Consort of the Old Emperor; loved by
Genji.

Genji Son of the Old Emperor by a
lady-in-waiting.

Higekuro Brother of Suzaku’s consort Lady Jōkyōden.

Hyōbukyō, Prince Murasaki’s father.

Kashiwagi Eldest son of Tō no Chūjō.

Kōbai Brother of the above.

Kōkiden Consort of the Old Emperor; Genji’s wicked
‘step-mother.’

Koremitsu Genji’s retainer.

Koremitsu’s Daughter Gosechi dancer, admired by Yūgiri.

Kumoi Younger daughter of Tō no Chūjō.

Momozono, Prince. Brother of the Old Emperor. Father of
Asagao.

Murasaki Second ‘wife’ of Genji (never, technically
speaking, his _kita no kata_ or formal
wife).

Nyogo, Princess Younger sister of the Old Emperor.

Oborozuki Consort of the ex-Emperor Suzaku. Loved by
Genji.

Ōmi, Lady of Bastard of Tō no Chūjō, reclaimed by him
in error while searching for Tamakatsura.

Ōmiya, Princess Mother of Aoi and Tō no Chūjō. Sister of
the Old Emperor.

Rokujō Widow of a brother of the Old Emperor.

Ryōzen, The Emperor Reputed son of the Old Emperor, but really
son of Genji and Fujitsubo.

Sanjō Yūgao’s maid.

Shōni Husband of Tamakatsura’s nurse. Father of
Ateki and Bugo no Suke.

Sochi, Prince Genji’s step-brother.

Suyetsumu Fantastic lady with red nose, daughter of
Prince Hitachi.

Suzaku, The Ex-Emperor Genji’s step-brother; son of Kōkiden.

Tamakatsura Child of Tō no Chūjō by Yūgao.

Tayū Swashbuckler in Tsukushi.

Utsusemi Wife of a provincial governor; loved by
Genji.

Yoshikiyo Faithful retainer of Genji; followed him
into exile.

Yūgao Loved first by Tō no Chūjō, then by Genji.
Dies in a deserted mansion.

Yūgiri Genji’s son by Aoi.

SUMMARY OF VOLUMES I AND II

Genji is an illegitimate son of the Emperor. At the age of twelve he is affianced to Lady Aoi, daughter of the Minister of the Left; but she is older than he is, and looks down upon him as a mere schoolboy. Genji falls in love with Rokujō, a widow eight years older than himself. She is passionately jealous of his wife, and relations with her become very difficult. Genji turns for consolation to Utsusemi, wife of a provincial governor: to Yūgao, a discarded mistress of his friend Tō no Chūjō: to the fantastic Suyetsumu, the ‘lady with the red nose.’ Utsusemi is carried off to the provinces by her husband; Yūgao dies, withered by the virulence of Rokujō’s jealousy. Meanwhile Genji succeeds in establishing better relations with his wife, Aoi, only to lose her through the operation of the same baleful force that had destroyed Yūgao. Since his childhood he has passionately admired Fujitsubo, his father’s second wife. He has a son by her, who is believed by the public to be the Emperor’s child.

Genji’s enemies, in particular Kōkiden, who had been his mother’s rival, are striving to get rid of him. He simplifies matters for them by starting an intrigue with Oborozuki, a much younger sister of Kōkiden.

At the end of Vol. I Genji marries Lady Murasaki, a niece of Fujitsubo; some years before he had taken her into his house and adopted her.

In Vol. II, Rokujō leaves the capital and goes to live at Ise, where her daughter is Vestal Virgin. Genji is caught making love to Oborozuki, and knowing that his enemies now have him in their grasp he retires as a voluntary exile to Suma. Here a storm destroys his house, and the Old Recluse of Akashi (a neighbouring bay) persuades him to move thither. Here he falls in love with the Recluse’s daughter (the Lady of Akaski), by whom he has a child (called the Princess from Akashi). Genji, after three years of exile, is recalled, and wants to send for the Lady of Akashi to live with him in his palace. But she fears that her position there will be humiliating, and will not consent. Finally he instals her in a country house at Ōi, several miles from the capital. In this volume both Utsusemi (the governor’s wife) and Rokujō re-appear at the capital. There is also a further encounter, of a diverting kind, between Genji and the lady with the red nose.