The sacred tree

Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji. Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her Diary, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation. Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the Tale was written. This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals. My reason for doing so is that the outward forms of medieval Buddhism stand much nearer to Catholicism than to the paler ceremonies of the Protestant Church, and if one avoids words with specifically Catholic associations one finds oneself driven back upon the still less appropriate terminology of Anglicanism. Thus ‘Vespers’ is a less misleading translation than ‘Evening Service’ though the latter is far more literal.

Finally, I have thought it might be of interest to give a few notes concerning the transmission of the text.

Volume III is finished and will appear shortly.

Note on Pronunciation.—The G in ‘Genji’ is hard, as in ‘gun.’ Vowels, as in Italian.

CONTENTS

PAGE PREFACE 5 LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS 9 GENEALOGICAL TABLES 11 SUMMARY OF VOL. 1 13 INTRODUCTION: FICTION IN JAPAN PREVIOUS TO THE Tale of Genji 15 THE ART OF MURASAKI 30 NOTE ON THE TEXT 35

CHAPTER X. THE SACRED TREE 39 XI. THE VILLAGE OF FALLING FLOWERS 94 XII. EXILE AT SUMA 99 XIII. AKASHI 141 XIV. THE FLOOD GAUGE 188 XV. THE PALACE IN THE TANGLED WOODS 225 XVI. A MEETING AT THE FRONTIER 252 XVII. THE PICTURE COMPETITION 258 XVIII. THE WIND IN THE PINE-TREES 282

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS

(ALPHABETICAL)

Akashi, Lady of Daughter of the old recluse of Akashi.

Akikonomu, Lady Vestal Virgin at Ise; daughter of Rokujō.

Aoi, Princess Genji’s first wife.

Asagao, Princess Genji’s first-cousin; courted by him in vain.

Chūjō Short for ‘Tō no Chūjō.’

Chūjō, Lady Tō no Chūjō’s daughter by his legitimate wife.

Chūnagon Maid to Oborozuki.

Emperor, The Old Genji’s father.

Fujitsubo The Old Emperor’s consort; loved by Genji.

Genji, Prince The Old Emperor’s son by a concubine.

Gosechi, Lady Dancer at the winter festival; admired by Genji.

Hyōbukyō, Prince Fujitsubo’s brother; Murasaki’s father.

Iyo no Suke Husband of Utsusemi.

Jijū Maid to Suyetsumu.

Jōkyōden, Lady Consort of Suzaku.

Ki no Kami Son of Iyo no Suke by his first wife.

Kōkiden Original consort of the Old Emperor; supplanted first by Genji’s mother, then by Fujitsubo.

Koremitsu Retainer to Genji.

Murasaki Genji’s second wife.

Oborozukiyo, Princess Younger sister of Kōkiden.

Ōmyōbu Maid to Fujitsubo.

Reikeiden Lady-in-waiting at the Old Emperor’s Court.

Reikeiden, Princess Niece of Kōkiden.

Rokujō, Princess Widow of the Old Emperor’s brother.

Ryōzen, Emperor Son of Genji and Fujitsubo; successor to Suzaku.

Shōnagon Murasaki’s old nurse.

Sochi no Miya, Prince Genji’s half-brother.

Suyetsumu, Lady Daughter of Prince Hitachi; the red-nosed (Suyetsumuhana) lady.

Suzaku, Emperor Genji’s half-brother; successor to the Old Emperor.

Tō no Chūjō Brother of Genji’s first wife, Lady Aoi.

Ukon no Jō (Ukon) Faithful retainer to Genji; brother of Ki no Kami.