SAA Fall 2015 Women of Japan The Tale of Genjitabine/SAAFa15/SAAFa15 Genji women database.pdfASAGAO Asagao no himegimi (朝顔の姫君) "Mistress Asagao" or "The Asagao Princess"

SAA Fall 2015 "Women of Japan The Tale of Genji John R Wallace ([email protected]) Website: http://sonic.net/~tabine/SAAFa15/saafa15-homepage.html

Ranks

Titles bestowed by Emperor

taikōdaigō (太皇太后) ̶ August Grand Empress

kōtaigō (皇太后) ̶ Grand Empress

kōgō (皇后) ̶ Empress

chūgū (中宮) ̶ First Consort (but by the late tenth century there was little distinction between this title and Empress)

nyōgo (御女) ̶ imperial consort or consort

kōi (更衣) ̶ Wardrobe Mistress

menoto (乳母) ̶ wet nurse or nurse (a very important role, maintained over the years as the woman becomes a trusted, protective and authoritative voice of wisdom)

miya (宮) ̶ Princess (a terms used for members̶men or women̶of the royal family or women marrying into the royal family. The ladies-‐in-‐waiting often refer to the woman they serve as “Miya”̶this is most common in Lady Murasaki’s Journal and Pillow Leaves as these two writers seem to have served their mistresses intimately.)

Generic descriptions

miyasundokoro (御息所) ̶ Venerable Consort. (Originally referring respectfully to empresses and first consorts, later indicates imperial consorts and wardrobe mistresses)

nyōbō (女房) ̶ ladies-‐in-‐waiting. (a broad term for women who served at court, residing at the anterior palace, or women who serve important members of the aristocracy, residing at those estates)

O-‐moto (御許) ̶ Personal Aide, or Lady. A woman of high stature who thus is permitted to serve close at hand.

myōbu (命婦) ̶ servitress. (historically women who gained fourth or fifth ranks either by imperial appointment, “inner servitresses,” or by marriage, “outer servitresses”̶a distinction not made explicit in the memoirs which, like other Heian kana literature uses it to mean mid-‐ranking ladies-‐in-‐waiting. Tsunoda believes Sei Shōnagon was a myōbu.)

naishi (内侍) ̶ handmaiden. (“Naishi” used by itself is often a shorthand for lower ranking̶but still elite̶group of officers in the Handmaidens’ Office, Naishi no Tsukasa. In this office there were two Head Imperial Handmaidens, Naishi no Kami, two Assistant Head Imperial Handmaidens, Naishi no Suke, four Handmaidens, Naishi no Jō, and one hundred Serving Girls, Nyōju.)

Indications of respect

kimi (君) ̶ Gentlewoman. When suffixed to women’s names, it is a strong indicator of respect.

himegimi (姫君) ̶ Mistress. When suffixed to a woman’s name, it usually indicates a daughter, often unmarried, of an important family. It can also indicate an imperial offspring, but this is not the case in the memoirs.

EMPRESS AKASHI

Akashi no Chūgū (明石中宮) "First Consort Akashi"

Her name derives from her mother's name which is derived from the location of Genji's discovery of her, that is, she used to like in Akashi, removed from the Capital. She is called often referred to as Gentlewoman Akashi (Akashi no himegimi 明石の姫君), then Consort Akashi (Akashi no Nyōgo 明石女御), then First Consort (or Empress) Akashi as her rank increased.

Brief description

Her mother is Lady Akashi, the woman Genji discovers during exile at Suma. Her father is Genji. She is given to Murasaki to rear, since this will create the best possible future for her. (Lady Akashi is of lower rank.) She becomes First Consort ("Empress" 中宮 chūgū) to Emp. Kinjō (今上). She will give birth to Niou (and a crown prince, and others), who is one of the two primary male characters of the last third of the work.

Names used in the translations:

Seidensticker seems to mostly use "the little Akashi girl" or "the Akashi girl" than as her status increases "Akashi princess" and Washburn seems to use mostly "the Akashi Princess" In Chapters 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 28, 32, Tyler uses: the young lady In Chapter 33, Tyler uses: the Consort (of the Heir Apparent) In Chapter 34, Tyler uses: the Heir Apparent's Kiritsubo Consort, then Haven In Chapters 35, Tyler uses: the Kiritsubo Consort, the Consort In Chapters 36, 37, Tyler uses: the Consort In Chapters 40, 42, 47, 49, 52, 53, Tyler uses: Her Majesty, the Empress

Mentions in the work …

Mentioned in about 46 sections, a generous amount, across about 19 chapters, beginning with Chapter 9 and ending very late in the narrative, in Chapter 45.

LADY AKASHI

Akashi no kimi (明石の君) "Gentlewoman Akashi"

The only daughter of the Monk Akashi and Nun Akashi. The father is very interested in giving her to Genji, when he arrives in their region as a result of his exile. She gives birth to a daughter with him, and this daughter will become a First Consort (chūgū 中宮), a remarkable outcome (and this daughter will give birth to Prince Niou who is one of the two main male characters of the last third of the narrative)—although in order to achieve this Akashi has to give up her young daughter to be adopted and reared by Murasaki. Akashi is named after the shoreside location where she resides when Genji discovers her.

There are three female "Akashi"s in this narrative: Nun Akashi (the mother), Lady Akashi (the woman who is partnered to Genji) and Consort Akashi (her daughter who becomes the imperial consort).

*The illustration is of Lady Akashi giving away her baby girl, to be taken to Genji's residence under the care of Murasaki.


Seidensticker and Washburn use "the lady at Akashi" or variations of that In Chapters 5, 12, Tyler apparently uses: his daughter In Chapter 13, Tyler apparently uses: the daughter of the Akashi Novice In Chapters 14, 18, 25, 28, 35, 41, Tyler uses: the lady from Akashi In Chapters 19, Tyler uses: the lady at Ōi (this is where she lives once she moved near to Genji after departing Akashi) In Chapters 23, 33, 34,40, Tyler uses: Akashi


Mentioned in about 28 sections across 20 chapters, also a large number, beginning with Chapter 5 but beginning in earnest with Chapter 13, which is named after her.

AKIKONOMU

Akikonomu chūgū (秋好中宮) "Autumn-Loving First Consort"

This name is given to her late in the work. I think it is better to think of it less as a metaphor for a sad personality as it is an indication of her discerning excellent aesthetic sensibilities. … Maybe.

Brief description:

She is the daughter of Rokujō whom Genji cares for once Rokujō dies (and towards which he also has romantic interests). She was the priestess of the Ise Shrine while her mother lived, is later installed in Genji's grand Rokujō Estate and eventually becomes an imperial consort to (Retired) Emperor Reizei (Genji's secret son).

Names used in translations

• Seidensticker uses "Akikonomu" Washburn uses "former High Priestess at Ise" "Umetsubo Consort" (he explains in a footnote at the end of this chapter why he does not use "Akikonomu")

• In Chapters 9, 10, 14, Tyler uses: High Priestess of Ise • In Chapter 16, Tyler uses: Her Highness, the former Ise Priestess, the Ise Consort • In Chapter 19, Tyler uses: the Ise Consort • In Chapter 21, Tyler uses: the Ise Consort, Her Majesty • In Chapters 24, 28, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, Tyler uses: Her Majesty


Mentioned in about 46 sections across 19 chapters beginning with Chapter 9. She is most frequently mentioned in chapters 9, 14 and 17 but sporadically elsewhere. She appears a few chapters into the "Uji chapters" (final third of the work), but disappears early in that section, unlike some other women.

AOI

Updated Sep 20, 2015

Aoi no ue (葵の上) "Grand Lady Aoi"

"Aoi" is a type of plant, a "heartvine" and is treated in poetry as a symbol of bondedness because the word "aoi" is a close in pronunciation to "au" ("to meet").

Brief description:

Genji's first wife, the eldest daughter of a princess (sister to Emperor Kiritsubo) and the Minister of the Left. She is a commoner, but probably the single most eligible unmarried woman at the time when the Court is deciding a spouse for Genji. She is full sister to Genji's best friend Tō no Chūjō. She is married to Genji when he is 12. She gives birth to one child, a boy named Yūgiri. The father is Genji.


In all three translations she is "the wife" or "Genji's wife" of "the first wife" and so forth.


Mentioned in about 28 sections of the work, across 12 chapters beginning with Chapter 1, but far more frequently in the first nine chapters of the work. The 9th chapter is named after her.

After The Tale of Genji

There is a famous Noh play titles "Aoi no Ue" (in which she appears only metaphorically as a robe on the floor of the stage — the active character is Rokujō) and a modern interpretation of the play by Yukio Mishima with the same title.

On the web

Web search

"Aoi no ue" will lead to considerable information related to both the original play and Mishima's modern play, including synopsis, scripts, and YouTube uploads of the full play (but not necessarily with English subtitles).

Web image search terms

"Aoi" is not useful. "Aoi no ue" will lead to many images of the Noh play, usually with an angry Rokujō depicted.

ASAGAO

Asagao no himegimi (朝顔の姫君) "Mistress Asagao" or "The Asagao Princess"

Her name comes from a poem exchange with Genji. However, most of the time she is treated as someone of high status and royalty. Only the highest ranked women could be considered for either priestess positions of Ise and Kamo, for example.

Brief description:

A very high-‐ranking woman, daughter of a prince (one of Emperor Kiritsubo's brothers). One of the few women to reject Genji (regardless of how she might privately feel about him).


Seidensticker uses "Asagao" "Princess Asagao" "High Priestess of Kamo", Washburn uses "Asagao" and "Princess Asagao" "Kamo Princess" "Former Kamo Princess"

In Chapter 2, Tyler uses: Daughter of His Highness of Ceremonial

In Chapter 9, Tyler uses: the lady of the bluebells, Her Highness

In Chapter 10, Tyler uses: the lady of the bluebells, the High Priestess of the Kamo Shrine

In Chapters 20, 21, 32, Tyler uses: Her Highness, the Former Kamo Priestess


Mentioned in about 20 sections, which is very few, actually, across 7 chapters. She should be considered a secondary character in the story.

FUJITSUBO


Fujitsubo no chūgū (藤壺中宮) "First Consort Fujitsubo"

Fujitsubo is a set of living chambers within the "back palace" devoted to the emperor's women. Like the Kōkiden, it is one of the best of those apartment sets. The woman is identified, therefore, by location, which is a typical name. She has, in other words, a very standard, proper name, and lives in the very best of places.

Brief description:

She was the fourth princess (daughter) of a prior emperor, and so of very high rnak, but motherless and taken in by Emperor Kiritsubo as an imperial consort (nyōgo 女御, one rank above someone like Kiritsubo who is a kōi, 更衣) and replacement for the deceased and deeply loved Kiritsubo, whom she resembles. She is the object of Genji's love (and I suppose we should think that they resemble one another since both are said to resemble Genji's mother Kiritsubo) and they secretly produce a child together, whom the world thinks of as the son of the Kiritsubo Emperor. Adultery by an imperial consort is definitely a sinful act and this will weigh heavily on her. She is five years older than Genji. She is sister to Murasaki's father.


Seidensticker and Washburn use "Fujitsubo". In Chapter 1, Tyler uses: Daughter of an earlier Emperor In Chapter 5, Tyler uses: Her Highness In Chapter 7, Tyler uses: Her Highness, then Her Majesty In Chapters 8, 9, Tyler uses: Her Majesty In Chapters 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, Tyler uses: Her Majesty, then Her Cloistered Eminence In Chapter 20, Tyler uses: a dream phantom


Mentioned in about 50 sections of the work, across 14 chapters beginning with Chapter 1 and ending with the final chapter of that portion of the text before the death of Genji, but with most mentions are in the first 20 chapters of the work.

*HANACHIRUSATO

Hanachirusato (花散里) "[Woman from] the village of falling flowers"

Younger sister to the Reikiden Consort to Emp. Kiritsubo (nyōgo 女御) and first appears in the narrative as living at that woman's estate.

Brief description:

A secondary character who nevertheless ends up at Genji's Nijō estate and who is helpful to him in multiple ways.

Seidensticker names

Tyler names

Washburn names

Appears in chapters …

KIRITSUBO

Kiritsubo no kōi (桐壺更衣) "The Kiritsubo Wardrobe Mistress"

As is the case with Fujitsubo and Kōkiden, Kiritsubo is a set of living chambers within the "back palace" devoted to the emperor's women. She has, in other words, a very standard, proper name, but her rank is lower than many women in the work. Further, as the narrative indicates, the Kiritsubo apartments are farther from the emperor's bedchamber than some other apartments, forcing her or him to pass other consorts living quarters in order to see each other, and easily enabling the type of persecution other women heaped upon her, as well. (In this YouTube, the photographer is standing just about where the apostrophe is at "Emperor's" and starts the film pointing towards the Kokiden, although it is blocked by a secondary building. Panning counter-‐clockwise gives a view of the emperor's sleeping quarters. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2BplvOJrss )

Brief description:

Mother of Genji and consort to Emperor Kiritsubo. As Tyler indicates, there are times when she is called "the Haven" (miyasundokoro 御息所) which indicates that her closeness (role in providing emotional and physical comfort) to her emperor is more or less on par with Rokujō's closeness to her emperor (who is deceased by the beginning of the story). Her rank is not particularly high, comparatively speaking—her father was a Grand Counselor (dainagon 大納言).


Seidensticker and Washburn designate her generically. In Chapter 1, Tyler uses: The Kiritsubo Intimate, the Haven


I believe Kiritsubo is mentioned only in the first chapter of the work, which is named after her.

KOKIDEN


Kōkiden no ōgisaki (弘徽殿大后) "Grand Empress Kōkiden"

Kōkiden is a set of living and working chambers within the "back palace" devoted to the emperor's women. Together with the Fujitsubo, it might be considered among the best of those apartment sets. Kōkiden, the woman, is identified, therefore, by location, which is a typical name. She has, in other words, a very standard, proper name, and lives in the very best of places.

Brief description:

She is an imperial consort (nyōgo 女御) to Emperor Kiritsubo just as is Kiritsubo. However, she has seniority because she was installed before Kiritsubo in the "back palace" (in fact, before all other women), has given birth to the Crown Prince (who will become Emperor Suzaku), and comes from a higher-‐ranking family (her father is Minister of the Right). She is usually now called "Grand Empress" because, by the end of the work, her son has become emperor, which increases her own rank. From the beginning she is "anti-‐Genji" and a powerful force to contend with. One of her younger sisters is married to Genji's best friend, Tō no chūjō. So although there is a fairly clear "those with the Minister of the Left" (Tō no chūjō as son, Aoi as daughter, Genji as son-‐in-‐law) vs "those with the Minister of the Right" (Kōkiden as eldest daughter, fourth daughter as his favorite daughter, the Crown Prince / Emp. Suzaku, as eldest son, Oborozukiyo, as little sister to Kōkiden) and these political lines are real and have narrative influence, there is a complicated crossing over in that Tō no Chūjō will take the M. of the Right's favorite daughter as his proper wife and Genji will sleep with Oborozukiyo and Emp. Suzaku, while forced by his mother to exile Genji over the Oborozukiyo affair, is more or less Genji's lifelong friend with a few of awkward times along the way.


Seidensticker uses "Kokiden" while Washburn uses "Kokiden Consort" In Chapters 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, Tyler uses: The Kokiden Consort In Chapters 13, 14, Tyler uses: the Empress Mother In Chapter 21, Tyler uses: Her Majesty, the Empress Mother


Mentioned in about 35 sections across 13 chapters that span most of the narrative but by far her most frequent mentions are in Chapter 1 and Chapter 10 (when she is busy trying to exile Genji). Nevertheless, even when not mentioned, she is a powerhouse in the background.

KUMOI NO KARI

Kumoi no Kari (雲居の雁) "Geese Among the Clouds"

A poetic name given to her by later readers based on her inner monologue in Chapter 21, when she asks whether the migrating geese feel as sad as herself. The illustration is from Chapter 39, where she is trying to take a letter from her husband Yūgiri. (See the Gotoh Museum website, 12th c. Illustrated Scroll of The Tale of Genji, http://www.gotoh-‐museum.or.jp/collection/col_01/01003_016.html )

Brief description

Kumoi no Kari is a daughter of Tō no Chūjō but not from a primary wife. He is interested in giving her to an emperor but she will marry her childhood love, Genji's son Yūgiri, and they will have many children.


Seidensticker and Washburn use primarily "Kumoinokari" In Chapters 21, 26, 28, 32, Tyler uses: the young lady In Chapters 37.39 44, Tyler uses: the Commander's wife


Mentioned in about 47 sections across 14 chapters, beginning with Chapter 21, when she is the early love interest of Yūgiri.

MURASAKI

Murasaki no ue (紫の上) "Grand Lady Murasaki"

"Murasaki" is the color purple and is associated with high-‐ranking officials and the powerful Fujiwara clan of the author's day. ("Fujiwara" means "Wisteria field" and wisteria we treated as purple flowers although there were white wisteria at that time as well.) "Ue" is a term of respect shown towards aristocracy but indicates no specific rank. She gains this respect as the privileged (ahead of other of his women) companion to Genji. Murasaki's name feels like the name of a fictional character in an unrealistic drama: "Grand Lady Purple". However, many of the most sympathetic female characters of the story have these sorts of names, most of which connect to natural imagery in some way: Yūgao (Evening Face / Moonflower), Suetsumuhana (Safflower), Asagao (Bluebell), Ukifune (Floating Boat), and so on.

Brief description:

Although her father was a prince (and brother to Fujitsubo), her mother (daughter of a Grand Counselor, dainagon 大納言) is dead. She was being cared for by her grandmother, a nun, who herself was once wife to a Grand Counselor. This makes Murasaki's position quite weak.

A wife but not quite completely a wife in the way Aoi was because that was an arranged marriage between powerful entities with full ceremonies recognizing it while this is a marriage of choice by Genji with limited ceremonies marking it (due to Murasaki's low rank). Murasaki never gives birth to a child but does adopt Akashi's young daughter, whom she rears properly to become an First Consort (chūgū 中宮). Genji will die of grief after she passes away.


Seidensticker and Washburn call her "Murasaki". In Chapters 5, 6, Tyler uses: a little girl In Chapters 7, 8, 9, Tyler uses: Genji's young lady In Chapters 10, 12, 21, Tyler uses: the mistress of Genji's west wing In Chapters 13, 14, Tyler uses: Genji's lady at Nijō In Chapters 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, Tyler uses: Genji's lady In Chapters 19, 20, Tyler uses: the lady in Genji's west wing In Chapters 23, Tyler uses: Genji's love In Chapters 24, 28, 29, 32, Tyler uses: the mistress of the southeast corner In Chapters 31, Tyler uses: the lady of spring In Chapters 33, Tyler uses: the mistress of Genji's east wing In Chapters 34, 35, Tyler uses: the mistress of the east wing In Chapters 35, 39, 40, Tyler uses: Lady Murasaki


Mentioned in about 140 sections of the work (more than any other woman, I am sure), across 32 chapters beginning with Chapter 5 that is titled after her. She has a presence in nearly all of the chapters while Genji is still alive. The author herself is now known by the name of this character. (The author did not give the character her own name.)

NAKA NO KIMI

Naka no kimi (中君) "The middle princess"

Actually, I had never really though about what "naka" ("middle") means in this case. It does NOT mean there is a third sister and she is the one in the middle. I think it is a rank designation.

Brief description:

She is the younger daughter of Hachinomiya and seems to contrast, in terms o personality, with her older more serious sister. She helps connect the stories of her sister Ōigimi in the earlier Uji chapters and that of Ukifune in the latter Uji chapters. Although Niou marries her, it is not long before he rarely comes to see her as he has a wife, the eldest daughter ("First Princess") of Emperor Kinjō. She moves to Niou's Nijō estate after her sister dies. There, she gives birth to a child. She is the one who tells Kaoru about Ukifune's existence since Kaoru continues to show an interest in her. Ukifune is her half-‐sister for whom she is caring at the request of Ukifune's mother.

OBOROZUKIYO

Oborozukiyo no kimi (朧月夜の君) "The Misty Moon Gentlewoman"

Oborozukiyo is little sister to Kokiden and so rates a proper name; however, she is named after the romantic moon on the night that Genji and her discover each other. The "misty moon" is associated with romantic spring nights.

The photo is of a "misty moon."

Brief description

The sixth daughter of the Minster of the Right, so little sister to the powerful Kōkiden and is herself a woman of substantial social rank. Genji and her engage in an affair that is eventually discovered and which leads to his exile. Even after this, they continue to see each other now and then, or exchange poems.


Seidensticker and Washburn use "the lady of the misty moon" and "Oborozukiyo" In Chapters 8, Tyler uses: the lady of the misty moon In Chapters 9, Tyler uses: the Mistress of the Wardrobe In Chapters 10, Tyler uses: the Mistress of the Wardrobe, then the Mistress of Staff In Chapters 12, 14, 21, 34, Tyler uses: the Mistress of Staff In Chapters 35, Tyler uses: the Nijō Mistress of Staff


Although a secondary character, beginning in Chapter 10 she is mentioned in about 45 sections, a large number, scattered across 21 chapters, also an unusually large number, and perhaps reaches across (from first mention to last mention) more of the narrative than any other women.

OIGIMI

Ōigimi (大君) "The senior/greater princess"

"Kimi" means princess or just distinguished lady. The "greater" is used to designate seniority.

Brief description:

She is the eldest daughter of Hachinomiya, The 8th Prince, that is, the 8th son of the Kiritsubo Emperor and, as 8th son, he is very far from the line of imperial succession. Ōigimi's mother (daughter of a Daijin 大臣 "Great Minister") is dead, having died when giving birth to Ōigimi 's little sister Naka no kimi (中の君 "The middle princess"), which is a "sinful" act in the sense that Naka no kimi is stained with the impurity of death at the time of her birth. After a fire that destroys the family estate, Hachinomiya moved to Uji and is living in a mountain villa, studying Buddhism.

Kaoru sees the two daughters in a "fence peeking" (kaimami 垣間見) scene and becomes interested in them.

After Hachinomiya dies, Kaoru begins to pursue Ōigimi. Ōigimi refuses this and seeks instead that he select her sister Naka no kimi.

Kaoru brings his friend Prince Niou with him to Uji since Niou has been showing an interest in Naka no kimi thinking this might help Ōigimi allow herself to give herself to Kaoru. Not only does she continue to refuse him, Ōigimi is not happy that he is facilitating the relationship between her sister and Niou, who has a reputation as a playboy. For his part, although Niou has deep feelings for Naka no kimi, as the 3rd prince of Emperor Kinjo, it is not easy for him to go frequently to Uji. When she learns of the relationship between Niou and Yūgiri's 6th daughter (Yūgiri is Genji's son, as you will remember), she falls further into despair and ultimately dies.

ROKUJO

Rokujō no miyasundokoro (六条御息所) "Venerable Consort at Rokujō"

Women who were "miyasundokoro" were special companions to the emperor for his personal comfort. The word literally means "where one of royalty makes leisure". "Rokujō" is a main avenue designation in the Capital. The closer the main avenue was to the imperial grounds the higher the number (First Avenue, Second Avenue, etc.) This is Sixth Avenue which, in fact, is rather far from the center of things as far in terms of the truly upper-‐class. Thus the sense of this designation is someone somewhat marginalized.

Brief description:

She was the daughter of a Great Minister (daijin 大臣), and entered imperial service as consort to the Crown Prince at age 16, which is about right though perhaps a year or so on the late side. She gives birth to Akikonomu (who will later become a First Consort, chūgū 中宮).However, four years later the Crown Prince died, leaving her with no special place at court any longer. We do not know how her relationship with Genji began but she is clearly obsessed with him and rages against some of his other women.


Seidensticker uses mostly "Rokujō lady", Washburn uses mostly "lady at Rokujō" In Chapters 4, 9, 10, 12, 14, Tyler uses: The Rokujō Haven In Chapters 35, 36, Tyler uses: (as a spirit)


Mentioned in about 69 sections, a very large number, across 14 chapters beginning with Chapter 4 (Yūgao's death, perhaps caused by her). She is most frequently mentioned by far in Chapter 9 (Aoi's death). She continues to make appearances as a ghost in scattered locations.

SAFFLOWER WOMAN

Suetsumuhana (末摘花) "Safflower"

The Safflower Woman is a princess, but presented as unattractive (one handbook asserts she is the only truly unattractive woman in the narrative), unfashionable, and inept at communication (either verbally or in writing). She has a long nose that is reddish at its tip. Based on this, Genji nicknames her "Safflower", which was used by Heian artisans to extract a red dye after collecting just the petals of the thorny flower. The name means "end-‐pinch/pluck-‐flower" but also "end-‐pinch/pluck-‐nose" since "hana" means both "flower" and "nose". While clearly the wordplay is primary here, the association is more extensive than that: the safflower was thought of as causing pain when plucked (because of the thistles) and the plant itself is unattractive although the color it produces was considered precious. The modern Japanese name for this plant is "benihana".

Brief description:

The Safflower Woman is a late child of Prince Hitachi. He has passed away by the time of the narrative. Genji's initial interest seems simply to be curiosity, and perhaps a competitive drive with his friend Tō no Chūjō. When he discovers that she is unattractive, he is appalled but resolves to look after her. She has a long wait for his return during his exile, but he does return to her and installs her in his Nijō Eastern Estate.


All three translators use various ways to indicate she is a princess: "the lady", "Hitachi princess", "the princess" and, in the case of Tyler "Her Highness". Tyler also refers to her as "daughter of the Hitachi Prince". All use some variation of "Safflower" once this nickname has been given to her by Genji.


Mentioned in about 28 sections across 7 chapters beginning with Chapter 6 which is named after her and which describes Genji (and Tō no Chūjō)'s new interest in her. Aside from this chapter, most other references are in Chapter 15 which is also primarily about her, when Genji visits her after his exile.

TAMAKAZURA

Tamakazura (玉鬘) "Bejeweled Headdress"

It is not wise to imagine any specific headdress for which this woman is named. The illustration is a recreation of a headdress found in the Fujinoki Tomb which dates from the sixth or seventh century. "Tama" means "jewels" and "kazura" means headdress but Tyler's "wreath" and Washburn's "garland" are reasonable and "hair ornament" is also possible. Regardless of the specific object, this is an unusual name.

Brief description

Tamakazura is the daughter of Tō no Chūjō and Yūgao. Especially beautiful and chased by many (including Genji himself) she will eventually marry the uninspiring, even if high-‐ranking "Blackbeard" (Higekuro 鬚黒). He already has a primary wife. They will have many children. She is first mentioned in the "rainy night" discussion as disappearing together with her mother. Raised by her nurse in the western part of the city; left for Kyūshū with the nurse’s husband, at age 4. Before he dies he asks that his sons take her back to the Capital. Genji discovers her, adopts her, and keeps this a secret from her real father Tō no Chūjō.


Seidensticker and Washburn use "Tamakazura" In Chapter 4, Tyler uses: the pink (because she is called "Nadeshiko" in the original, the name of a flower that we call, in English, "pink") In Chapter 22, Tyler uses: the young lady In Chapters 23–29, Tyler uses: the (young) lady in the west wing In Chapter 30, Tyler uses: the lady In Chapters 31, 34, 35, 44, Tyler uses: the Mistress of Staff


Mentioned in about 88 sections (an enormous number) across 17 chapters beginning with Chapter 2 and ending nearly at the end of the narrative in Chapter 52. She has a string of ten chapters devoted particularly to her that are now seen as a subset in the larger Tale of Genji and are called "the Tamakazura chapters". These are chapters 22-‐31.

UKIFUNE

Ukifune (浮舟) "Floating Boat"

The name clearly indicates the uncertainty of her fate in life. "Uki" also is derivative of "uku" (憂く, to be depressed) and resonates with "Uji" as well.

Brief description:

Ukifune is the daughter of Hachinomiya and a woman who served him (and who was married to someone else). Hachinomiya, The 8th Prince, is the 8th son of the Kiritsubo Emperor and, as 8th son, he is very far from the line of imperial succession.

She is reared far from the Capital, then sent by her mother to Uji to be cared for by Naka no kimi. She attracts the attention of both Kaoru and Niou.

She goes on an erotic sojourn with Niou for two days to an island.

She jumps into or falls into the Uji River but doesn't die. She is found by a priest and becomes a nun. However, at the end of the narrative,

Kaoru has discovered where she is.

She has 26 poems in Genji.


Seidensticker and Washburn use "Ukifune", when being more specific than "daughter", etc.

Tyler uses "a young woman".

Appears in chapters …

Mentioned in about 58 sections across 6 chapters beginning with Chapter 49 and going through the end of the work (Chapter 54). She is the primary character is all of these final chapters except Chapter 52, when she has gone missing.

UTSUSEMI

Utsusemi (空蝉) "Cicada Shell"

Cicadas were known for their ephemeral existence since they are in the ground for many years before having a very brief life above ground. However, the primary allusion here is to what a woman's kimono gowns were sometimes called: formal gowns are stiff enough that they can stand on their own even if the woman has left them. This refers to Utsusemi's escape from Genji.

Brief description

Utsusemi is a minor but interesting character in the narrative. Although Genji forced himself on her, she later refuses further advances based on her lowly social status, sure that nothing good can come of the relationship. Parent-‐less, second wife (as is, after the first wife died) to the old and unappreciative Iyo Deputy. She has a little brother, Kogimi. She lives in the mansion of the son of her husband's deceased first wife, the Governor of Kii. There are some who think that this fictional character is meant to be a self-‐portrait of the author Murasaki.


Seidensticker and Washburn: The young wife of Iyo, wife of the Iyo Deputy, young wife of the Vice Governor of Iyo, stepmother to the Governor of Kii

Tyler: a young woman, stepmother to the Governor of Kii


Mentioned in about 14 sections across 7 chapters beginning with Chapter 2 (when Genji forces himself upon her at the mansion of the Governor of Kii, where he is a night guest). She is most frequently early in the work and Chapter 3, though brief, is named for her. Her story is picked up here and there giving us a sense of how her unhappy life played out.

YUGAO

Yūgao (夕顔) "Moonflower" "Evening Faces"

The yūgao is similar to a morning glory. It is a white gourd flower that blooms in late summer and which withers in one night. Thus its timing matches the story's timing, its glowing evening whiteness suggests the beautiful white face of a woman but its brief blooming time and the white color itself evoke a sense of death. This woman has both a lovely and ominous name.

There is another "gao" in this narrative "Asago" (Morning Glory). It seems interesting that we have both evening and morning faces for women but as far as I can tell there is not much to be discovered by comparing these two characters.

Brief description:

Yūgao is the daughter of a highly ranked (Rank 3) Middle Captain but both parents died early. According to the "rainy night" story that Tō no Chūjō offers, he kept her as a wife for three years, and she gave birth to a girl (Tamakazura, also called the "little pink" or "wild pink"). She sends a poem out on a fan to Genji when he is in the neighborhood, on the way to visiting his sick wetnurse. Genji suspects that this is his friend's ex-‐wife (or wife-‐in-‐hiding, however you want to take it). He is powerfully attracted to her, and spirits her away to an abandoned mansion, where she is killed by a spirit which we are to suspect is Lady Rokujō. This profoundly disturbs Genji and, in a round about way, it is this disaster which leads to his discovery of the love of his life, Murasaki, since she is discovered when her travels out of the capital to receive medical attention from an ascetic.

Sometimes I wonder if Murasaki has "punished" Yūgao, narratively speaking, by having her die as a result of being too forward (sending a poem to a man rather than waiting for him to send something first).


Seidensticker and Washburn use "Yūgao" and "lady of the evening faces"

Tyler uses "a young woman" in her primary chapter, which he titles "The Twilight Beauty"


Mentioned in about 23 sections across 5 chapters beginning with Chapter 2 but primarily in Chapter 4, which is named after her. Some suggest that Yūgao is to be paired with the famous woman later in the narrative, Ukifune, since both are ill-‐fated in part because the two primary male characters (Genji and Tō no Chūjō in one instance, Kaoru and Niou in the other) compete for the woman's affection and because one happens very early in the narrative and the other very late in the narrative.

Documents

SAA Fall 2015 Women of Japan The Tale of Genjitabine/SAAFa15/SAAFa15 Genji women database.pdfASAGAO Asagao no himegimi (朝顔の姫君) "Mistress Asagao" or "The Asagao Princess"