Chapter 20 The Morning Glory Synopsis
Princess Asagao, Genji's cousin, has retired from her position as the
high priestess of Kamo due to the death of her father. Genji has always
secretly been interested in a romantic affair with this cousin but she has
never encouraged her. She is now living with her aunt, the elderly Fifth
Princess, in her father's old residence. Using the excuse of the need to pay
condolences to the two women, Genji starts to visit the villa in order to
court Asagao. As is often the case, the other women living with her, her
attendents and her aunt, are pleased with the idea of the courtship, but
Asagao herself remains cool and aloof.
Genji is irritated with her resistance and sends her a frostbitten
morning glory bloom, (her name Asagao, "morning glory" is taken from this
exchange) along with the poem,
"I do not forget the morning glory I saw.
Will the years, I wonder, have taken it past its bloom?"
She replies,
"The morning glory, wholly changed by autumn,
Is lost in the tangle of the dew-drenched hedge."
Meanwhile back at Genji's mansion, Murasaki notices the distracted air
that Genji's infatuations produce in him. It brings to her a fresh awareness
of the insecurity of his affections. Genji in turn notices her sadness and
is both moved and annoyed by it. The coldness of his cousin makes him want
to pursue her all the more, but he does not want to cause Murasaki pain.
There is a snowfall. Genji stays home and has little maidservants
cavort in the snow in the moonlight making snowmen as an amusement for
Murasaki. In the course of reminiscing about a snow mountain that was once
built in Fujitsubo's garden, Genji talks about Fujitsubo, praising her to
Murasaki and then goes on to make evaluative comments about Asagao and
Oborozukiyo and the Akashi Lady. Murasaki listens quietly to this catalogue
of ladies. Genji watches her gaze out at the garden. "Her hair and profile
called up most wonderfully the image of Fujitsubo, and his love was once
again whole and undivided."
They sleep, but Genji has a nightmare in which the image of Fujitsubo
appears and reproaches him not keeping their secret. He wakes in tears to
Murasaki's voice saying "What is the matter." He does not tell her but
resolves to hold discreet services for the repose of Fujitsubo's soul and
the chapter finishes with a poem in which Genji despairs of ever meeting
Fujitsubo again even "on the banks of the River of Death."
Chapter 23 The First Warbler Synopsis
A short chapter set at the New Year in which Genji makes the rounds of all
his ladies at his Rokujo Palace and the Nijo residence. It is a mood piece
suffused with the warmth and peacefulness of the New Year celebrations. The
only minor chord is struck when Genji spends the first night of the New Year
with the Akashi lady even though he knows it will wound Murasaki.
Chapter 24 Butterflies Synopsis
It is full spring and the first year for Murasaki to enjoy the glories
of her spring garden at the Rokujo mansion. Akikonomu, Lady Rokujo's
daughter and Empress to the Reizei Emperor, (Genji's secret son) comes back
for a vacation. A celebration is held for Akikonomu's women in Muasaki's
garden. The Empress herself is too august to be able to attend. Prince
Hotaru, Genji's younger brother is in attendance at the celebration and it
is from this point he begins to show an interest in the new arrival to
Genji's domain, Tamakazura. Hotaru has been a widower for three years.
The next event for the household is a reading of the Prajnaparamita
(Heart) Sutra sponsored by Akikonomu. Murasaki and Tamakazura become
friends through correspondence. Yugiri, assuming that Tamakazura is his
sister starts a friendship with her. This brings his friends, To no Chujo's
sons, into the circle of people who are interested in Tamakazura. General
Higekuro, a prominent statesman in an unhappy marriage, also presents
himself as a suitor. Genji tries to sound out Tamakazura as to her own
preferences but every time he comes to have a quiet talk, he can't help
hinting about his own amorous feelings for her. This makes her very
uncomfortable and she finds it impossible to confide in him. At the end of
the chapter he actually tries to seduce her by drawing her down beside him
but she responds with coldness and tears. Somewhat miffed, Genji retreats.
He sends her a letter with a poem the next morning to which she responds on
stiff business-like paper in a tone matching the paper. Genji is impressed
by her sang-froid. She feels as though she trapped with no one to whom she
can turn for help.
Chapter 26 Wild Carnations Synopsis
The Fireflies chapter left To no Chujo wondering if he did not have an
unrecognized daughter somewhere in the world. Coincidentally, a daughter of
his from a very humble mother suddenly comes to light in the provinces. She
is brought to him but proves to be a great disappointment. It is not that
she is not pretty but she has the unfortunate qualities of being voluble and
impulsive. A string of her embarrassing mistakes makes up the rather
humorous content of this chapter. She serves as a foil to bring out the
superiority of Tamakazura who is also ironically To no Chujo's unrecognized
daughter.
Chapter 27 Flares Synopsis
This is a very short chapter in which a musical evening occurs in
Tamakazura's apartment. It begins with her and Genji playing a koto duet on
an autumn evening when flares have been set out to light the garden.
Presently Yugiri and To no Chujo's sons arrive and join in the concert. They
are seated on the veranda and Kashiwagi, in particular, is very curious
about Tamakazura. She for her part is touched to be so close to her own
brothers without being able to reveal her relationship to them.
Chapter 29 The Royal Outing Synopsis
The chapter begins with Tamakazura very much on Genji's mind. There is to be
a Royal Outing to the countryside in Oharano for falconing. A grand
procession makes it way out of the palace. The ladies of Rokujo go out in
their carriages to watch the procession. It gives Tamakazura a chance to
observe her father To no Chujo for the first time from inside the curtains
of her carriage and to review all her suitors in the mounted guard. Of them
all, she finds the swarthy and rough looks of General Higekuro the most
displeasing.
Genji arranges for Tamakazura's initiation ceremonies, "the donning of
the train." He asks To no Chujo to officiate and plans to reveal to him that
Tamakazura is his own daughter at the ceremony. To no Chujo feels he must
decline the invitation because his mother, Princess Omiya, is very sick.
Genji realizes he must reveal Tamakazura's parentage so that she will be
able to properly mourn her real grandmother should the princess die. He
visits Princess Omiya at the Sanjo palace and reveals the secret to her as
well as proposing that To no Chujo sponsor Tamakazura to go to serve at
court with the wardrobe department, actually a very prestigious position. In
other words, given that Tamakazura has no strong inclinations toward any of
her suitors, Genji thinks it best for her to become a professional woman.
To no Chujo is surprised and pleased about this news and it has the
side effect of softening his opposition to a match between Yugiri and his
daughter Kumoinokari. He comes over to the Sanjo palace immediately. Genji
and To no Chujo have a reunion of sorts that is not without its
undercurrents of mutual rivalry and resentment, but they are old friends
after all. They discuss Tamakazura directly.
Tamakazura's initiation ceremony is performed with splendour. This is
To no Chujo's opportunity to actually see his daughter for the first time
and he is delighted. The chapter ends with his other newly discovered
daughter from the country expressing her chagrin at the unequal treatment
she is receiving.