Selections from Genji Monogatari

SELECTIONS FROM
GENJI MONOGATARI
(The Tale of Genji)
Chapters
I - XVII
by MURASAKI SHIKIBU
[Translated into English by Suyematz Kenchio]
REVISED EDITION
COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY THE COLONIAL PRESS
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CONTENTS
GENJI MONOGATARI
Introduction
I.--The Chamber of Kiri
II.--The Broom-like Tree
III.--Beautiful Cicada
IV.--Evening Glory
V.--Young Violet

VI.--Saffron Flower
VII.--Maple Fête
VIII.--Flower-Feast
IX.--Hollyhock
X.--Divine Tree
XI.--Villa of Falling Flowers
XII.--Exile at Suma
XIII.--Exile at Akashi
XIV.--The Beacon
XV.--Overgrown Mugwort
XVI.--Barrier House
XVII.--Competitive Show of Pictures

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GENJI MONOGATARI
BY
MURASAKI SHIKIBU
[Translated into English by Suyematz Kenchio]

INTRODUCTION

BY THE TRANSLATOR
Genji Monogatari,[1] the original of this translation, is one of the
standard works of Japanese literature. It has been regarded for centuries
as a national treasure. The title of the work is by no means unknown to
those Europeans who take an interest in Japanese matters, for it is
mentioned or alluded to in almost every European work relating to our
country. It was written by a lady, who, from her writings, is considered
one of the most talented women that Japan has ever produced.
She was the daughter of Fujiwara Tametoki, a petty Court noble,
remotely connected with the great family of Fujiwara, in the tenth
century after Christ, and was generally called Murasaki Shikib. About
these names a few remarks are necessary. The word "Shikib" means
"ceremonies," and is more properly a name adopted, with the addition
of certain suffixes, to designate special Court offices. Thus the term
"Shikib-Kiô" is synonymous with "master of the ceremonies," and
"Shikib-no-Jiô" with "secretary to the master of the ceremonies." Hence
it might at first sight appear rather peculiar if such an appellation
should happen to be used as the name of a woman. It was, however, a
custom of the period for noble ladies and their attendants to be often
called after such offices, generally with the suffix "No-Kata,"
indicating the female sex, and somewhat corresponding to the word
"madam." This probably originated in the same way as the practice in
America of calling ladies by their husbands' official titles, such as Mrs.
Captain, Mrs. Judge, etc., only that in the case of the Japanese custom
the official title came in time to be used without any immediate
association with the offices themselves, and often even as a maiden
name. From this custom our authoress came to be called "Shikib," a
name which did not originally apply to a person. To this another name,
Murasaki, was added, in order to distinguish her from other ladies who
may also have been called Shikib. "Murasaki" means "violet," whether
the flower or the color. Concerning the origin of this appellation there
exist two different opinions. Those holding one, derive it from her
family name, Fujiwara; for "Fujiwara" literally means "the field of
Wistaria," and the color of the Wistaria blossom is violet. Those
holding the other, trace it to the fact that out of several persons

introduced into the story, Violet (Murasaki in the text) is a most modest
and gentle woman, whence it is thought that the admirers of the work
transferred the name to the authoress herself. In her youth she was maid
of honor to a daughter of the then prime minister, who became
eventually the wife of the Emperor Ichijiô, better known by her
surname, Jiôtô-Monin, and who is especially famous as having been the
patroness of our authoress. Murasaki Shikib married a noble, named
Nobtaka, to whom she bore a daughter, who, herself, wrote a work of
fiction, called "Sagoromo" (narrow sleeves). She survived her husband,
Nobtaka, some years, and spent her latter days in quiet retirement,
dying in the year 992 after Christ. The diary which she wrote during
her retirement is still in existence, and her tomb may yet be seen in a
Buddhist temple in Kiôto, the old capital where the principal scenes of
her story are laid.
The exact date when her story was written is not given in the work, but
her diary proves that it was evidently composed before she arrived at
old age.
The traditional account given of the circumstances which preceded the
writing of the story is this: when the above-mentioned Empress was
asked by the Saigû (the sacred virgin of the temple of Ise) if her
Majesty could not procure an interesting romance for her, because the
older fictions had become too familiar, she requested Shikib to write a
new one, and the result of this request was this story.
The tradition goes on to say that when this request was made Shikib
retired to the Buddhist temple in Ishiyama, situated on hilly ground at
the head of the picturesque river Wooji, looking down on Lake Biwa.
There she betook herself to undergo the "Tooya" (confinement in a
temple throughout the night), a solemn