Selections from Genji Monogatari | Page 4

superfluous, though nothing has been added to the original.
The authoress has been by no means exact in following the order of

dates, though this appears to have proceeded from her endeavor to
complete each distinctive group of ideas in each particular chapter. In
fact she had even left the chapters unnumbered, simply contenting
herself with a brief heading, after which each is now called, such as
"Chapter Kiri-Tsubo," etc., so that the numbering has been undertaken
by the translator for the convenience of the reader. It has no
extraordinarily intricate plot like those which excite the readers of the
sensational romances of the modern western style. It has many heroines,
but only one hero, and this comes no doubt from the peculiar purpose
of the writer to portray different varieties and shades of female
characters at once, as is shadowed in Chapter II, and also to display the
intense fickleness and selfishness of man.
I notice these points beforehand in order to prepare the reader for the
more salient faults of the work. On the whole my principal object is not
so much to amuse my readers as to present them with a study of human
nature, and to give them information on the history of the social and
political condition of my native country nearly a thousand years ago.
They will be able to compare it with the condition of mediæval and
modern Europe.
Another peculiarity of the work to which I would draw attention is that,
with few exceptions, it does not give proper names to the personages
introduced; for the male characters official titles are generally
employed, and to the principal female ones some appellation taken
from an incident belonging to the history of each; for instance, a girl is
named Violet because the hero once compared her to that flower, while
another is called Yûgao because she was found in a humble dwelling
where the flowers of the Yûgao covered the hedges with a mantle of
blossom.
I have now only to add that the translation is, perhaps, not always
idiomatic, though in this matter I have availed myself of some valuable
assistance, for which I feel most thankful.
SUYEMATZ KENCHIO.
Tokyo, Japan.

FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Which means, "The Romance of Genji."]

GENJI MONOGATARI
CHAPTER I
THE CHAMBER OF KIRI[2]
In the reign of a certain Emperor, whose name is unknown to us, there
was, among the Niogo[76] and Kôyi[3] of the Imperial Court, one who,
though she was not of high birth, enjoyed the full tide of Royal favor.
Hence her superiors, each one of whom had always been thinking--"I
shall be the one," gazed upon her disdainfully with malignant eyes, and
her equals and inferiors were more indignant still.
Such being the state of affairs, the anxiety which she had to endure was
great and constant, and this was probably the reason why her health
was at last so much affected, that she was often compelled to absent
herself from Court, and to retire to the residence of her mother.
Her father, who was a Dainagon,[4] was dead; but her mother, being a
woman of good sense, gave her every possible guidance in the due
performance of Court ceremony, so that in this respect she seemed but
little different from those whose fathers and mothers were still alive to
bring them before public notice, yet, nevertheless, her friendliness
made her oftentimes feel very diffident from the want of any patron of
influence.
These circumstances, however, only tended to make the favor shown to
her by the Emperor wax warmer and warmer, and it was even shown to
such an extent as to become a warning to after-generations. There had
been instances in China in which favoritism such as this had caused
national disturbance and disaster; and thus the matter became a subject
of public animadversion, and it seemed not improbable that people

would begin to allude even to the example of Yô-ki-hi.[5]
In due course, and in consequence, we may suppose, of the Divine
blessing on the sincerity of their affection, a jewel of a little prince was
born to her. The first prince who had been born to the Emperor was the
child of Koki-den-Niogo,[6] the daughter of the Udaijin (a great officer
of State). Not only was he first in point of age, but his influence on his
mother's side was so great that public opinion had almost unanimously
fixed upon him as heir-apparent. Of this the Emperor was fully
conscious, and he only regarded the new-born child with that affection
which one lavishes on a domestic favorite. Nevertheless, the mother of
the first prince had, not unnaturally, a foreboding that unless matters
were managed adroitly her child might be superseded by the younger
one. She, we may observe, had been established at