Selections from Genji Monogatari | Page 9

Prince felt at ease.
In this year, the mother of Kiri-Tsubo departed this life. She may not
improbably have longed to follow her daughter at an earlier period; and
the only regret to which she gave utterance, was that she was forced to
leave her grandson, whom she had so tenderly loved.
From this time the young Prince took up his residence in the Imperial
palace; and next year, at the age of seven, he began to learn to read and
write under the personal superintendence of the Emperor. He now
began to take him into the private apartments, among others, of the
Koki-den, saying, "The mother is gone! now at least, let the child be
received with better feeling." And if even stony-hearted warriors, or
bitter enemies, if any such there were, smiled when they saw the boy,
the mother of the heir-apparent, too, could not entirely exclude him
from her sympathies. This lady had two daughters, and they found in
their half-brother a pleasant playmate. Every one was pleased to greet
him, and there was already a winning coquetry in his manners, which

amused people, and made them like to play with him. We need not
allude to his studies in detail, but on musical instruments, such as the
flute and the koto,[16] he also showed great proficiency.
About this time there arrived an embassy from Corea, and among them
was an excellent physiognomist. When the Emperor heard of this, he
wished to have the Prince examined by him. It was, however, contrary
to the warnings of the Emperor Wuda, to call in foreigners to the Palace.
The Prince was, therefore, disguised as the son of one Udaiben, his
instructor, with whom he was sent to the Kôro-Kwan, where foreign
embassies are entertained.
When the physiognomist saw him, he was amazed, and, turning his
own head from side to side, seemed at first to be unable to comprehend
the lines of his features, and then said, "His physiognomy argues that
he might ascend to the highest position in the State, but, in that case,
his reign will be disturbed, and many misfortunes will ensue. If,
however, his position should only be that of a great personage in the
country, his fortune may be different."
This Udaiben was a clever scholar. He had with the Corean pleasant
conversations, and they also interchanged with one another some
Chinese poems, in one of which the Corean said what great pleasure it
had given him to have seen before his departure, which was now
imminent, a youth of such remarkable promise. The Coreans made
some valuable presents to the Prince, who had also composed a few
lines, and to them, too, many costly gifts were offered from the
Imperial treasures.
In spite of all the precautions which were taken to keep all this rigidly
secret, it did, somehow or other, become known to others, and among
those to the Udaijin, who, not unnaturally, viewed it with suspicion,
and began to entertain doubts of the Emperor's intentions. The latter,
however, acted with great prudence. It must be remembered that, as yet,
he had not even created the boy a Royal Prince. He now sent for a
native physiognomist, who approved of his delay in doing so, and
whose observations to this effect, the Emperor did not receive
unfavorably. He wisely thought to be a Royal Prince, without having

any influential support on the mother's side, would be of no real
advantage to his son. Moreover, his own tenure of power seemed
precarious, and he, therefore, thought it better for his own dynasty, as
well as for the Prince, to keep him in a private station, and to constitute
him an outside supporter of the Royal cause.
And now he took more and more pains with his education in different
branches of learning; and the more the boy studied, the more talent did
he evince--talent almost too great for one destined to remain in a
private station. Nevertheless, as we have said, suspicions would have
been aroused had Royal rank been conferred upon him, and the
astrologists, whom also the Emperor consulted, having expressed their
disapproval of such a measure, the Emperor finally made up his mind
to create a new family. To this family he assigned the name of Gen, and
he made the young Prince the founder of it.[17]
Some time had now elapsed since the death of the Emperor's favorite,
but he was still often haunted by her image. Ladies were introduced
into his presence, in order, if possible, to divert his attention, but
without success.
There was, however, living at this time a young Princess, the fourth
child of a late Emperor. She had great promise of beauty, and was
guarded with jealous care by her mother, the Empress-Dowager. The
Naishi-no-Ske, who