Fujibakama
Title
Fujibakama is a herbaceous plant called "Eupatorium japonicum," also known as fragrant eupatorium in English, which is native to China, Japan and Korea. It is a purple autumn flower related to the chrysanthemum. The translations vary greatly, from "mistflowers" (Washburn), "thouroughwort flowers" (Tyler) to "Purple trousers" (Seidensticker) and "Blue trousers" (Waley). Waley has only translated part of this chapter, he has left out the most important scenes, such as the one where Yugiri visits Tanakazura and gives her a bunch of purple mistflowers.
Chronology
This chapter is set in the same year as the previous one, when Genji is in his thirty-seventh year. It covers the eight and ninth months.
On the 20th of the 3rd month, Omiya dies. On the 13th of the 8th month, Tamakazura's mourning for her grandmother Omiya ends. It is decided that in the 10th month she will go to the palace.
On the 20th of the 3rd month, Omiya dies. On the 13th of the 8th month, Tamakazura's mourning for her grandmother Omiya ends. It is decided that in the 10th month she will go to the palace.
Position in the Genji
Yugiri, who now knows she is not his half-sister, professes his love to Tamakazura, but she rebuffs him. Kashiwagi, who was already in love with Tamakazura, now knows she is his half-sister, and based on that familial bond proposes some form of intimacy, which however is unacceptable to her. General Higekuro proposes marriage to Tamakazura via Kashiwagi, but she ignores him.
Synopsis
On the 20th of the 3rd month, the elderly Princess Omiya, the mother of Genji's deceased wife Aoi and of his friend To no Chujo, dies. She is also the grandmother of Tamakazura, while she has taken care of the upbringing of her grandson, Yugiri. Her passing is therefore especially significant to him and he wears deep mourning. But also Tamakazura, who has been appointed to Mistress of Staff (Naishi no tsukasa), is in mourning. She hesitates to enter the service of the Emperor as she might become embroiled in a rivalry with Empress
Akikonomu and Junior Consort Kokiden for his affection - although in charge of female palace staff, palace ceremonies and the transmission of petitions and decrees, the Mistress of Staff was in fact a junior wife to the Emperor.
Yugiri, who first thought she was his elder sister, now feels free in his feelings towards her. He hopes their shared mourning will lead to more shared feelings... With their grandmother's death as a pretext, he pushes a bouquet of mistflowers (fujibakama) beneath her blinds, and at the same time recites a poem that expresses his feelings for her: "I am a mistflower laden with dew and in the same field as you are - please have pity on me." But Tamakazura doesn't him seriously, fearing that his attentions can only lead to trouble for her.
Yugiri, who first thought she was his elder sister, now feels free in his feelings towards her. He hopes their shared mourning will lead to more shared feelings... With their grandmother's death as a pretext, he pushes a bouquet of mistflowers (fujibakama) beneath her blinds, and at the same time recites a poem that expresses his feelings for her: "I am a mistflower laden with dew and in the same field as you are - please have pity on me." But Tamakazura doesn't him seriously, fearing that his attentions can only lead to trouble for her.
[Fujibakama]
Chastened by Tamakazura's coldness, later Yugiri questions Genji about his intentions with Tamakazura, fearing that his father might make her his concubine. To demonstrate his innocence, Genji finally sets the date for Tamakazura to go into court service. After her period of mourning ends, Tamakazura will in the tenth month enter palace service.
Kashiwagi also visits Tamakazura, although he now knows she is his half-sister and he has to give up his feelings of love. Instead, he uses their familial bond to plead for greater intimacy, but Tamakazura rebuffs him. It is interesting that in both the case of Yugiri and that of Kashiwagi, Tamakazura keeps hidden deep in her chambers and even refuses to let them hear her voice: she asks her attendants to speak in her stead.
Moved into action by the news of Tamakazura soon going into palace service, General Higekuro proposes marriage to her via Kashiwagi. Her father, Palace Minister To no Chujo, is happy with the idea, knowing that the general has the ear of Emperor Reizei, and bright prospects. He is one of the most powerful men at court. Tamakazura would not become his principal wife, though: he is 32 or 33 years old and already married, to an elder half-sister of Murasaki, a daughter of His Highness of Ceremonial (Hyobukyo no Miya). He also has three children.
Tamakazura ignores Higekuro and only replies to a letter from Prince Hotaru.
Genji-e
We see the scene in which Yugiri pushes a bouquet of fujibakama under the curtain of Tamakazura, while profession his love by reciting his own poem.