Umegae
Title
The title of this chapter was derived from "saibara" (a genre of Heian-period Japanese court music, primarily consisting of gagaku-styled folk melodies), sung at a festive gathering by Ben no shosho, one of To no Chujo's sons.
Tyler translates "The Plum Tree Branch"; both Seidensticker and Washburn have "A Branch of Plum" and Waley opts for "The Spray of Plum-Blossom".
Tyler translates "The Plum Tree Branch"; both Seidensticker and Washburn have "A Branch of Plum" and Waley opts for "The Spray of Plum-Blossom".
Chronology
This chapter follows the previous one, The Cypress Pillar, in chronological order.
Position in the Genji
In the chapter, Genji's household is preparing for the coming of age ceremony of Genji's daughter, princess Akashi, who will later in the story become Empress. On the tenth day of the Second Month Genji holds a competition to determine the incense she will use at court. He gathers scents from several people and calls on his brother, Prince Hotaru, to judge them. In the Fourth Month, Princess Akashi is presented at court.
Synopsis
The date approaches for the Akashi Princess to enter the service of the Crown Prince. Genji hurries to prepare for his daughter's mogi (coming-of-age ceremony for girls), which is timed to coincide with the coming of age ceremony of the crown prince. Freed at the end of the first month from pressing obligations, Genji decides to have an incense competition, and he asks the former Kamo Vestal Asagao (his unattainable love in the past) and the Rokujo ladies to mix the necessary fragrances.
The contest is held on the tenth day of the second month, with Prince Hotaru, Genji's brother, as judge. The former Vestal sends a scent called "Kurobo," together with some plum blossoms, and carefully prepared entries arrive in turn from the other ladies as well. Each is equal to the next, and Prince Hotaru lavishes praise on them all. Every incense smells so wonderful that even Hotaru can not decide which is better.
That evening, Ben no Shosho, a son of To no Chujo, who has a beautiful voice, sings "The Plum Tree Branch," accompanied by gagaku music on plucked strings and wind instruments played by Genji, Hotaru, Yugiri and Kashiwagi.
The following day, a splendid mogi for Princess Akashi is held. For women, as for men, the ceremony revolved around the presentation of adult clothing; however, women were presented with a pleated skirt, not a court cap. Empress Akikonomu plays the part of koshi-yui (the person who ties a band around the young woman's waist). On the twentieth, the Crown Prince is likewise initiated into adulthood, and it is arranged that the Akashi Princess will enter his service in the fourth month. As part of her trousseau, Genji gives her a collection of calligraphy models, with some of his own work included. He has a discussion about calligraphy with Prince Hotaru, Murasaki and others.
To no Chujo is still worried about the future of his daughter Kumoi no Kari. Genji is also anxious about Yugiri, who has difficulty getting married, and encourages him indirectly to marry another woman. When Kumoi no Kari hears about this, she is shocked and feels resentment at the indifference of Yugiri. She sends him an angry poem, but Yugiri's feelings for her remain as strong as ever.
The contest is held on the tenth day of the second month, with Prince Hotaru, Genji's brother, as judge. The former Vestal sends a scent called "Kurobo," together with some plum blossoms, and carefully prepared entries arrive in turn from the other ladies as well. Each is equal to the next, and Prince Hotaru lavishes praise on them all. Every incense smells so wonderful that even Hotaru can not decide which is better.
That evening, Ben no Shosho, a son of To no Chujo, who has a beautiful voice, sings "The Plum Tree Branch," accompanied by gagaku music on plucked strings and wind instruments played by Genji, Hotaru, Yugiri and Kashiwagi.
The following day, a splendid mogi for Princess Akashi is held. For women, as for men, the ceremony revolved around the presentation of adult clothing; however, women were presented with a pleated skirt, not a court cap. Empress Akikonomu plays the part of koshi-yui (the person who ties a band around the young woman's waist). On the twentieth, the Crown Prince is likewise initiated into adulthood, and it is arranged that the Akashi Princess will enter his service in the fourth month. As part of her trousseau, Genji gives her a collection of calligraphy models, with some of his own work included. He has a discussion about calligraphy with Prince Hotaru, Murasaki and others.
To no Chujo is still worried about the future of his daughter Kumoi no Kari. Genji is also anxious about Yugiri, who has difficulty getting married, and encourages him indirectly to marry another woman. When Kumoi no Kari hears about this, she is shocked and feels resentment at the indifference of Yugiri. She sends him an angry poem, but Yugiri's feelings for her remain as strong as ever.
Genji-e
The scene most frequently chosen for illustration shows Genji and Prince Hotaru looking at two jars sent by Princess Asagao, one indigo with a pine branch, one white with a plum branch from which most of the blossoms have fallen, and to which the sender has attached a poem.
Reading The Tale of Genji