Wakana II
Title
Here the term "Wakana," "spring shoots," refers to a later occasion than in the previous chapter. That is the celebration of The Cloistered Emperor Suzaku's fiftieth year, when Genji offers him a banquet containing the new shoots of the traditional plants and herbs of the new year.
Chronology
This
chapter follows in chronological sequence on the previous one, from
Genji's age of forty-one in the third month all the way to the end of his forty-seventh year.
Position in the Genji
There is a gap of seven years between the first and second part of "Wakana." Murasaki falls ill due to her pent-up anger at being replaced by the Third Princess (although she doesn't show it, it eats away at her). While Genji is distracted by nursing her at the Nijo Mansion, Kashiwagi steals in to Rokujo and
makes love to the Third Princess. She becomes pregnant. Genji discovers a
love letter written to her by Kashiwagi, confirming his suspicions. It is the ancient story of "the cuckolder cuckolded." Genji has cuckolded two emperors (not to speaak about all the others): his own father Kiritsubo (with his step-mother Fujitsubo, who also became pregnant) and his half-brother Suzaku (with Oborozukiyo) and now has to undergo the same fate.
[Wakana II, by Tosa Mitsunobu. Harvard Art Museums]
Synopsis
During the gap between this and the previous chapter, the Emperor Reizei has abdicated after eighteen years on the throne and the heir apparent, son of Suzaku and the Shokyoden Consort, who is now 20, ascends to the throne (Emperor Reizei, married to Akikonomu, has no offspring, to Genji's regret - something which Genji blames on his own illicit relation from which Reizei has sprung) - the name of the new emperor is not given by Murasaki Shikibu who just calls him "Kinjo," "the reigning Emperor." The son of Genji's daughter, the Akashi Consort, becomes the new Crown Prince.
Genji's brother, Prince Hotaru, has married Makibashira, the daughter of Higekuro, but their relationship is not good - Hotaru continues regretting that he couldn't marry Tamakazura. Higekuro, meanwhile, has reached the high position of Minister of the Right.
We pick up the story when Genji is 46 years old. On the 20th of the 10th month Genji goes on a pilgrimage to give thanks to the Sumiyoshi Shrine with Murasaki, the Consort, the Akashi Lady and her mother, in a large and imposing procession. He believes he has his present high status and wealth to thank to the Sumiyoshi deity.
Genji is planning a celebration in honor of the Cloistered Emperor Suzaku's fiftieth birthday (there is a 4 year age difference between Suzaku and Genji). In preparation, in the first month of the new year Genji trains the Third Princess in playing the koto. As a rehearsal, he assembles the Rokujo ladies and has them perform a gorgeous concert.
Immediately after the concert, Murasaki suddenly falls ill, and is moved to the Nijo mansion (her favorite home among Genji's real estate, as she here started life with Genji). Genji takes great care of her. Suzaku's jubilee event is postponed.
Kashiwagi has married the elder sister of the Third Princess, Second Princess Ochiba, but he can't control his longing for the Third Princess. One day, at the beginning of the fourth month, when Genji is away nursing Murasaki at the Nijo mansion, he steals in on the Third Princess and forces her to sleep with him, making her pregnant.
In the 6th month, Murasaki's condition improves a little. Genji allows her to receive the Buddhist precepts for laymen. The Third Princess is pregnant with Kashiwagi's child.
Meanwhile, Oborozukiyo, with whom Genji has restarted relations in the previous chapter, decides to become a nun.
The Akashi Consort, Genji's daughter, gives birth to Niou (her second son).
Around the 10th of the 12th month, the rehearsal for Suzaku's jubilee finally takes place. Genji, who has learned about Kashiwagi's relations with his wife from a letter he wrote to the Third Princess, also invites Kashiwagi. Kashiwagi is so horrified by Genji's sarcastic remarks and reproachful looks that afterwards he falls seriously ill. I looks could kill...
On the 25th of the 12th month, Suzaku's jubilee event is finally held.
Genji's brother, Prince Hotaru, has married Makibashira, the daughter of Higekuro, but their relationship is not good - Hotaru continues regretting that he couldn't marry Tamakazura. Higekuro, meanwhile, has reached the high position of Minister of the Right.
We pick up the story when Genji is 46 years old. On the 20th of the 10th month Genji goes on a pilgrimage to give thanks to the Sumiyoshi Shrine with Murasaki, the Consort, the Akashi Lady and her mother, in a large and imposing procession. He believes he has his present high status and wealth to thank to the Sumiyoshi deity.
Genji is planning a celebration in honor of the Cloistered Emperor Suzaku's fiftieth birthday (there is a 4 year age difference between Suzaku and Genji). In preparation, in the first month of the new year Genji trains the Third Princess in playing the koto. As a rehearsal, he assembles the Rokujo ladies and has them perform a gorgeous concert.
Immediately after the concert, Murasaki suddenly falls ill, and is moved to the Nijo mansion (her favorite home among Genji's real estate, as she here started life with Genji). Genji takes great care of her. Suzaku's jubilee event is postponed.
Kashiwagi has married the elder sister of the Third Princess, Second Princess Ochiba, but he can't control his longing for the Third Princess. One day, at the beginning of the fourth month, when Genji is away nursing Murasaki at the Nijo mansion, he steals in on the Third Princess and forces her to sleep with him, making her pregnant.
In the 6th month, Murasaki's condition improves a little. Genji allows her to receive the Buddhist precepts for laymen. The Third Princess is pregnant with Kashiwagi's child.
Meanwhile, Oborozukiyo, with whom Genji has restarted relations in the previous chapter, decides to become a nun.
The Akashi Consort, Genji's daughter, gives birth to Niou (her second son).
Around the 10th of the 12th month, the rehearsal for Suzaku's jubilee finally takes place. Genji, who has learned about Kashiwagi's relations with his wife from a letter he wrote to the Third Princess, also invites Kashiwagi. Kashiwagi is so horrified by Genji's sarcastic remarks and reproachful looks that afterwards he falls seriously ill. I looks could kill...
On the 25th of the 12th month, Suzaku's jubilee event is finally held.
Genji-e (Information from JAANUS)
In the scene illustrated above, we see Genji with the sick Murasaki, quietly conversing with her in the Nijo Mansion. Note the lotus flowers in the pond, a Buddhist symbol. Dew on lotus leaves is a symbol of transience.
Another scene often chosen for illustration shows Kashiwagi sitting on the veranda petting the Third Princess's cat which he has borrowed to assuage his unrequited love. A music concert by the ladies of the Rokujo mansion is also sometimes depicted.
Another scene often chosen for illustration shows Kashiwagi sitting on the veranda petting the Third Princess's cat which he has borrowed to assuage his unrequited love. A music concert by the ladies of the Rokujo mansion is also sometimes depicted.