Suzumushi
Title
"Suzumushi" means a bell cricket (Homoeogryllus japonicus), though in the Heian period the same term was used for what today is called a pine cricket matsumushi (Xenogryllus marmorata). Bell crickets sing in autumn, and Genji and the Third Princess exchange poems in praise of its song.Seidensctiker and Tyler translate "The Bell Cricket," in the singular, but Washburn has the in my eyes correct plural, "Bell Crickets." For mysterious reasons, the English translation by Arthur Waley does not contain this beautiful chapter.
Chronology
Hikaru Genji, age fifty, from summer to early autumn of the year following "The Flute." Position in the Genji
In summer, a Buddhist service is held to consecrate the sacred image for the private chapel of the Third Princess (her pavilion at the Rokujo Estate has been turned into a Buddhist temple). In autumn, bell crickets are released in her garden in the southeastern residence at Rokujo, and Genji and his courtier friends visit to make music together while watching the full moon of the 15th of the 8th month.
[Suzumushi, by Tosa Mitsunobu. Harvard Art Museums]
Synopsis
In summer a ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist image for the private chapel of the Cloistered Third Princess is held. Her rooms gave been turned into a miniature nunnery. Genji prepares the holy accouterments, and also Murasaki helps with the preparations. Genji has even transcribed the Amida Sutra himself, so that the Third Princess will always have a copy at her disposal. It has taken Genji weeks of diligent work to write out the sutra, and his calligraphic transcription is said to be magnificent. That he should wish to remain in her thoughts this way is in keeping with their tension-filled relationship, in which Genji insists on professing his attraction to his young tonsured wife (McCormick). In fact, Genji now feels regret that he has allowed her to become a nun. The Cloistered Emperor Suzaku recommends her to move to the Sanjo residence which he has given to her, but Genji is reluctant to let her go.In autumn, he changes the front garden of the room of the Third Princess into one which resembles a moor, and releases autumn insects such as bell crickets there. He calls on her in the cool evening breeze and exchanges poems with her. He maintains that the voice of the Third Princess is just as bright and clear as that of the bell cricket.
On the 15th night of August, the night of the full autumn moon, Genji visits the Third Princess again (the Third Princess is distressed by all the attention Genji is giving her, but she cannot tell him how she feels). When Genji plays the kokin (an ancient stringed instrument), Prince Hotaru and Yugiri come over and they have a moon viewing party. Later that night, Emperor Reizei invites them for more moon viewing to his palace, and Genji and the others stay up until dawn enjoying poetry and music. This gathering in the moonlight is one of the few times Genji can meet his imperial son, and it is the last.
The next morning when Genji visits Akikonomu, she tells him that her deceased mother, Rokujo, must have become an evil spirit who has possessed both Murasaki and the Third Princess and is still wandering around without finding rest. Akikonomu confesses that she wants to become a nun to help dissipate the obsessions that bind her mother's spirit to the world. Genji protests against her idea, and recommends that she perform a memorial service for her mother.
Genji-e (Information from JAANUS)
The three main episodes from this chapter which are chosen for illustration are: (1) the dedication of holy images of the chapel by the Third Princess; (2) an informal concert by Genji and his courtier friends at the princess's quarters on the evening of the harvest full moon (as in the above illustration; Genji plays the koto, Prince Hotaru the biwa lute and Yugiri the transverse flute; we also see a hichiriki flute and a sho mouth organ), where the songs of different insects, including bell crickets, are discussed; and (3) later in the same night, another concert at the residence of the Cloistered Emperor Reizei.