Reading The Tale of Genji (44): Bamboo River (Takekawa)

 

 Takekawa

Title

"Bamboo River" is a saibara folk song, that is sung by various persons in this chapter.

All translators have "Bamboo River."

Chronology

Chronologically, "Bamboo River" overlaps with "The Perfumed Prince," "The Maiden of the Bridge" and the first part of "Beneath the Oak," but the story stands completely on its own.

Here we find another parent who seeks to marry off her daughters: Tamakazura, the half-sister of Kobai, for whom Genji acted for a while as guardian (see the "Tamakazura chapters" 22 to 31) - she is now 47 and the widow of Higekuro.

Position in the Genji

After two short chapters which were just vignettes without much story, here we get more meat on the bones. But there is another problem: the chapter does not fit in the chronology and also uses different titles for some of the characters - it clearly was written later, I suppose by Murasaki Shikibu herself, perhaps at a time she couldn't consult her previous manuscript. Moreover, revision of the novel was impossible, as what she wrote was immediately taken from under her hands by the eager ladies-in-waiting (and even palace ministers) around her!

[Takekawa, by Tosa Mitsunobu. Harvard Art Museums]

Synopsis

After Higekuro's death, Tamakazura has been left with her three sons and two daughters - she especially worries about finding suitable husbands for her daughters. But as a matter of fact, both the present Emperor and the Cloistered Emperor Reizei ask Tamakazura to let them marry her eldest daughter, Oigimi, as secondary consort. Tamakazura hesitates, also as both Kaoru and Kurodo (the fifth son of Yugiri, also called by his title "Shosho," "The Lesser Captain") are showing interest in Oigimi. Especially Kurodo is very persistent, even befriending Tamakazura's youngest son to gain an entry into the household.

Towards the end of the First Month, when Kaoru is just fifteen, a group of young people gathers at Tamakazura's residence to sing "Takekawa" in the Saibara style. At that time, Tamakazura realizes that the sound of the wagon (Japanese harp) which Kaoru is playing, is very similar to the style of her deceased elder brother, Kashiwagi (who is in reality Kaoru's father).

At dusk in the Third Month, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the two sisters, Oigimi and Naka no Kimi open the bamboo blinds and play a game of Go - the winner will become the owner of the beautifully blossoming cherry tree in the garden. Via an act of kaimami (peeping), Kurodo secretly observes the informally dressed sisters and his love for Oigimi deepens.

However, Tamakazura decides to let Oigimi marry the Ex-Emperor Reizei. She feels she can't refuse him, as in the past, before she married Higekuro, Reizei was in love with her and she had to disappoint him (so it is a lingering romantic regret that drives her decision). But she makes sure that Reizei's present wives, the Ex-Empress Akikonomu and Secondary wife Kokiden (the daughter of To no Chujo), also approve of this arrangement.

When Kurodo hears this news, he is so disappointed that he appeals to his mother, Kumoi no Kari, to send a letter of protest to Tamakazura. But the promise can't be turned back and in the Fourth Month Oigimi enters the imperial palace. The Cloistered Emperor Reizei shows great affection towards her. On the other hand, the reigning emperor (who is never named in the Genji) is in a bad mood because his wish was not granted. Tamakazura's sons, who all three serve at court, blame her and warn that things may turn out bad for Oigimi.

In the spring of the following year, to the happiness of the Cloistered Emperor (who has only one daughter with Kokiden) Oigimi gives birth to a daughter. Around the same time, Tamakazura decides she has to humor the present emperor as well, so she gives up her palace position of Naishi no Tsukasa, Mistress of Staff, (which for many years has been entirely nominal, as she never went to the palace) to her second daughter, Naka no Kimi, who in this way enters court and in fact becomes a consort of the present emperor.

The Cloistered Emperor Reizei's affection for Oigimi remains strong and a few years later she gives birth to a son - an imperial prince. Reizei is greatly pleased, but Oigimi starts frequently coming back home because of mental exhaustion caused by the slander of the ladies in waiting of Akikonomu and Kokiden, who see her as an interloper. Meanwhile, Naka no Kimi lives in comfort with the present emperor.

Kaoru and Kurodo are steadily promoted to high positions, so when Tamakazura thinks of the unhappiness of Oigimi, she feels a bit sorry for marrying her to Reizei and not one of the younger men... and on that note, the story ends.

P.S. As it is confusing that Tamakazura's daughters are called "Oigimi" and "Naka no Kimi," just like the daughters of the Eight Prince who will appear in the next chapter, Waley changes their names into "Himegimi" and "Wakagimi".
 

Genji-e (Information from JAANUS)

Scenes frequently chosen for illustration include: 1) The serious Kaoru calls on Tamakazura, and while sitting on the veranda next to a plum tree in first bud with a warbler uguisu about to alight, he is teased by some of her ladies who are just behind the blinds. 2) In the Third Month, Yugiri's son, the lieutenant, spies on Tamakazura's daughters playing a game of go, with a blossoming cherry tree in the inner court at stake (as in the above illustration).

Reading The Tale of Genji