Reading The Tale of Genji (49): The Ivy (Yadorigi)

 

Yadorigi

Title

Waley translates "The Mistletoe," Seidensticker and Tyler "The Ivy" and Washburn has "Trees Encoiled in Vines of Ivy."

"Yadorigi" is another name for "tsuta", "ivy." In the poem by Kaoru to Ben no Kimi it is also a pun on "yadoru," "to inhabit".

Chronology

This chapter takes place between the spring when Kaoru is 25 years old to the summer of the next year when he is 26.

Position in the Genji

In this chapter, Prince Niou marries Roku no Kimi, daughter of Yugiri, much to the regret of Naka no Kimi. Kaoru, in turn, continues to make advances toward Naka no Kimi, because her older sister Oigimi, who is now dead, was the unrequited love of his life. Rejecting him, Naka no Kimi tells him of the existence of their half-sister Ukifune, who also resembles the late Oigimi. After being married to the reigning emperor's second daughter Onna Ni no Miya (The Second Princess), Kaoru returns to Uji and sees Ukifune for the first time.

[Yadorigi, by Tosa Mitsunobu. Harvard Art Museums]

Synopsis

During a game of go, the current emperor hints to Kaoru that he wishes to entrust Princess Ni no Miya to him. She has no guardian, as her mother has died just before her coming-of-age ceremony. Kaoru, who has difficulty forgetting Oigimi, agrees reluctantly as he cannot refuse the Emperor's wish.

When Yugiri learns this, he decides to marry his daughter Roku no Kimi to Prince Niou. The 16th day of the Eight Month is set as the date of the marriage ceremony. This comes as a great shock to Naka no Kimi. After his marriage to Roku no Kimi, Niou falls in love with her beauty, and his visits to Naka no Kimi become fewer and fewer, so that she bitterly regrets ever having left Uji. Kaoru sympathizes with her and gradually his feelings turn to love. But in fact, around the Fifth Month Naka no Kimi has become pregnant and when Kaoru sees her maternity sash, he abandons his amorous notions.

Upon his return to his residence, Niou catches the suspicious scent of Kaoru's natural fragrance on his wife. He questions her, but in the end finds himself more in love than ever.

One day, Kaoru tells Naka no Kimi that he wants to have a portrait made of Oigimi and conduct religious services in her memory. Naka no Kimi then tells him of her half-sister, Ukifune. That autumn, Kaoru pays a visit to Uji and questions Ben no KImi about Ukifune's background, asking her to act as go-between.

Towards the end of autumn, Niou again becomes suspicious of Naka no Kimi's relationship with Kaoru, but her loveliness as she plays the lute rekindles deep feelings of love in him. In the Second Month of the following year, Naka no Kimi gives birth to a baby boy.

In the Fourth Month, on his way back from a pilgrimage to Hasedera, Kaoru visits Uji and happens to catch a glimpse of Ukifune (yes, kaimami again!). He is moved by her beauty which is very much like that of Oigimi. 

Genji-e (Information from JAANUS)

Scenes chosen for illustration include: Kaoru playing a game of go with the emperor who obliquely offers him the hand of his daughter; Kaoru, about to go by carriage to visit Naka no Kimi, standing in his garden where morning glories (asagao) and maiden flowers (nadeshiko) are blooming (as in the above illustration); Niou playing the biwa beside the pregnant Naka no Kimi, who leans against an armrest and compares her half-abandoned state to the autumn grasses in the garden below.  　 

Reading The Tale of Genji