Tamakazura - The Jewel Garland |
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The year passed. Genji did not forget Yugao of the evening faces, who had died suddenly a long time ago. Her daughter went down to Dazaifu at the age of four, because the nurse's husband had been appointed deputy viceroy of Kyushu and the family had gone off with him to his post. Not knowing of her death, they prayed for information of any sort about the mother. They could not find any way to seek her father, To-no-Chujo. The nurse finally decided that she would keep the child to remember the mother by. When they set off, the child asked "Are we going to mother's?" The nurse and her daughter wept. Years passed. The girl was even prettier than her mother. The young gallant of the region called Taifunogen heard about her and sent letters. Then Taifunogen decided the date of marriage one-sidedly. The nurse and her family set for Kyoto to escape from him. Although they had provided themselves with a fast boat and the winds did good service, and their speed was almost frightening, a pilot found them and almost reached them at Echo Bay. But the pursuit of the gallant was more threatening than that of the pilot. Fortunately, they had escaped from the pilot and Taifunogen and were relieved when they reached the Yodo River. |
Kunichika, 1884 |
Returning to Kyoto more than fifteen or sixteen years later, the family of the nurse found difficulties in living. They prayed for god to save them. In autumn, they made pilgrimages to Hatsuse on foot. The walk was exhausting for the girl. When they lodged at the Tsubaki Market, Ukon happened to be staying in the same place. Looking through an opening in the curtains, she was surprised to find the old familiar faces. Ukon paid visit to the temple every year to pray for the gods to find the girl of the evening faces.
Kunisada, 1852 |
The nurse and Ukon were in tears. The nurse’s party and Ukon arrived in time for the evening services. The temple swarmed with pilgrims. As the seat of the party was far from the front in the temple, invited them to her place almost under the Buddha. She could make this kind of arrangement owing to the special privilege of her master Genji, the chancellor. They stayed there for three days. prayed for good luck for Tamakazura. Ukon told Genji what had happened. He decided to adopt Tamakazura as his daughter and assigned the lady of the orange blossoms to take care of her. On the night when Tamakazura moved into the west wing of the summer quarter, Genji saw her for the first time. When he pushed away the curtain of the porch, she was confused and looked away. But he had seen her enough to be very pleased. He was moved, and brushed away a tear telling that there had been no time through all years when she was out of his mind. |
Genji went to the little princess of Akashi on New Year’s Day. Her page girls and young servants were out on the hill busying themselves with seeding pine to learn the fortune of that year. The Akashi lady had sent over some New Year delicacies in bearded baskets and with them a warbler on a very cleverly fabricated cinquefoil pine branch. A poem was attached saying that she was waiting for the first warbler.
Resumed by Mary Nagase. Published by UNESCO.© UNESCO 2000