Yadorigi - The Ivy |
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Kaoru came to the palace as ordered. The emperor pulled up a Go board. "There is something I might wager", said the emperor, "but I am not quite sure that I have the courage". The emperor secretly wanted Kaoru to take the Second Princess as a wife. The emperor lost the game and told Kaoru, "I will let you break off a blossom." Immediately guessing what he meant, Kaoru went down into garden and broke one of the chrysanthemums. Returning, he offered a cautious verse, saying that if he had found an uncommon flower, he would pluck it in a suitable way.
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Kuniyoshi, 1845/46 |
The marriage was arranged between Niou and Rokunokimi, the sixth daughter of Yugiri. Nakanokimi was filled with sorrow. Kaoru came to comfort her. Astonished by the resemblance between the two sisters, his regret increased to have refused Nakanokimi in spite of Oigimi's wish. She had wanted Kaoru to marry her sister. He bought a morning glory that still preserved the dew and thrust it under the blind. He recited a poem of regret, comparing their relationship to that of dew and flower. Nakanokimi felt herself like the dew left behind after the death of a flower. On the night of her marriage with Rokunokimi, Niou left Nakanokimi with words of comfort. Her anguish increased while she was looking up at the rising clear moon, which was the same moon of the "Mount Women Forsaken". This refers to the mountains where old women were abandoned. The sound of a pine breeze penetrated her mind violently. Although life in the Uji village was severe, she thought that she had never before experienced such a strong autumn wind as this. She longed for the life she had led at Uji. |
The nuptial ceremony was held at the residence of Yugiri. The room was prepared at the southeast corner of the main hall. Invited by Yugiri, Kaoru participated in the banquet. It was after dark when Niou made his appearance. The cups were emptied one after another. When Kaoru refilled the cup of Niou, he smiled to cover his embarrassment. No doubt he was remembering his own complaints about the excessively proper household.
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Troubled once more by insomnia, Kaoru went to the room of a certain Azechi and there passed the night. He had many servants who consoled him. He left her room at midnight to hide from the eyes of others. Azechi was evidently annoyed. Trying to cheat her, he wrote a poem of farewell and made an excuse to leave, saying that he could not miss the chance to see a beautiful moon like this. Spreading confusion behind him, he made his departure. The end of the Ninth Month, Kaoru visited Uji. He talked with the nun Benn about his longing for the old days. He heard from her that there was a girl called Ukifune who was a stepsister of Oigimi. She was pretty and resembled Oigimi. Fascinated by these remarks, Kaoru asked her to pass on his message to the girl. Kaoru stayed there overnight. As he prepared to leave in the morning, he gave gifts to the nun and the priests. Viewing the beautiful autumn leaves that covered the earth, he could not leave there easily. He ordered one sprig of ivy climbing the trees to be broken, thinking that even so small a gift would please Nakanokimi. |
Kunichika, 1884 |
Nakanokimi gave birth to a prince. A gorgeous celebration was prepared, which proved that the status of Nakanokimi was secured. At the celebration on the fifth night, Kaoru took the initiative. To Nakanokimi he sent thirty trays on stands and five sets of swaddling clothes, which were all elaborately made. There was nothing grand about these gifts, but close inspection revealed an uncommonly fine taste.
In the Second Month, Kaoru took the Second Princess of the emperor for his bride. At first, Kaoru visited her in the palace. Later, the Second Princess was allowed to move to Kaoru’s mansion. On the day before her removal, the emperor was hosting a wisteria-viewing banquet. People were surprised at this extraordinary marriage, in which a princess of an emperor became a bride while he was still in his reign. The Lord Inspector, Azechidainagon, who was the eldest son of the late To-no-Chujo, was jealous about the luck of Kaoru, for he had wanted to marry the mother of the Second Princess in the past but was unable to. The concert for the banquet continued until midnight. Each guest was asked to write poems and put them on the lectern that had been prepared at the corner of the south garden. Some toasted the glory of the emperor and others the prosperous future of Kaoru. In the middle of the highest festivity, Kaoru was still not happy. He was sunk in loneliness.
Toward the end of the Fourth Month, Kaoru set out for Uji to inspect the process of building the chapel. A procession of woman’s carriages was just then coming across the bridge at Uji. Guarded by a band of rough East Country soldiers and servants, it was obvious that a provincial lady was inside. Kaoru sent to ask who she might be. The answer came that the daughter of the old governor of Hitachi had been to the temple of Hatsuse. Kaoru had happened to come across the girl about whom the nun told him the other day. Kaoru tried to see her secretly.
Resumed by Mary Nagase. Published by UNESCO.© UNESCO 2000