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DIARIES OF
COURT LADIES OF OLD JAPAN
COURT lady's full DRESS IN THE HEIAN PERIOD
(For explanation see List of Illustrations)
DIARIES OF
COURT LADIES OF OLD JAPAN
TRANSLATED BY
ANNIE SHEPLEY OMORI
^""''^ AND
KOCHI DOI
Lecturer in the Imperial University, Tokio
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
AMY LOWELL
And with Illustrations
LonHon
CONSTABLE ^ CO. Limited
PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON & CO.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
U. S. A.
TRANSLATORS' NOTE
The poems in the text, slight and occasional as they
are, depending often for their charm on plays upon
words of two meanings, or on the suggestions con-
veyed to the Japanese mind by a single word, have
presented problems of great difficulty to the transla-
tors, not perfectly overcome.
Izumi Shikibu's Diary is written with extreme
delicacy of treatment. English words and thought
seem too downright a medium into which to ren-
der these evanescent, half-expressed sentences and
poems — vague as the misty mountain scenery of
her country, with no pronouns at all, and without
verb inflections. The shy reserve of the lady's writ-
ten record has induced the use of the third person as
the best means of suggesting it.
Of the "Sarashina Diary" there exist a few manu-
script copies, and three or four publications of the
text. Some of them are confused and unreadably
incoherent. The present translation was done by
comparing all the texts accessible, and is especially
founded on the connected text by Mr. Sakine, pro-
fessor of the Girls' Higher Normal School, Tokio,
published by Meiji Shoin, Itchome Nishiki-cho,
Kanda-ku, Tokio. As far as possible the exact mean-
ing has been adhered to, and the words chosen to ex-
press it have been kept absolutely simple, without
complexity of thought, for such is the vocabulary in
Translators Note
which it was written. Sometimes the diarist uses the
present tense, sometimes the text seems reminiscent.
The words in square brackets have been inserted by
the translators to complete the sense in English of
sentences which literally rendered do not carry with
them the suggestion of the Japanese text.
CONTENTS
Introduction by Amy Lowell a
I. The Sarashina Diary I
II. The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu 69
III. The Diary of Izumi Shikibu 147
Appendix 197
ILLUSTRATIONS
Court Lady's Full Dress in the Heian Period
Colored Frontispiece
From Kokushi DaijtUn, by kind permission of Mr. H. Yoshi-
kawa. The figure was drawn for the purpose of showing the de-
tails of dress and therefore gives no indication of the grace and
elegance of the costume as worn. It shows the red karaginu, or
over-garment; the dark-green robe trimmed with folds, called
the uchigi; the saishi, or head-ornament, in this case of gold
but sometimes of silver; the unlined under-garment of thin silk;
the red hakama, or divided skirt; and the train of white silk
painted or stained in colors.
"It was all in flower and yet no tidings from her" 1 6
KiCHo: Front and Back Views 20
A Nobleman's House and Grounds in the Azumaya
Style: Plan of Buildings and Garden 26
Three Kicho put together 44
Old Print of a Nobleman's Dwelling in the Azu-
maya Style 72
From an old book.
Court Dress of Military Official (in color) 90
From Kokushi Daijiten, by kind permission of Mr. H. Yoshi-
kawa. The figure shows the zui, or ornament of the head-strap
holding the head-dress in place; also the method of rolling up the
gauze flap of the head-dress. Tucked into the red state coat ap-
pear a half-spread fan and some folded sheets of paper, and at
the back is seen a quiver made of lacquered wood. Underneath
the red coat the hakama is shown. The shoes are of Chinese
pattern.
Royal Dais and Kicho, Sudare, etc. 104
From old prints.
iz
Illustrations
A Nobleman's Carriage lio
Screened Dais prepared for Royalty 144
From a print in an old book.
"His Highness came in a humble palanquin 152
"The lady got up and saw the misty sky" 172
"Strangely wet are the sleeves of the arm-
pillow" 176
"In the daytime courtiers came to see him** 192
INTRODUCTION
By Amy Lowell
The Japanese have a convenient method of calling
their historical periods by the names of the places
which were the seats of government while they lasted.
The first of these epochs of real importance is the
Nara Period, which began a.d. 710 and endured until
794; all before that may be classed as archaic. Pre-
vious to the Nara Period, the Japanese had been a
semi-nomadic race. As each successive Mikado came
to the throne, he built himself a new palace, and
founded a new capital; there had been more than
sixty capitals before the Nara Period. Such shifting
was not conducive to the development of literature
and the arts, and it was not until a permanent govern-
ment was established at Nara that these began to
flourish. This is scarcely the place to trace the history
of Japanese literature, but fully to understand these
charming "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan," It
is necessary to know a little of the world they lived
in, to be able to feel their atmosphere and recognize
their allusions.
We know a good deal about Japan to-day, but the
Japan with which we are familiar only slightly re-
sembles that of the Diaries. Centuries of feudalism,
of "Dark Ages," have come between. We must go
behind all this and begin again. We have all heard
of the "Forty-seven Ronins" and the N5 Drama, of
xi
Introduction
Sh5guns, Daimios, and Samurais, and many of us live
in daily communion with Japanese prints. It gives us
pause to reflect that the earliest of these things is
almost as many centuries ahead of the Ladies as it is
behind us. "Shogun" means simply "General," and
of course there were always generals, but the power
of the Shoguns, and the military feudalism of which
the Daimios and their attendant Samurais were a
part, did not really begin until the middle of the
twelfth century and did not reach its full develop-
ment until the middle of the fourteenth; the N5
Drama started with the ancient religious pantomimic
dance, the Kagura, but not until words were added
in the fourteenth century did it become the No; and
block colour printing was first practised in 1695,
while such famous print artists as Utamaro, Hokusai,
and Hiroshige are all products of the eighteenth or
early nineteenth centuries. To find the Ladies behind
the dark military ages, we must go back a long way,
even to the century before their own, and so gain a
sort of perspective for them and their time.
Chinese literature and civilization were introduced
into Japan somewhere between 270 and 3 10 a.d., and
Buddhism followed in 552. Of course, all such dates
must be taken with a certain degree of latitude;
Oriental historians are anything but precise in these
matters. Chinese influence and Buddhism are the
two enormous facts to be reckoned with in under-
standing Japan, and considering what an effect they
have had, it is not a little singular that Japan has
always been able to preserve her native character.
xii
Introduction
To be sure, Shintoism was never displaced by Bud-
dhism, but the latter made a tremendous appeal to
the Japanese temperament, as the Diaries show. In
fact, it was not until the Meiji Period (1867-19 12)
that Shintoism was again made the state religion.
With the introduction of Chinese civilization came
the art of writing, when is not accurately known, but
printing from movable blocks followed from Korea
in the eighth century. As was inevitable under the
circumstances, Chinese came to be considered the
language of learning. Japanese scholars wrote in
Chinese. All the "serious" books — history, theol-
ogy, science, law — were written in Chinese as a
matter of course. But, in 712, a volume called
"Records of Ancient Matters" was compiled in the
native tongue. It is the earliest book in Japanese
now extant.
If the scholars wrote in a borrowed language, the
poets knew better. They wrote in their own. and the
poetry of the Nara Period has been preserved for us
in an anthology, the "Manyoshu" or "Collection of
One Thousand Leaves." This was followed at the
beginning of the tenth century by the "Kokinshu"
("Ancient and Modern Poems"), to which, however,
the editor, Tsurayuki, felt obliged to write a Chinese
preface. The Ladies of the Diaries were extremely
familiar with these volumes, their own writings are
full of allusions to poems contained in them; Sei-
Shonagon, writing early in the eleventh century,
describes a young lady's education as consisting
of writing, music, and the twenty volumes of the
xiii
Introduction
"Kokinshu." So it came about that while learned
gentlemen still continued to write in Chinese, poetry,
fiction, diaries, and desultory essays called "Zui-
hitsu " (Following the Pen) were written in Japanese.
Now the position of women at this time was very
different from what it afterwards became in the feudal
period. The Chinese called Japan the "Queen
Country," because of the ascendancy which women
enjoyed there. They were educated, they were al-
lowed a share of inheritance, and they had their own
houses. It is an extraordinary and important fact
that much of the best literature of Japan has been
written by women. Three of these most remarkable
women are the authors of the Diaries; a fourth to be
named with them, Sei-Shonagon, to whom I have
just referred, was a contemporary.
In 794, tlie capital was moved from Nara to Kioto,
which was given the name of "Heian-jo" or "City of
Peace," and with the removal, a new period, the
Heian, began. It lasted until 1186, and our Ladies
lived in the very middle of it.
By this time Japan was thoroughly civilized; she
was, indeed, a little over-civilized, a little too fined
down and delicate. At least this is true of all that life
which centred round the court at Kioto. To histo-
rians the Heian Period represents the rise and fall
of the Fujiwara family. This powerful family had
served the Mikados from time out of mind as heads
of the Shinto priests, and after the middle of the sev-
enth century, they became ministers or prime min-
isters. An inmiense clan, they gradually absorbed
xiv
Introduction
all the civil officee in the Kingdom, while the military
offices were filled by the Taira and Minamoto fam-
ilies. It was the rise of these last as the Fujiwara
declined which eventually led to the rule of the
Shoguns and the long centuries of feudalism and civil
war. But in the middle of the Heian Period the
Fujiwara were very much everywhere. Most of those
Court ladies who were the authors of remarkable
books were the daughters of governors of provinces,
and that meant Fujiwaras to a greater or lesser degree.
At that time polygamy flourished in Japan, and the
family had grown to a prodigious size. Since a civil
office meant a post for a Fujiwara, many of them were
happily provided for, but they were so numerous that
they outnumbered the legitimate positions and others
had to be created to fill the demand. The Court was
full of persons of both sexes holding sinecures, with
a great deal of time on their hands and nothing to do
in it but write poetry, which they did exceedingly
well, and attend the various functions prescribed by
etiquette. Ceremonials were many and magnificent,
and poetry writing became, not only a game, but a
natural adjunct to every possible event. The Japan-
ese as a nation are dowered with a rare and exquisite
taste, and in the Heian Period taste was cultivated
to an amazing degree. Murasaki Shikibu records the
astounding pitch to which it had reached in a passage
in her diary. Speaking of the Mikado's ladies at a
court festivity, she says of the dress of one of them;
"One had a little fault in the colour combination at
the wrist opening. When she went before the Royal
XV
Introduction
presence to fetch something, the nobles and high
officials noticed it. Afterwards Lady Saisho regretted
it deeply. It was not so bad; only one colour was a
little too pale."
That passage needs no comment; it is completely
illuminating. It is a paraphrase of the whole era.
Kioto was a little city, long one way by some seven-
teen thousand odd feet, or about three and a third
miles, wide the other by fifteen thousand, or approxi-
mately another three miles, and it is doubtful if the
space within the city wall was ever entirely covered
by houses. The Palace was built in the so-called
Azumaya style, a form of architecture which was also
followed in noblemen's houses. The roof, or rather
roofs, for there were many buildings, was covered
with bark, and, inside, the divisions into rooms were
made by different sorts of moving screens. At the
period of the Diaries, the reigning Mikado, Ichijo,
had two wives: Sadako, the first queen, was the
daughter of a previous prime minister, Michitaka, a
Fujiwara, of course; the other, Akiko, daughter of
Michinaga, the prime minister of the Diaries and a
younger brother of Michitaka, was second queen or
Chugu. These queens each occupied a separate house
in the Palace. Kokiden was the name of Queen
Sadako's house; Fujitsubu the name of Queen Aki-
ko's. The rivalry between these ladies was naturally
great, and extended even to their entourage. Each
strove to surround herself with ladies who were not
only beautiful, but learned. The bright star of Queen
Sadako's court was Sei-Shonagon, the author of a
xvi
Introduction
remarkable book, the "Makura no Soshi" or "Pillow
Sketches," while Murasaki Shikibu held the same
exalted position In Queen Akiko's.
We are to imagine a court founded upon the Chi-
nese model, but not nearly so elaborate. A brilliant
assemblage of persons all playing about a restricted
but very bright centre. From it, the high officials
went out to be governors of distant provinces, and
the lesser ones followed them to minor posts, but in
spite of the distinction of such positions, distance and
the Inconvenience of travelling made the going a sort
of laurelled banishment. These gentlemen left Kioto
with regret and returned with satisfaction. But the
going, and the years of residence away, was one of
the commonplaces of social life. Fujiwara though
one might be, one often had to wait and scheme for
an office, and the Diaries contain more than one
reference to such waiting and the bitter disappoint-
ment when the office was not up to expectation.
These functionaries travelled with a large train of
soldiers and servants, but, with the best will In the
world, these last could not make the journeys other
than tedious and uncomfortable. Still there were
alleviations, because of the very taste of which I have
spoken. The scenery was often beautiful, and whether
the traveller were the Governor himself or his daugh-
ter, he noticed and delighted in it. The "Sarashina
Diary" is full of this appreciation of nature. We are
told of "a very beautiful beach with long-drawn
white waves," of a torrent whose water was "white
as If thickened with rice flour." We need only think
xvii
Introduction
of the prints with which we are familiar to be con-
vinced of the accuracy of this picture: "The waves of
the outer sea were very high, and we could see them
through the pine-trees which grew scattered over the
sandy point which stretched between us and the sea.
They seemed to strike across the ends of the pine
branches and shone like jewels." The diarist goes on
to remark that "it was an interesting sight," which
we can very well believe, since certainly she makes
us long to see it.
These journeys were mostly made on horseback,
but there were other methods of progression, which,
however, were probably not always feasible for long
distances. The nobles used various kinds of carriages
drawn by one bullock, and there were also palanquins
carried by bearers.
It was not only the officials who made journeys, all
the world made them to temples and shrines for the
good of their souls. There are religious yearnings in
all the Diaries, and many Mikados and gentlemen
entered the priesthood, Michinaga among them.
Sutra recitation and incantation were ceaselessly per-
formed at Court. We can gain some idea of the al-
most fanatical hold which Buddhism had over the
educated mind by the fact that the Fujiwara family
built such great temples as Gokurakuji, Hosohoji,
Hokoin, Jomyoji, Muryoju-in, etc. It is recorded
that Mikado Shirakawa, at a date somewhat subse-
quent to the Diaries, made pilgrimages four times to
Kumano, and during his visits there "worshipped
5470 painted Buddhas, 127 carved Buddhas sixteen
xviii
Introduction
feet high, 3150 Buddhas life-sized, 2930 carved Bud-
dhas shorter than three feet, 21 pagodas, 446,630
miniature pagodas." A busy man truly, but the rec-
ord does not mention what became of the affairs of
state meanwhile. That this worship was by no means
lip-devotion merely, any reader of the "Sarashina
Diary" can see; that it was mixed with much super-
stition and a profound belief in dreams is also abun-
dantly evident. But let us, for a moment, recollect
the time. It will place the marvel of this old, careful
civilization before us as nothing else can.
To be sure, Greece and Rome had been, but they
had passed away, or at least their greatness had, gone
and apparently left no trace. While these Japanese
ladies were writing, Europe was in the full blackness
of her darkest ages. Germany was founding the
"Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation," char-
acteristically founding it with the mailed fist; Moor-
ish civilization was at its height in Spain; Robert
Capet was king of poor famine-scourged France;
Ethelred the Unready was ruling in England and
doing his best to keep off the Danes by payment and
massacre. Later, while the "Sarashina Diary" was
being written, King Canute was sitting in his arm-
chair and giving orders to the sea. Curious, curious
world! So far apart from the one of the Diaries. And
to think that even five hundred years later Columbus
was sending letters into the interior of Cuba, ad-
dressed to the Emperor of Japan!
These Diaries show us a world extraordinarily like
our own, if very unlike in more than one important
XIX
Introduction
particular. The noblemen and women of Mikado
Ichljo's Court were poets and writers of genius, their
taste as a whole has never been surpassed by any
people at any time, but their scientific knowledge
was elementary in the extreme. Diseases and con-
flagrations were frequent. In a space of fifty-one
years, the Royal Palace burnt down eleven times.
During the same period, there were four great pesti-
lences, a terrible drought, and an earthquake. Rob-
bers infested many parts of the country, and were a
constant fear to travellers and pilgrims. Childbirth
was very dangerous. The picture of the birth of a
child to Queen Akiko, with which Murasaki Shikibu's
Diary begins, shows us all its bitter horror. From
page to page we share the writer's suspense, and with
our greater knowledge, it is with a sense of wonder
that we watch the queen's return to health.
But, after all, diseases and conflagrations are sel-
dom more than episodes in a normal life lived under
sane conditions, and it is just because these Diaries
reflect the real life of these three ladies that they are
important. The world they portray is in most ways
quite as advanced as our own, and in some, much
more so. Rice was the staple of food, and although
Buddhistic sentiment seldom permitted people to eat
the flesh of animals, they had an abundance of fish,
which was eaten boiled, baked, raw, and pickled, and
a quantity of fruits and nuts. There was no sugar,
but cakes were made of fruit and nuts, and there was
always rice-wine or sake. Gentlefolk usually dressed
in silk. They wore many layers of coloured garments.
Introduction
and delighted In the harmony produced by the colour
combinations of silk over silk, or of a bright lining
subdued by the tone of an outer robe. The ladies all
painted their faces, and the whole toilet was a matter
of sufficient moment to raise it into a fine art. Many
of these lovely dresses are described by Murasaki
Shikibu, for instance: *'The beautiful shape of their
hair, tied with bands, was like that of the beauties
in Chinese pictures. Lady Saemon held the King's
sword. She wore a blue-green patternless karaginu
and shaded train with floating bands and belt of
'floating thread' brocade dyed in dull red. Her outer
robe was trimmed with five folds and was chrysan-
themum coloured. The glossy silk was of crimson;
her figure and movement, when we caught a glimpse
of it, was flower-like and dignified. Lady Ben-no-
Naishi held the box of the King's seals. Her uchigi
was grape-coloured. She is a very small and smile-
giving person and seemed shy and I was sorry for
her. . . . Her hair bands were blue-green. Her appear-
ance suggested one of the ancient dream-maidens
descended from heaven." A little later she tells us
that "the beaten stuffs were like the mingling of dark
and light maple leaves in Autumn"; and, describing
in some detail the festivity at which these ladies ap-
peared, she makes the comment that "only the right
body-guard wore clothes of shrimp pink." To one in
love with colour, these passages leave a very nostalgia
for the bright and sophisticated Court where such
things could be.
And everywhere, everywhere, there is poetry. A
xxi
Introduction
gentleman hands a lady a poem on the end of his fan
and she is expected to reply in kind within the instant.
Poems form an important part in the ritual of be-
trothal. A daughter of good family never allowed her-
self to be seen by men (a custom which appears to
have admitted many exceptions). A man would write
a poetical love-letter to the lady of his choice which
she must answer amiably, even should she have no
mind to him. If, however, she were happily inclined,
he would visit her secretly at night and leave before
daybreak. He would then write again, following
which she would give a banquet and introduce him to
her family. After this, he could visit her openly, al-
though she would still remain for some time in her
father's house. This custom of love-letter writing and
visiting is shown in Izumi Shikibu's Diary. Obviously
the poems were short, and here, in order to understand
those in the text, it may be well to consider for a mo-
ment in what Japanese poetry consists.
Japanese is a syllabic language like our own, but,
unlike our own, it is not accented. Also, every syllable
ends with a vowel, the consequence being that there
are only five rhymes in the whole language. Since the
employment of so restricted a rhyme scheme would be
unbearably monotonous, the Japanese hit upon the
happy idea of counting syllables. Our metrical verse
also counts syllables, but we combine them into dif-
ferent kinds of accented feet. Without accent, this was
not possible, so the Japanese poet limits their number
and uses them in a pattern of alternating lines. His
prosody is based upon the numbers five and seven, a
xxii
Introduction
five-syllable line alternating with one of seven sylla-
bles, with, in some forms, two seven-syllable lines
together at the end of a period, in the manner of our
couplet. The favourite form, the "tanka," is in thirty-
one syllables, and runs five, seven, five, seven, seven.
There is a longer form, the "naga-uta," but it has
never been held in as high favour. The poems in the
Diaries are all tankas in the original. It can be seen
that much cannot be said in so confined a medium,
but much can be suggested, and it is just in this art of
suggestion that the Japanese excel. The "hokku" is
an even briefer form. In it, the concluding hemistich
of the tanka is left off, and it is just in his hemistich
that the meaning of the poem is brought out, so that
the hokku is a mere essence, a whiif of an idea to be
created in full by the hearer. But the hokku was not
invented until the fifteenth century; before that, the
tanka, in spite of occasional attempts to vary it by
adding more lines, changing their order, using the
pattern in combination as a series of stanzas, etc.,
reigned practically supreme, and it is still the chief
classic form for all Japanese poetry.
Having briefly washed in the background of the
Diaries, we must notice, for a moment, the three re-
markable ladies who are the foreground.
Murasaki Shiklbu was the daughter of Fujiwara
Tametoki, a scion of a junior branch of the famous
family. She was born in 978. Murasaki was not her
real name, which was apparently To Shikibu (Shikibu
is a title) derived from that of her father. There are
two legends about the reason for her receiving the
xxiii
Introduction
name Murasaki. One is that she was given it in play-
ful allusion to her own heroine in the "Genji Monoga-
tari," who was called Murasaki. The other legend is
more charming. It seems that her mother was one of
the nurses of Mikado Ichijo, who was so fond of her
that he gave her daughter this name, in reference to
a well-known poem:
" When the purple grass (Murasaki) is in full colour,
One can scarcely perceive the other plants in the field."
From the Murasaki grass, the word has come to mean
a colour which includes all the shades of purple, violet,
and lavender. In 996, or thereabouts, she accompa-
nied her father to the Province of Echizen, of which he
had become governor. A year later, she returned to
Kioto, and, within a twelvemonth, married another
Fujiwara, Nobutaka. The marriage seems to have
been most happy, to judge from the constant expres-
sions of grief in her Diary for her husband's death,
which occurred in looi, a year in which Japan suf-
fered from a great pestilence. A daughter was born to
them in 1000. From her husband's death, until 1005,
she seems to have lived in the country, but in this year
she joined the Court as one of Queen Akiko's ladies;
before that, however (and again I must insist that
these early dates are far from determined), she had
made herself famous, not only for her own time, but
for all time, by writing the first realistic novel of Japan.
This book is the "Genji Monogatari" or "Narrative
of Genji."
Hitherto, Japanese authors had confined them-
xidv
Introduction
selves to stories of no great length, and which relied
for their interest on a fairy or wonder element. The
"Genji Monogatari " struck out an entirely new di-
rection. It depicted real life in Ki5to as a contempo-
rary gentleman might have lived it. It founded its
interest on the fact that people like to read about
themselves, but this, which seems to us a common-
place, was a glaring innovation when Murasaki Shi-
kibu attempted it; it was, in fact, the flash from a
mind of genius. The book follows the life of Prince
Genji from his birth to his death at the age of fifty-
one, and the concluding books of the series pursue the
career of one of his sons. It is an enormous work, com-
prising no less than fifty-four books and running to
over four thousand pages — the genealogical tree of
the personages alone is eighty pages long — but no
reader of the Diary will need to be convinced that the
"Genji" is not merely sprightly and captivating, but
powerful as well. The lady was shrewd, and if she were
also kindly and very attractive, nevertheless she saw
with an uncompromising eye. Her critical faculty
never sleeps, and takes in the minutest detail of any-
thing she sees, noting unerringly every little rightness
and wrongness connected with it. She watches the
approach of the Mikado, and touches the matter so
that we get its exact shade: "When the Royal palan-
quin drew near, the bearers, though they were rather
honourable persons, bent their heads in absolute hu-
mility as they ascended the steps. Even in the highest
society there are grades of courtesy, but these men
were too humble."
XXV
Introduction
No one with such a gift can fall to be lonely, and
MurasakI Shikibu seems very lonely, but It is not the
passionate rebellion of Izumi Shikibu, nor the abiding
melancholy of the author of the "Sarashina Diary";
rather Is it the disillusion of one who has seen much of
the world, and knows how little companionship she
may expect ever to find: "It is useless to talk with
those who do not understand one and troublesome to
talk with those who criticize from a feeling of superior-
ity. Especially one-sided persons are troublesome.
Few are accomplished in many arts and most cling
narrowly to their own opinion."
I have already shown Murasaki Shiklbu's beauti-
ful taste in dress, but indeed it is in everything. When
she says "The garden [on a moonlight night] was ad-
mirable," we know that it must have been of an ex-
traordinary perfection.
The Diary proves her dramatic sense, as the
"Genji" would also do could it find so sympathetic
a translator. No wonder, then, that it leapt Into in-
stant fame. There is a pretty legend of her writing the
book at the Temple of Ishlyama at the southern end
of Lake BIwa. The tale gains verisimilitude in the eyes
of visitors by the fact that they are shown the cham-
ber in the temple in which she wrote and the ink-slab
she used, but, alas! it Is not true. We do not know
where she wrote, nor even exactly when. The "Genji "
is supposed to have been begun In 1002, and most
commentators believe it to have been finished in 1004.
That she should have been called to Court in the fol-
lowing year, seems extremely natural. Queen Akiko
xxvi
Introduction
must have counted herself most fortunate in having
among her ladles so famous a person.
The Diary tells the rest, the Diary which was begun
in 1007. We know no more of Murasaki Shikibu ex-
cept that no shade of scandal ever tinged her name.
One of the strangest and most interesting things
about the Diaries is that their authors were such very
different kinds of people. Izumi Shikibu is as unlike
Murasaki Shikibu as could well happen. As different
as the most celebrated poet of her time is likely to be
from the most celebrated novelist, for Izumi Shikibu
is the greatest woman poet which Japan has had. The
author of seven volumes of poems, this Diary is the
only prose writing of hers which is known. It is an
intimate account of a love affair which seems to have
been more than usually passionate and pathetic.
Passionate, provocative, enchanting, it is evident that
Izumi Shikibu could never have been the discriminat-
ing observer, the critic of manners, which Murasaki
Shikibu became. Life was powerless to mellow so vivid
a personality; but neither could it subdue it. She gives
us no suggestion of resignation. She lived intensely,
as her Diary shows; she always had done so, and
doubtless she always did. We see her as untamable, a
genius compelled to follow her inclinations. Difficult
to deal with, maybe, like strong wine, but wonder-
fully stimulating.
Izumi Shikibu was bom in 974. She was the eldest
daughter of Oe Masamune, another Governor of
Echizen. In 995, she married Tachibana Michisada,
Governor of Izumi, hence her name. From this gentle-
xxvii
Introduction
man she was divorced, but just when we do not know,
and he died shortly after, probably during the great
pestilence which played such havoc throughout Japan
and in which Murasaki Shikibu's husband had also
died. Her daughter, who followed in her mother's
footsteps as a poet, had been born in 997. But Izumi
Shikibu was too fascinating and too petulant to nurse
her disappointment in a chaste seclusion. She became
the mistress of Prince Tametaka, who also died in
1002. It is very soon after this event that the Diary
begins. Her new lover was Prince Atsumichi, and the
Diary seems to have been written solely to appease
her mind, and to record the poems which passed be-
tween them and which Izumi Shikibu evidently re-
garded as the very essence of their souls.
In the beginning, the affair was carried on with the
utmost secrecy, but clandestine meetings could not
satisfy the lovers, and at last the Prince persuaded her
to take up her residence in the South Palace as one of
his ladies. Considering the manners of the time, it is a
little puzzling to see why there should have been such
an outcry at this, but outcry there certainly was. The
Princess took violent umbrage at the Prince's pro-
ceeding and left the Palace on a long visit to her rela-
tions. So violent grew the protestations in the little
world of the Court that, in 1004, Izumi Shikibu left
the Palace and separated herself entirely from the
Prince. It was probably to emphasize the definiteness
of the separation that, immediately after her depart-
ure, she married Fujiwara Yasumasa, Governor of
Tango, and left with him for that Province in 1005.
xxviii
Introduction
The facts bear out this supposition, but we do not
know it from her own lips, as the Diary breaks off
soon after she reaches the South Palace.
In 1008, she was summoned back to Kioto to serve
the Queen in the same Court where Murasaki Shi-
kibu had been since 1005. Whatever effect the scandal
may have had four years earlier, her receiving the post
of lady-in-waiting proves it to have been worth for-
getting in view of her fame, and Queen Akiko must
have rejoiced to add this celebrated poet to her al-
ready remarkable bevy of ladies. Of course there was
jealousy — who can doubt it \ No reader of the Diaries
can imagine that Izumi Shikibu and Murasaki Shi-
kibu can have been sympathetic, and we must take
with a grain of salt the latter's caustic comment:
"Lady Izumi Shikibu corresponds charmingly, but
her behavior is improper indeed. She writes with grace
and ease and a flashing wit. There is a fragrance even
in her smallest words. Her poems are attractive, but
they are only improvisations which drop from her
mouth spontaneously. Every one of them has some
interesting point, and she is acquainted with ancient
literature also, but she is not like a true artist who is
filled with the genuine spirit of poetry. Yet I think
even she cannot presume to pass judgment on the
poems of others." Is it possible that Izumi Shikibu
had been so rash as to pass judgment on some of
Murasaki Shikibu 's efforts?
Of course it is beyond the power of any translation
to preserve the full effect of the original, but even
in translation, Izumi Shikibu's poems are singularly
xxix
Introduction
beautiful and appealing. In her own country, they
are considered never to have been excelled in fresh-
ness and freedom of expression. There is something
infinitely sad in this, which she is said to have writ-
ten on her death-bed, as the end of a passionate life:
" Out of the dark,
Into a dark path
I now must enter:
Shine [on me] from afar
Moon of the mountain fringe." ^
In Japanese poetry, Amita-Buddha is often compared
to the moon which rises over the mountains and lights
the traveller's path.
Very different again is the lady who wrote the
"Sarashina Diary," and it is a very different kind
of record. Murasaki Shikibu's Diary is concerned with
a few years of her life, Izumi Shikibu's with one epi-
sode only of hers, but the "Sarashlna Diary" covers
a long period in the life of its author. The first part
was written when she was twelve years old, the last
entry was made when she was past fifty. It begins
with a journey from Shimosa to Kioto by the T5ka-
ido in I02I, which Is followed by a second journey
some years later from Kioto to Sarashina, a place
which has never been satisfactorily identified, al-
though some critics have supposed it to have been in
the Province of Shinano. The rest of the Diary con-
sists of jottings at various times, accounts of books
read, of places seen, of pilgrimages to temples, of
records of dreams and portents, of communings with
^ Translation by Arthur Waley in Japanese Poetry.
XXX
Introduction
herself on life and death, of expressions of resigna-
tion and sorrow.
The book takes its name from the second of the
journeys, " Sarashina Nikki," meaning simply " Sara-
shina Diary," for, strangely enough, we do not know
the author's name. We do know, however, that she
was the daughter of Fujiwara Takasue, and that she
was born in 1009. In 1017, Takasue was appointed
governor of a province, and went with his daughter
to his new post. It is the return journey, made in
1021, with which the Diary opens.
Takasue's daughter shared with so many of her
contemporaries the deep love of nature and the power
to express this love in words. I have already quoted
one or two of her entries on this journey. We follow
the little company over mountains and across rivers,
we camp with them by night, and tremble as they
trembled lest robbers should attack them. We see
what the little girl saw: "The mountain range called
Nishitomi is like folding screens with good pictures,"
"people say that purple grass grows in the fields of
Mushashi, but it is only a waste of various kinds of
reeds, which grow so high that we cannot see the bows
of our horsemen who are forcing their way through
the tall grass," and share her disappointment when
she says: "We passed a place called * Eight Bridges,'
but it was only a name, no bridge and no pretty
sight."
They reach Kioto and a rather dull life begins, en-
livened only by the avid reading of romances, among
them the "Genji Monogatari." Then her sister dies
xxxi
Introduction
giving birth to a child, and the life becomes, not only-
dull, but sorrowful. After a time, the lady obtains a
position at Court, but neither her bringing up nor
her disposition had suited her for such a place. She
mentions that "Mother was a person of extremely
antiquated mind," and it is evident that she had been
taught to look inward rather than outward. An
abortive little love affair lightens her dreariness for
a moment. Life had dealt hardly with the sensitive
girl, from year to year she grows more wistful, but
suddenly something happens, a mere hint of a gleam,
but opening a possibility of brightness. Who he was,
we do not know, but she met him on an evening when
"there was no starlight, and a gentle shower fell in
the darkness." They talked and exchanged poems,
but she did not meet him again until the next year;
then, after an evening entertainment to which she
had not gone, "when I looked out, opening the slid-
ing door on the corridor, I saw the morning moon
very faint and beautiful," and he was there. Again
they exchanged poems and she believed that happi-
ness had at last arrived. He was to come with his
lute and sing to her. " I wanted to hear it," she writes,
"and waited for the fit occasion, but there was none,
ever." A year later she has lost hope, she writes a
poem and adds, "So I composed that poem — and
there is nothing more to tell." Nothing more, indeed,
but what is told conveys all the misery of her de-
ceived longing.
The last part of the Diary is concerned chiefly
with accounts of pilgrimages and dreams. She mar-
xxxii
Introduction
lied, who and when is not recorded, and bore children.
Her husband dies, and with his death the spring of
her life seems to have run down. Her last entry is
very sad: "My people went to live elsewhere and I
lived alone in my solitary home." So we leave her,
" a beautiful, shy spirit whose life had known much
sorrow."
I
THE SARASHINA DIARY
DIARIES OF
COURT LADIES OF OLD JAPAN
THE SARASHINA DIARY
A.D. IOO9-IO59
I WAS brought up in a distant province ^ which lies
farther than the farthest end of the Eastern Road. I
am ashamed to think that inhabitants of the Royal
City will think me an uncultured girl.
Somehow I came to know that there are such
things as romances in the world and wished to read
them. When there was nothing to do by day or at
night, one tale or another was told me by my elder
sister or stepmother, and I heard several chapters
about the shining Prince Genji.^ My longing for such
stories increased, but how could they recite them all
from memory? I became very restless and got an
image of Yakushi Buddha ^ made as large as myself.
When I was alone I washed my hands and went
secretly before the altar and prayed to him with all
my life, bowing my head down to the floor. "Please
^ Her father Takasue was appointed Governor of Kazusa in 10 1 7,
and the authoress, who was then nine years old, was brought from
Kioto to the Province.
* Prince Genji: The hero of Genji-monogatari, a novel by Mura-
saki-Shikibu.
^ Yakushi Buddha: "The Buddha of healing," or Sanscrit, Bhai-
saj yaguru-Vaiduryaprabhah.
Diaries of Court Ladies
let me go to the Royal City. There I can find many
tales. Let me read all of them."
When thirteen years old, I was taken to the Royal
City. On the third of the Long-moon month, ^ I re-
moved [from my house] to Imatate, the old house
where I had played as a child being broken up. At
sunset in the foggy twilight, just as I was getting
into the palanquin, I thought of the Buddha before
which I had gone secretly to pray — I was sorry and
secretly shed tears to leave him behind.
Outside of my new house [a rude temporary,
thatched one] there is no fence nor even shutters,
but we have hung curtains and sudare.^ From that
house, standing on a low bluff, a wide plain extends
towards the South. On the East and West the sea
creeps close, so it is an interesting place. When fogs
are falling it is so charming that I rise early every
morning to see them. Sorry to leave this place.
On the fifteenth, in heavy dark rain, we crossed
the boundary of the Province and lodged at Ikada in
the Province of Shimofusa. Our lodging is almost sub-
merged. I am so afraid I cannot sleep. I see only three
lone trees standing on a little hill in the waste.
The next day was passed in drying our dripping
clothes and waiting for the others to come up.^
^ Original, Nagatsuki, September.
* Ancient ladies avoided men's eyes and always sat behind sudare
(finely split bamboo curtain) through which they could look out with-
out being seen.
' High personages, Governors of Provinces or other nobles, trav-
elled with a great retinue, consisting of armed horsemen, foot-soldiers,
and attendants of all sorts both high and low, together with the
luggage necessary for prolonged existence in the wilderness. From
4
Of Old Japan
On the seventeenth, started early in the morning,
and crossed a deep river. I heard that in this Prov-
ince there lived in olden times a chieftain of Mano.
He had thousand and ten thousand webs of cloth
woven and dipped them [for bleaching] in the river
which now flows over the place where his great house
stood. Four of the large gate-posts remained stand-
ing in the river.
Hearing the people composing poems about this
place, I in my mind :
Had I not seen erect in the river
These solid timbers of the olden time
How could I know, how could I feel
The story of that house?
That evening we lodged at the beach of Kurodo.
The white sand stretched far and wide. The pine-
wood was dark — the moon was bright, and the soft
blowing of the wind made me lonely. People were
pleased and composed poems. My poem :
For this night only
The autumn moon at Kurodo beach shall shine for me,
For this night only! — / cannot sleep.
Early in the morning we left this place and came
to the Futoi River ^ on the boundary between Shimo-
fusa and Musashi. We lodged at the ferry of Matsu-
sato ^ near Kagami's rapids,^ and all night long our
luggage was being carried over.
Tokyo to Kioto nowadays the journey is about twelve hours. It
took about three months in the year 1017.
^ Futoi River is called the River Edo at present.
* Matsusato, now called Matsudo.
• Kagami's rapids, now perhaps Karameki-no-se.
Diaries of Court Ladies
My nurse had lost her husband and gave birth
to her child at the boundary of the Province, so we
had to go up to the Royal City separately. I was long-
ing for my nurse and wanted to go to see her, and was
brought there by my elder brother in his arms. We,
though in a temporary lodging, covered ourselves
with warm cotton batting, but my nurse, as there was
no man to take care of her, was lying in a wild place
[and] covered only with coarse matting. She was in
her red dress.
The moon came in, lighting up everything, and in
the moonlight she looked transparent. I thought her
very white and pure. She wept and caressed me, and
I was loath to leave her. Even when I went with
lingering heart, her image remained with me, and
there was no interest in the changing scenes.
The next morning we crossed the river in a ferry-
boat in our palanquins. The persons who had come
with us thus far in their own conveyances went back
from this place. We, who were going up to the Royal
City, stayed here for a while to follow them with our
eyes ; and as it was a parting for life all wept. Even my
childish heart felt sorrow.
Now it is the Province of Musashi. There is no
charm in this place. The sand of the beaches is not
white, but like mud. People say that purple grass ^
grows In the fields of Musashi, but it is only a waste
of various kinds of reeds, which grow so high that we
cannot see the bows of our horsemen who are forcing
their way through the tall grass. Going through
* Common gromwell, Lithospermum.
6
Of Old Japan
these reeds I saw a ruined temple called Takeshiba-
dera. There were also the foundation-stones of a house
with corridor.
"What place is it?" I asked; and they answered:
"Once upon a time there lived a reckless adven-
turer at Takeshiba.^ He was offered to the King's
palace [by the Governor] as a guard to keep the watch-
fire. He was once sweeping the garden in front of a
Princess's room and singing:
Ah^ me! Ah, me! My weary doom to labour here in the Palace!
Seven good wine-jars have I — and three in my province.
There where they stand I have hung straight-stemmed gourds oj
the finest —
They turn to the West when the East wind blows,
They turn to the East when the West wind blows,
They turn to the North when the South wind blows,
They turn to the South when the North wind blows.
And there I sit watching them turning and turning forever —
Oh, my gourds! Oh, my wine-jars!
"He was singing thus alone, but just then a Princess,
the King's favourite daughter, was sitting alone be-
hind themisu.^ She came forward, and, leaning against
the doorpost, listened to the man singing. She was
very interested to think how gourds were above the
wine-jars and how they were turning and wanted to
see them. She became very zealous for the gourds, and
pushing up the blind called the guard, saying, 'Man,
come here ! ' The man heard it very respectfully, and
^ Takeshiba: Now called Shibaura, place-name in Tokyo near
Shinagawa. Another manuscript reads: "This was the manor house
of Takeshiba."
2 Misu: finer sort of sudare used in court or in Shinto shrine. Cf.
note 2, p. 4.
Diaries of Court Ladies
with great reverence drew near the balustrade. *Let
me hear once more what you have been saying.'
And he sang again about his wine-jars. *I must go
and see them, I have my own reason for saying so,'
said the Princess.
"He felt great awe, but he made up his mind, and
went down towards the Eastern Province. He feared
that men would pursue them, and that night, placing
the Princess on the Seta Bridge,^ broke a part of it
away, and bounding over with the Princess on his
back arrived at his native place after seven days' and
seven nights' journey.
"The King and Queen were greatly surprised when
they found the Princess was lost, and began to search
for her. Some one said that a King's guard from the
Province of Musashi, carrying something of exquisite
fragrance ^ on his back, had been seen fleeing towards
the East. So they sought for that guard, and he was
not to be found. They said, ^Doubtless this man went
back home.' The Royal Government sent messengers
to pursue them, but when they got to the Seta
Bridge they found it broken, and they could not go
farther. In the Third month, however, the messengers
arrived at Musashi Province and sought for the man.
The Princess gave audience to the messengers and
said :
"'I, for some reason, yearned for this man's home
and bade him carry me here; so he has carried me. If
* Seta Bridge is across the river from Lake Biwa, some seven or
eight miles from Kioto.
' In those days noblemen's and ladies' dresses were perfumed.
8
Of Old Japan
this man were punished and killed, what should I do?
This Is a very good place to live In. It must have been
settled before I was born that I should leave my
trace [I.e. descendants] In this Province — go back
and tell the King so.' So the messenger could not re-
fuse her, and went back to tell the King about It.
"The King said: *It Is hopeless. Though I punish
the man I cannot bring back the Princess; nor Is It
meet to bring them back to the Royal City. As long
as that man of Takeshlba lives I cannot give Musa-
shl Province to him, but I will entrust it to the Prin-
cess.'
"In this way it happened that a palace was built
there in the same style as the Royal Palace and the
Princess was placed there. When she died they made It
Into a temple called Takeshiba-dera.^ The descend-
ants of the Princess received the family name of Mu-
sashl. After that the guards of the watch-fire were
women." ^
We went through a waste of reeds of various kinds,
forcing our way through the tall grass. There is the
river Asuda along the border of Musashi and Sagami,
where at the jerry Arihara Narihira had composed his
famous poem.^ In the book of his poetical works the
river Is called the river Sumida.
* Dera or tera = temple.
* The original text may also be understood as follows: "After that
the guards of the watch-fire were allowed to live with their wives in
the palace."
' In the Ise-monogatari (a book of Narihira's poetical works) the
Sumida River is said to be on the boundary between Musashi and
Shimofusa. So the italicized words seem to be the authoress's mis-
Diaries of Court Ladies
We crossed it in a boat, and it is the Province of
Sagami. The mountain range called Nishitomi is like
folding screens with good pictures. On the left hand
we saw a very beautiful beach with long-drawn curves
of white waves. There was a place there called Moro-
koshi-ga-Hara ^ [Chinese Field] where sands are
wonderfully white. Two or three days we journeyed
along that shore. A man said:, "In Sunmier pale and
deep Japanese pinks bloom there and make the field
like brocade. As it is Autumn now we cannot see
them." But I saw some pinks scattered about bloom-
ing pitiably. They said: "It is funny that Japa-
nese pinks are blooming in the Chinese field."
There is a mountain called Ashigara [Hakone] which
extends for ten and more miles and is covered with
thick woods even to its base. We could have only an
occasional glimpse of the sky. We lodged in a hut at
the foot of the mountain. It was a dark moonless
take, or more probably an insertion by a later smatterer of literary
knowledge who inherited the manuscript.
Narihira's poem is addressed to a sea-gull called Miyakodori,
which literally means bird of the capital. Narihira had abandoned
Kioto and was wandering towards the East. Just then his heart had
been yearning after the Royal City and also after his wife, and
that feeling must have been intensified by the name of the bird.
(Cf. The Ise-monogatari, Section 9.)
Miyakodori ! alas, that word
Fills my heart again with longing,
Even you I ask, 0 bird.
Does she still live, my beloved ?
* According to "Sagami-Fudoki," or "The Natural Features of
Sagami Province," this district was in ancient times inhabited by
Koreans. The natives could not distinguish a Korean from a Chinese,
hence the name of Chinese Field. A temple near Oiso still keeps the
name of Koraiji, or the Korean temple.
10
Of Old Japan
night. I felt myself swallowed up and lost in the dark-
ness, when three singers came from somewhere. One
was about fifty years old, the second twenty, and the
third about fourteen or fifteen. We set them down in
front of our lodging and a karakasa [large paper imi-
brellal was spread for them. My servant lighted a fire
so that we saw them. They said that they were the
descendants of a famous singer called Kobata. They
had very long hair which hung over their foreheads;
their faces were white and clean, and they seemed
rather like maids serving in noblemen's families.
They had clear, sweet voices, and their beautiful sing-
ing seemed to reach the heavens. All were charmed,
and taking great interest made them come nearer.
Some one said, "The singers of the Western Prov-
inces are inferior to them," and at this the singers
closed their song with the words, "if we are compared
with those of Naniwa" [Osaka]. ^ They were pretty
and neatly dressed, with voices of rare beauty, and
they were wandering away into this fearful mountain.
Even tears came to those eyes which followed them
as far as they could be seen; and my childish heart
was unwilling to leave this rude shelter frequented by
these singers.
Next morning we crossed over the mountain.*
^ This seems to be the last line of a kind of song called ImayOt
perhaps improvised by the singers; its meaning may be as follows :
"You compare us with singers of the Western Provinces; we are
inferior to those in the Royal City; we may justly be compared
with those in Osaka."
* Hakone Mountain has now become a resort of tourists and a
place of summer residence.
II
Diaries of Court Ladies
Words cannot express my fear ^ in the midst of it.
Clouds rolled beneath our feet. Halfway over there was
an open space with a few trees. Here we saw a few
leaves of aoi ^ [Asarum caulescens]. People praised
it and thought strange that in this mountain, so far
from the human world, was growing such a sacred
plant. We met with three rivers in the mountain and
crossed them with difficulty. That day we stopped
at Sekiyama. Now we are in Suruga Province. We
passed a place called Iwatsubo [rock-urn] by the
barrier of Yokobashiri. There was an indescribably
large square rock through a hole in which very cold
water came rushing out.
Mount Fuji is in this Province. In the Province
where I was brought up [from which she begins this
journey] I saw that mountain far towards the West.
It towers up painted with deep blue, and covered
with eternal snow. It seems that it wears a dress of
deep violet and a white veil over its shoulders. From
the little level place of the top smoke was going up.
In the evening we even saw burning fires there. ^ The
Fuji River comes tumbling down from that moun-
tain. A man of the Province came up to us and told
us a story.
"Once I went on an errand. It was a very hot day,
and I was resting on the bank of the stream when I
* Fear of evil spirits which probably lived in the wild, and of
robbers who certainly did.
' Aoi, or Futaba-aoi, At the great festival of the Kamo shrine in
Kioto the processionists crowned their heads with the leaves of this
plant, so it must have been well known.
* Mount Fuji was then an active volcano.
12
Of Old Japan
saw something yellow come floating down. It came
to the bank of the river and stuck there. I picked it
up and found it to be a scrap of yellow paper with
words elegantly written on it in cinnabar. Wondering
much I read it. On the paper was a prophecy of the
Governors [of provinces] to be appointed next year.
As to this Province there were written the names of
two Governors. I wondered more and more, and
drying the paper, kept it. When the day of the an-
nouncement came, this paper held no mistake, and
the man who became the Governor of this Province
died after three months, and the other succeeded
him."
There are such things. I think that the gods as-
semble there on that mountain to settle the affairs
of each new year.
At Kiyomigaseki, where we saw the sea on the left,
there were many houses for the keepers of the bar-
riers. Some of the palisades went even into the sea.
At Tagonoura waves were high. From there we
went along by boat. We went with ease over Numa-
jiri and came to the river Oi. Such a torrent I have
never seen. Water, white as if thickened with rice
flour, ran fast.
I became ill, and now it is the Province of Totomi.
I had almost lost consciousness when I crossed the
mountain pass of Sayo-no-Nakayama [the middle
mountain of the little night]. I was quite exhausted,
so when we came to the bank of the Tenryu River,
we had a temporary dwelling built, and passed several
days there, and I got better. As the winter was
13
Diaries of Court Ladies
already advanced, the wind from the river blew hard
and it became intolerable. After crossing the river
we went towards the bridge at Hamana.
When we had gone down towards the East [four
years before when her father had been appointed
Governor] there had been a log bridge, but this
time we could not find even a trace of it, so we had
to cross in a boat. The bridge had been laid across an
inland bay. The waves of the outer sea were very
high, and we could see them through the thick pine-
trees which grew scattered over the sandy point
which stretched between us and the sea. They seemed
to strike across the ends of the pine branches and
shone like jewels. It was an interesting sight.
We went forward and crossed over Inohana — an
unspeakably weary ascent it was — and then came
to Takashi shore of the Province of Mikawa. We
passed a place called "Eight-Bridges," but it was
only a name, no bridge and no pretty sight.
: In the mountain of Futamura we made our camp
under a big persimmon tree. The fruit fell down
during the night over our camps and people picked
it up.
We passed Mount Miyaji, where we saw red leaves
still, although it was the first day of the Tenth month.
Furious mountain ztnnds in their passing
must spare this spot
For red maple leaves are clinging
even yet to the branch.
There was a fort of "If-I-can" between Mikawa
and Owari. It is amusing to think how difficult the
14
Of Old Japan
crossing was, indeed. We passed the Narami [sound-
ing-sea] shore in the Province of Owari. The eve-
ning tides were coming in, and we thought if they
came higher we could not cross. So in a panic we
ran as fast as we could.
At the border of Mino we crossed a ferry called
Kuromata, and arrived at Nogami. There singers
came again and they sang all night. Lovingly we
thought of the singers of Ashigara.
Snow came, and in the storm we passed the barrier
at Fuha, and over the Mount Atsumi, having no
heart to look at beautiful sights. In the Province of
Omi we stayed four or five days in a house at Okin-
aga. At the foot of Mitsusaka Mountain light rain
fell night and day mixed with hail. It was so melan-
choly that we left there and passed by Inugami,
Kanzaki, and Yasu without receiving any impres-
sions. The lake stretched far and wide, and we caught
occasional glimpses of Nadeshima and Chikubushima
[islands]. It was a very pretty sight. We had great
difficulty at the bridge of Seta, for it had fallen in.
We stopped at Awazu, and arrived at the Royal City
after dark on the second day of the Finishing month.
When we were near the barrier I saw the face of a
roughly hewn Buddha sixteen feet high which tow-
ered over a rude fence. Serene and indifferent to its
surroundings it stood unregarded in this deserted
place; but I, passing by, received a message from it.
Among so many provinces [through which I have
passed] the barriers at Kiyomigata and Osaka were
far better than the others.
IS
Diaries of Court Ladies
It was dark when I arrived at the residence on the
west of the Princess of Sanjo's mansion.^ Our garden
was very wide and wild with great, fearful trees not
inferior to those mountains I had come from. I could
not feel at home, or keep a settled mind. Even then
I teased mother into giving me books of stories, after
which I had been yearning for so many years. Mother
sent a messenger with a letter to Emon-no-Myogu,
one of our relatives who served the Princess of Sanjo.
She took interest in my strange passion and willingly
sent me some excellent manuscripts in the lid of a
writing-box,^ saying that these copies had been given
her by the Princess. My joy knew no bounds and I
read them day and night; I soon began to wish for
more, but as I was an utter stranger to the Royal
City, who would get them for me?
My stepmother [meaning one of her father's wives]
had once been a lady-in-waiting at the court, and she
seemed to have been disappointed in something. She
had been regretting the World [her marriage], and
now she was to leave our home. She beckoned her
own child, who was five years old, and said, '^The
time will never come when I shall forget you, dear
heart"; and pointing to a huge plum-tree which grew
close to the eaves, said, "When it is in flower I shall
come back"; and she went away. I felt love and pity
for her, and while I was secretly weeping, the year,
too, went away.
* The Princess was Sadako, daughter of King Sanjo, afterwards
Queen of King Goshujaku (1037-1045).
' Lacquered boxes, sometimes of great beauty, containing india
ink and inkstone, brushes, rolls of paper.
16
IT WAS ALL IN FLOWER AND YET NO TIDINGS FROM HER
Of Old Japan
"When the plum-tree blooms I shall come back" —
I pondered over these words and wondered whether
it would be so. I waited 'and waited with my eye hung
to the tree. It was all in flower ^ and yet no tidings
from her. I became very anxious [and at last] broke
a branch and sent it to her [of course with a poem] :
You gave me words of hope, are they not long delayed?
The plum-tree is remembered by the Spring,
Though it seemed dead with frost.
She wrote back affectionate words with a poem:
Wait on, never forsake your hope.
For when the plum-tree is in flower
Even the unpromised, the unexpected, will come to you.
During the spring [of 1022] the world was dis-
quieted.^ My nurse, who had filled my heart with pity
on that moonlight night at the ford of Matsuzato,
died on the moon-birthday of the Ever-growing month
[first day of March]. I lamented hopelessly without
any way to set my mind at ease, and even forgot my
passion for romances.
1 passed day afte/day weeping bitterly, and when I
first looked out of doors ^ [again] I saw the evening
sun on cherry-blossoms all falling in confusion [this
would mean four weeks later].
* Plum-trees bloom between the first and second months of the
old calendar.
2 By pestilence. People were often attacked by contagious dis-
eases in those days, and they, who did not know about the nature of
infection, called it by the name of "world-humor" or "world-dis-
ease," attributing its cause to the ill-humor of some gods or spirits.
» In those days windows were covered with silk and could not be
seen through.
17
Diaries of Court Ladies
Flowers are falling, yet I may see them again
when Spring returns.
But, oh, my longing for the dear person
who has departed from us forever!
I also heard that the daughter of the First Adviser *
to the King was lost [dead]. I could sympathize
deeply with the sorrow of her lord, the Lieutenant-
General, for I still felt my own sorrow.
When I had first arrived at the Capital I had
been given a book of the handwriting of this noble
lady for my copy-book. In it were written several
poems, among them the following:
When you see the smoke floating up the valley of
Toribe Hill,''
Then you will understand me, who seemed as shadow-like
even while living.
I looked at these poems which were written in such a
beautiful handwriting, and I shed more tears. I sat
brooding until mother troubled herself to console me.
She searched for romances and gave them to me, and
I became consoled unconsciously. I read a few vol-
umes of Genji-monogatari and longed for the rest,
but as I was still a stranger here I had no way of
finding them. I was all impatience and yearning, and
in my mind was always praying that I might read all
the books of Genji-monogatari from the very first
one.
While my parents were shutting themselves up in
Udzu-Masa ^ Temple, I asked them for nothing ex-
* Fujiwara-no-Yukinari: One of the three famous calligraphers of
that time.
2 Place where cremation was performed.
• It is a Buddhist custom to go into retreat from time to time.
i8
Of Old Japan
cept this romance, wishing to read it as soon as I
could get it, but all in vain. I was inconsolable. One
day I visited my aunt, who had recently come up
from the country. She showed a tender interest in
me and lovingly said I had grown up beautifully. On
my return she said: "What shall I give you.^* You will
not be interested in serious things: I will give you
what you like best." And she gave me more than
fifty volumes of Genji-monogatari put in a case, as
well as Ise-monogatari, Yojimi, Serikawa, Shirara,
and Asa-udzu.^ How happy I was when I came home
carrying these books in a bag! Until then I had only
read a volume here and there, and was dissatisfied
because I could not understand the story.
Now I could be absorbed in these stories, taking
them out one by one, shutting myself in behind the
kicho.^ To be a Queen were nothing compared to
this!
All day and all night, as late as I could keep my
eyes open, I did nothing but look at the books, setting
a lamp ^ close beside me.
Soon I learnt by heart all the names in the books,
and I thought that a great thing.
Once I dreamt of a holy priest in yellow Buddhist
scarf who came to me and said, "Learn the fifth
book of the Hokekkyo * at once."
I did not tell any one about this, nor had I any
* Some of these books are not known now.
* A kind of screen used in upper-class houses: see illustration.
' Her lamp was rather like an Italian one — a shallow cup for oil
fixed to a tall metal stem, with a wick projecting to one side.
* Sadharmpundarika Sutra, or Sutra of the Lotus, in Sanscrit.
19
Diaries of Court Ladies
mind to learn it, but continued to bathe in the ro-
mances. Although I was still ugly and undeveloped
[I thought to myself] the time would come when I
should be beautiful beyond compare, with long, long
hair. I should be like the Lady Yugao [in the romance]
loved by the Shining Prince Genji, or like the Lady
Ukifune, the wife of the General of Uji [a famous
beauty]. I indulged in such fancies — shallow-minded
I was, indeed!
Could such a man as the Shining Prince be living
in this world? How could General Kaoru [literal
translation, "Fragrance"] find such a beauty as Lady
Ukifune to conceal in his secret villa at Uji? Oh! I
was like a crazy girl.
While I had lived in the country, I had gone to the
temple from time to time, but even then I could
never pray like others, with a pure heart. In those
days people learned to recite sutras and practise
austerities of religious observance after the age of
seventeen or eighteen, but I could scarcely even
think of such matters. The only thing that I could
think of was the Shining Prince who would some day
come to me, as noble and beautiful as in the romance.
If he came only once a year I, being hidden in a
mountain villa like Lady Ukifune, would be content.
I could live as heart-dwindlingly as that lady, looking
at flowers, or moonlit snowy landscape, occasionally
receiving long-expected lovely letters from my Lord!
I cherished such fancies and imagined that they
might be realized.
On the moon-birth of the Rice-Sprout month I
20
«30
V ^
KICHO: FRONT AND BACK VIEWS
Of Old Japan
saw the white petals of the Tachibana tree [a kind
of orange] near the house covering the ground.
Scarce had my mind received with wonder j
The thought of newly fallen snow —
Seeing the ground lie white —
When the scent of Tachibana flowers
Arose from fallen blossoms.
In our garden trees grew as thick as in the dark
forest of Ashigara, and in the Gods-absent month ^
its red leaves were more beautiful than those of the
surrounding mountains. A visitor said, "On my way
thither I passed a place where red leaves were beau-
tiful"; and I improvised:
No sight can be more autumnal
than that of my garden
Tenanted by an autumnal person
weary of the world!
I still dwelt in the romances from morning to night,
and as long as I was awake.
I had another dream: a man said that he was to
make a brook in the garden of the Hexagon Tower
to entertain the Empress of the First Rank of Hon-
our. I asked the reason, and the man said, "Pray to
the Heaven-illuminating honoured Goddess." I did
not tell any one about this dream or even think of
it again. How shallow I was!
In the Spring I enjoyed the Princess's garden.
Cherry-blossoms waited for! — cherry-blossoms la-
* In October it was the custom for all local gods to go for a con-
ference to the residence of the oldest native god, in the Province of
Idzumo; hence, Gods-absent month. This Province of Idzumo, full
of the folklore of old Japan, has become well known to the world
through the writings of Laf cadio Heam.
21
Diaries of Court Ladies
mented over! In Spring I love the flowers whether
in her garden or in mine.
On the moon-hidden day of the Ever-growing
month [March 30, 1023], I started for a certain per-
son's house to avoid the evil influence of the earth
god.^ There I saw delightful cherry-blossoms still on
the tree and the day after my return I sent this poem:
Alone J without tiringy I gazed at the cherry-blossoms of
your garden.
The Spring was closing — they were about to fall —
Always when the flowers came and went, I could think
of nothing but those days when my nurse died, and
sadness descended upon me, which grew deeper when
I studied the handwriting of the Honoured Daughter
of the First Adviser.
Once in the Rice-Sprout month, when I was up late
reading a romance, I heard a cat mewing with a long-
drawn-out cry. I turned, wondering, and saw a very
lovely cat. "Whence does it come?" I asked. "Sh,"
said my sister, "do not tell anybody. It is a darling
cat and we will keep it."
The cat was very sociable and lay beside us. Some
one might be looking for her [we thought], so we kept
her secretly. She kept herself aloof from the vulgar
servants, always sitting quietly before us. She turned
her face away from unclean food, never eating it. She
was tenderly cared for and caressed by us.
* According to the superstition of those days people believed that
every house was presided over by an earth god, which occupied the
hearth in Spring, the gate in Summer, the well in Autumn, and the
garden in Winter. It was dangerous to meet him when he changed
his abode. So on that day the dwellers went out from their houses.
22
Of Old Japan
Once sister was ill, and the family was rather up-
set. The cat was kept in a room facing the north
[i.e. a servant's room], and never was called. She
cried loudly and scoldingly, yet I thought it better
to keep her away and did so. Sister, suddenly awaken-
ing, said to me, "Where is the cat kept.'' Bring her
here." I asked why, and sister said: "In my dream the
cat came to my side and said, * I am the altered form
of the late Honoured Daughter of the First Adviser
to the King. There was a slight cause [for this]. Your
sister has been thinking of me affectionately, so I am
here for a while, but now I am among the servants.
O how dreary I am!' So saying she wept bitterly.
She appeared to be a noble and beautiful person and
then I awoke to hear the cat crying! How pitiful!"
The story moved me deeply and after this I never
sent the cat away to the north-facing room, but waited
on her lovingly. Once, when I was sitting alone, she
came and sat before me, and, stroking her head, I ad-
dressed her: "You are the first daughter of the Noble
Adviser.'' I wish to let your father know of it." The
cat watched my face and mewed, lengthening her voice.
It may be my fancy, but as I was watching her she
seemed no common cat. She seemed to understand
my words, and I pity her.
. I had heard that a certain person possessed the
Chogonka ^ [Song of the Long Regret] retold from
^ Readers are urged to read the delightful essay of Lafcadio Heam
called "The Romance of the Milky Way" (Chogonka)*. Here it
must suffice to relate the story of "Tanabata-hime" and the herds-
man. Tanabata-tsume was the daughter of the god of the sky. She
rejoiced to weave garments for her father and had no greater pleasure
23
Diaries of Court Ladies
the original of the Chinese poet Li T*ai Po. I
longed to borrow it, but was too shy to say so.
On the seventh day of the Seventh month I found a
happy means to send my word [the suggestion of my
wish] :
This is the night when in the ancient Past,
The Herder Star embarked to meet the Weaving One;
In its sweet remembrance the wave rises high in the River
of Heaven.^
Even so swells my heart to see the famous book.
The answer was : .
The star gods meet on the shore of the Heavenly River^
Like theirs full of ecstasy is my heart
And grave things of daily life are forgotten
On the night your message comes to me.
On the thirteenth day of that month the moon
shone very brightly. Darkness was chased away even
than that, until one day Hikiboshi, a young herdsman, leading an
ox, passed by her door. Divining her love for him, her father gave
his daughter the young herdsman for her husband, and all went well,
until the young couple grew too fond of each other and the weaving
was neglected. Thereupon the great god was displeased and "they
were sentenced to live apart with the Celestial River between them,"
but in pity of their love they were permitted to meet one night a
year, on the seventh day of the Seventh month. On that night the
herdsman crosses the River of Heaven where Tanabata-tsume is
waiting for him on the other side, but woe betide if the night is cloudy
or rainy! Then the waters of the River of Heaven rise, and the
lovers must wait full another year before the boat can cross.
Many of our beautiful poems have been written on this legend;
sometimes it is Tanabata-hime who is waiting for her lord, some-
times it is Hikiboshi who speaks. The festival has been celebrated
for iioo years in Japan, and there is no country village which does
not sing these songs on the seventh night of the Seventh month, and
make offerings to the star gods of little poems tied to the freshly cut
bamboo branches.
^ River of Heaven: Milky Way.
24
Of Old Japan
from every comer of the heavens. It was about mid-
night and all were asleep.
We were sitting on the veranda. My sister, who was
gazing at the sky thoughtfully, said, "If I flew away
now, leaving no trace behind, what would you think
of it.?" She saw that her words shocked me, and she
turned the conversation [lightly] to other things, and
we laughed.
Then I heard a carriage with a runner before it
stop near the house. The man in the carriage called
out, "Ogi-no-ha! Ogi-no-ha!" [Reed-leaf, a woman's
name or pet name] twice, but no woman made reply.
The man cried in vain until he was tired of it, and
played his flute [a reed-pipe] more and more search-
ingly in a very beautiful rippling melody, and [at last]
drove away.
Flute music in ike nighty
'"''Autumn fFind"^ sighing,
Why does the reed-leaf make no reply?
Thus I challenged my sister, and she took it up :
Alas! light of heart
Who could so soon give over playing!
The wind did not wait
For the response of the reed-leaf.
We sat together looking up into the firmament, and
went to bed after daybreak.
At midnight of the Deutzia month [April, 1024] a
fire broke out, and the cat which had been waited on
as a daughter of the First Adviser was burned to death.
She had been used to come mewing whenever I called
* Name of an old song.
25
Diaries of Court Ladies
her by the name of that lady, as if she had understood
me. My father said that he would tell the matter to
the First Adviser, for it is a strange and heartfelt
story. I was very, very sorry for her.
Our new temporary shelter was far narrower than
the other. I was sad, for we had a very small garden
and no trees. I thought with regret of the old spacious
garden which was wild as a deep wood, and in time of
flowers and red leaves the sight of it was never in-
ferior to the surrounding mountains.
In the garden of the opposite house white and red
plum-blossoms grew in confusion and their perfume
came on the wind and filled me with thoughts of our
old home.
When from the neighbouring garden the perfume-laden air
Saturates my soul with memories.
Rises the thought of the beloved plum-tree
Blooming under the eaves of the house which is gone.
On the moon-birth of the Rice-Sprout month my
sister died after giving birth to a child. From child-
hood, even a stranger's death had touched my heart
deeply. This time I lamented, filled with speechless
pity and sorrow.
While mother and the others were with the dead,
I lay with the memory-awakening children one on
either side of me. The moonlight found its way through
the cracks of the roof [perhaps of their temporary
dwelling] and illumined the face of the baby. The
sight gave my heart so deep a pang that I covered its
face with my sleeve, and drew the other child closer
to my side, mothering the imfortunate.
26
5-to re. kou.se
Wousc
•>^
to^
■TVvfc W&6fc .
■for rv\ci(v\V)to
S"tore.kou.5e
Co'*
Ea-st
of ■^oAvv't.Vv^
1
5+6.'ole
^.^
Suw>wie<"
koi>-se
K
^;clI^*^
A nobleman's house and grounds in the azumaya style
Of Old Japan
After some days one of my relatives sent me a ro-
mance entitled "The Prince Yearning after the
Buried," with the following note; "The late lady had
asked me to find her this romance. At that time I
thought it impossible, but now to add to my sorrow,
some one has just sent it to me."
I answered:
What reason can there he that she
Strangely should seek a romance of the buried?
Buried now is the seeker
Deep under the mosses.
My sister's nurse said that since she had lost her,
she had no reason to stay and went back to her own
home weeping.
Thus death or parting separates us each from the other.
Why must we part? Oh, world too sad for me!
"For remembrance of her I wanted to write about
her," began a letter from her nurse — but it stopped
short with the words, "Ink seems to have frozen up, I
cannot write any more." ^
How shall I gather memories of my sister?
The stream of letters is congealed.
No comfort may be found in icicles.
So I wrote, and the answer was:
Like the comfortless plover of the beach
In the sand printing characters soon to be washed away,
Unable to leave a more enduring trace in this fleeting world.
^ The continuous writing of the cursive Japanese characters is
often compared to a meandering river. "Ink seems to have frozen
up" means that her eyes are dim with tears, and no more she can
write continuously and flowingly.
27
Diaries of Court Ladies
Tliat nurse went to see the grave and returned sob-
bing, saying:
/ seek her in the field, hut she is not there,
Nor is she in the smoke of the cremation.
Where is her last dwelling-place?
How can I find it?
The lady who had been my stepmother heard of this
[and wrote] :
When we wander in search of her,
Ignorant of her last dwelling-place^
Standing before the thought
Tears miist he our guide.
The person who had sent "The Prince Yearning
after the Buried" wrote:
How she must have wandered seeking the unfindahle
In the unfamiliar fields of hamboo grasses,
Fainly weeping!
Reading these poems my brother, who had followed
the funeral that night, composed a poem :
Before my vision
The fire and smoke of burning
Arose and died again.
To bamboo fields there is no more returning,
Why seek there in vain?
It snowed for many days, and I thought of the nun
who lived on Mount Yoshino, to whom I wrote:
Snow has fallen
And you cannot have
Even the unusual sight of men
Along the precipitous path of the Peak of Yoshino.
On the Sociable month of the next year father was
looking forward with happy expectation to the night
28
Of Old Japan
when he might expect an appointment as Governor
of a Province. He was disappointed, and a person
who might have shared our joy wrote to me, saying:
"I anxiously waited for the dawn with uncertain hope."
The temple hell roused me from dreams
And waiting for the starlit dawn
The nighty alas! was long as are
One hundred autumn nights.
I wrote back:
Long was the night.
The bell called from dreams in vain.
For it did not toll our realized hopes.
Towards the moon-hidden days [last days] of the
Rice-Sprout month I went for a certain reason to a
temple at Higashiyama.^ On the way the nursery
beds for rice-plants were filled with water, .and the
fields were green all over with the young growing
rice. It was a smile-presenting sight. It gave a feeling
of loneliness to see the dark shadow of the mountain
close before me. In the lovely evenings water-rails
chattered in the fields.
The water-rails cackle as if they were knocking at the gate^
But who would he deceived into opening the door, saying,
Our friend has come along the mountain path in the dark night?
As the place was near the Relzan Temple I went there
to worship. Arriving so far I was fatigued, and drank
from a stone-lined well beside the mountain temple,
scooping the water into the hollow of my hand.
My friend said, "I could never have enough of this
^ A mountain in a suburb of Kioto.
29
Diaries of Court Ladies
water." "Is it the first time," I asked, "that you have
tasted the satisfying sweetness of a mountain well
drunk from the hollow of your hand?" She said, "It
is sweeter than to drink from a shallow spring, which
becomes muddy even from the drops which fall from
the hand which has scooped it up." ^ We came home
from the temple in the full brightness of evening sun-
shine, and had a clear view of Kioto below us.
My friend, who had said that a spring becomes
muddy even with drops falling into it, had to go back
to the Capital.
I was sorry to part with her and sent word the next
morning:
When the evening sun descends behind the mountain peak^
Will you forget that it is I who gaze with longing
Towards the place where you are?
The holy voices of the priests reciting sutras In
their morning service could be heard from my house
and I opened the door. It was dim early dawn ; mist
veiled the green forest, which was thicker and darker
than in the time of flowers or red leaves. The sky
seemed clouded this lovely morning. Cuckoos were
singing on the near-by trees.
0 for a friend — that we might see and listen together!
O the beautiful dawn in the mountain village! —
The repeated sound of cuckoos near and far away.
On that moon-hidden day cuckoos sung clamorously
on trees towards the glen. "In the Royal City poets
* This conversation in the original is a play upon words which
cannot be translated.
30
Of Old Japan
maybe awaiting you, cuckoos, yet you sing here care-
lessly from morning till night!"
One who sat near me said : "Do you think that there
is one person, at least, in the Capital who is listening
to cuckoos, and thinking of us at this moment?" —
and then:
Many in the Royal City like to gaze on the calm moon.
But is there one who thinks of the deep mountain
Or is reminded of us hidden here?
I replied:
In the dead of nighty moon-gazing^
The thought of the deep mountain affrighted^
Yet longings for the mountain village
At all other moments filled my heart.
Once, towards dawn, I heard footsteps which
seemed to be those of many persons coming down the
mountain. I wondered -and looked out. It was a herd
of deer which came close to our dwelling. They cried
out. It was not pleasant to hear them near by.
It is sweet to hear the love-call of a deer to its mate.
In Autumn nights^ upon the distant hills.
I heard that an acquaintance had come near my
residence and gone back without calling on me. So
I wrote:
Even this wandering zoind among the pines of the mountain —
Pve heard that it departs with murmuring sound.
[That is, you are not like it. You do not speak v/hen
going away.]
In the Leaf-Falling month [September] I saw the
moon more than twenty days old. It was towards
31
Diaries of Court Ladies
dawn; the mountain-side was gloomy and the sound
of the waterfall was all [I heard]. I wish that lovers [of
nature] may see the after-dawn-waning moon in a
mountain village at the close of an autumn night.
I went back to Kioto when the rice-fields, which
had been filled with water when I came, were dried
up, the rice being harvested. The young plants in
their bed of water — the plants harvested — the
fields dried up — so long I remained away from home.
'T was the moon-hidden of the Gods-absent month
when I went there again for temporary residence. The
thick grown leaves which had cast a dark shade were
all fallen. The sight was heartfelt over all. The sweet,
murmuring rivulet was buried under fallen leaves and
I could see only the course of it.
Even water could not live on —
So lonesome is the mountain
Of the leaf-scattering stormy unnd.
[At about this time the author of this diary seems
to have had some family troubles. Her father received
no appointment from the King — they were probably
poor, and her gentle, poetic nature did not incline
her to seek useful friends at court; therefore many
of the best years of her youth were spent in obscurity
— a great contrast to the "Shining-Prince" dreams
of her childhood.]
I went back to Kioto saying that I should come
again the next Spring, could I live so long, and begged
the nun to send word when the flowering-time had
come.
32
Of Old Japan
It was past the nineteenth of the Ever-growing
month of the next year [1026], but there were no
tidings from her, so I wrote:
No word about the blooming cherry-blossoms ^
Has not the Spring come for you yet?
Or does the perfume of flowers not reach you?
I made a journey, and passed many a moonlit night
in a house beside a bamboo wood. Wind rustled its
leaves and my sleep was disturbed.
Night after night the bamboo leaves sigh.
My dreams are broken and a vague, indefinite sadness fills my
heart.
In Autumn [1026] I went to live elsewhere and sent
a poem:
/ am like dew on the grass —
And pitiable wherever I may be —
But especially am I oppressed with sadness
In a field with a thin growth of reeds.
After that time I was somehow restless and forgot
about the romances. My mind became more sober
and I passed many years without doing any remark-
able thing. I neglected religious services and temple
observances. Those fantastic ideas [of the romances]
can they be realized in this world? If father could win
some good position I also might enter into a much
nobler life. Such unreliable hopes then occupied my
daily thoughts.
At last ^ father was appointed Governor of a
Province very far in the East.
^ In an old chronicle of the times one reads that it was on Feb-
ruary 8, 1032.
33
Diaries of Court Ladies
[Here the diary skips six years. The following is
reminiscent.]
He [father] said: "I was always thinking that if I
could win a position as Governor in the neighbour-
hood of the Capital I could take care of you to my
heart's desire. I would wish to bring you down to see
beautiful scenery of sea and mountain. Moreover, I
wished that you could live attended beyond [the
possibilities] of our [present] position. Our Karma
relation from our former world must have been bad.
Now I have to go to so distant a country after waiting
so long! When I brought you, who were a little child,
to the Eastern Province [at his former appointment],
even a slight illness caused me much trouble of mind
in thinking that should I die, you would wander
helpless in that far country. There were many fears
in a stranger's country, and I should have lived with
an easier mind had I been alone. As I was then ac-
companied by all my family, I could not say or do
what I wanted to say or do, and I was ashamed of it.
Now you are grown up [she was twenty-five years old]
and I am not sure that I can live long.
It is not so unusual a fate to be helpless in the
Capital, but the saddest thing of all would be to
wander in the Eastern Province like any country-
woman.^ There are no relatives in the Capital upon
whom we could rely to foster you, yet I cannot refuse
the appointment which has been made after such long
* The country people of the Eastern Provinces beyond Tokyo
were then called " Eastern barbarians."
34
Of Old Japan
waiting. So you must remain here, and I must depart
for Eternity. — Oh, in what way may I provide a way
for you to live in the Capital decently!
Night and day he lamented, saying these things,
and I forgot all about flowers or maple leaves, griev-
ing sadly, but there was no help for it.
He went down^ on the thirteenth of the Seventh
month, 1032.
For several days before that I could not remain still
in my own room, for I thought it difficult to see him
again.
On that day [the 13 th] after restless hours, when the
[time for] parting came, I had lifted the blind and my
eye met his, from which tears dropped down. Soon
he had passed by.^ My eyes were dim with tears and
soon I concealed myself in bed [tears were bad man-
ners]. A man who had gone to see him off returned
^ with a poem written on a bit of pocket paper.
A message from her father:
// / could do as I wish
I could acknowledge more profoundly
The sorrow of departing in Autumn.
[The last line has, of course, reference to his age
and the probability of never returning.]
* Away from the Capital where the King resides is always down;
towards the capital is always up.
* This scene will be better understood by the reader if he re-
members that her father was in the street in the midst of his train of
attendants — an imposing cavalcade of bow-men, warriors, and
attendants of all sorts, with palanquins and luggage, prepared to
make a two or three months' journey through the wilderness to the
Province of Hitachi, far in the East. She, as a Japanese lady could
not go out to speak to him, but unconventionally she had drawn up
the blind and "her eye met his."
35
Diaries of Court Ladies
I could not read the poem to the end.
In the happier time I had often tried to compose
halting poems [literally, of broken loins], but at pres-
ent I had no word to say.
— never began to think in this world even for
a moment from you to part. Alas!
No person came to my side and I was very lonely
and forlorn musing and guessing where he would be
at every moment. As I knew the road he was taking
[the same which is described in this journal], I
thought of him the more longingly and with greater
heart-shrinking. Morning and evening I looked to-
wards the sky-line of the eastern mountains.
In the Leaf-Falling month I went to the temple at
Udzumaza [Korinji] to pass many days.
We came upon two men's palanquins in the road
from Ichijo, which had stopped there. They must
have been waiting for some one to catch up with
them. When I passed by they sent an attendant with
the message: "Flower-seeing go? — we suppose."
I thought it would be awkward not to reply to such
a slight matter, and answered:
Thousand kinds ^ —
To he like them in the fields of Autumn.
I stayed in the temple for seven days, but could
think of nothing but the road to the East.
I prayed to the Buddha, saying: "There is no way
to change the present, but grant that we may meet
* To translate: As there are a thousand kinds of flowers in the
autumn £elds, so there are a thousand reasons for going to the fields.
36
Of Old Japan
again peacefully after this parting" — and I thought
the Buddha would pity and grant my prayer.
It was midwinter. It rained all day. In the night a
cloud-turning wind blew terribly and the sky cleared.
The moon became exquisitely bright, and it was sad
to see the tall reeds near the house broken and blown
down by the wind.
Dead stalks of reeds must be reminded of good Autumn days.
In midwinter depths the tempest lays them loWy
Confused and broken.
["Their fate is like my own," is intangibly ex-
pressed in this poem.]
A messenger arrived from the East.
Father's letter:
" I wandered through the Province [Hitachi, now Ibaraki-
ken] going into every Shinto shrine and saw a wide field with
a beautiful river running through it.^ There was a beautiful
wood. My first thought was of you, and to make you see it,
and I asked the name of that grove. ' The grove of Longing
After One's Child ' was the answer. I thought of the one who
had first named it and was extremely sad. Alighting from
my horse I stood there for two hours.
After leaving —
Like me he must have yearned
Sorrowful to see —
The forest of Longing After One's Child."
To see that letter is a sadder thing than to have
seen the forest.
[The poem sent in return presents difficulties in the
» The Tone River.
37
Diaries of Court Ladies
way of translation as there is a play upon words,
literally it is something like this :]
The grove of "Longing After One's Child"; left;
Father-caressed ^ Mountain; [Chichibusan] hard
Eastern way —
The grove of Longing After One's Child —
Hearing of it I think of the Father-caressed Mountain:
Towards it hard is the Eastern way
For a child left [here alone].
Thus I passed days in doing nothing, and I began
to think of going to temples [making pilgrimages].
Mother was a person of extremely antiquated mind.
She said : "Oh, dreadful is the Hatsuse Temple! What
should you do if you were caught by some one at the
Nara ascent.^ Ishiyama too! SekiyamaPass [near Lake
Biwa] is very dreadful! Kurama-san [the famous moun-
tain], oh, dreadful to bring you there! You may go
there when father comes back."
As mother says so, I can go only to Kiyomidzu
Temple.^ My old habits of romantic indulgence were
not dead yet, and I could not fix my mind on re-
ligious thoughts as I ought.
In the equinoctial week there was a great tumult
[of festival], so great a noise that I was even afraid of
it, and when I lay asleep I dreamt there was a priest
within the enclosure before the altar, in blue garments
with loose brocade hood and brocade shoes. He seemed
to be the intendant of the temple: "You, being occu-
pied with vain thoughts, are not praying for happi-
* Name of mountain in eastern part of Japan.
* In the eastern part of Kioto, now a famous spot.
38
Of Old Japan
ness in the world to come," he said indignantly, and
went behind the curtain. I awoke startled, yet neither
told any one what I had dreamt, nor thought about
it much.
My mother had two one-foot-in-diameter bronze
mirrors cast and made a priest take them for us to the
Hatsuse Temple. Mother told the priest to pass two
or three days in the temple especially praying that a
dream might be vouchsafed about the future state of
this woman [the daughter]. For that period I was
made to observe religious purity [i.e. abstain from
animal food.]
The priest came back to tell the following:
"I was reluctant to return without having even a
dream, and after bowing many times and performing
other ceremonies I went to sleep. There came out from
behind the curtain a graceful holy lady in beautiful
garments. She, taking up the offered mirrors, asked
me if no letters were affixed to these mirrors. I an-
swered in the most respectful manner, * There were
no letters. I was told only to offer these.' 'Strange!'
she said. * Letters are to be added. See what is mir-
rored in one, it creates pity to look at it.' I saw her
weep bitterly and saw appear in the mirror shadows
of people rolling over in lamentation. 'To see these
shadows makes one sad, but to see this makes one
happy,' and she held up the other mirror. There,
the misu was fresh green and many-coloured gar-
ments were revealed below the lower edge of it.
Plum- and cherry-blossoms were in flower. Nightin-
gales were singing from tree to tree."
39
Diaries of Court Ladies
I did not even listen to his story nor question him
as to how things seemed in his dream. Some one said,
"Pray to the Heavenly Illuminating Honoured God-
dess," and my irreverent mind thought, "Where is
she? Is she a Goddess or a Buddha?'*
At first I said so, but afterwards grew more discreet
and asked some one about her, who replied: "She is a
goddess, and takes up her abode at Ise.^ The goddess
is also worshipped by the Provincial Governor of Kii.
She is worshipped at the ancestor shrine in the Im-
perial Court."
I could not by any means get to Ise. How could I
bow before the Imperial shrine? I could never be
allowed to go there. The idea flowed through my
mind to pray for the heavenly light.
A relative of mine became a nun, and entered the
Sugaku Temple. In winter I sent her a poem:
Even tears arise for your sake
When I think of the mountain hamlet
Where snow-storms will be raging.
Reply:
I seem to have a glimpse of you
Coming to me through the dark wood^
When close over head is Summer's growth of leaves.
1036. Father, who had gone down towards the East,
came back at last. He settled down at Nishiyama,
and we all went there. We were very happy. One
moon-bright night we talked all the night through:
^ The Ise shrine was first built in the year S B.C. See note on Ise
shrine in Murasaki Shikibu Diary.
40
Of Old Japan
Such nights as this exist!
As if it were for Eternity ^ I parted from you —•
How sad was that Autumn!
At this father shed tears [of happiness] abundantly,
and answered me with a poem :
That life grows dear and is lived with rejoicing
Which once was home with hate and lamentation
My joy knew no bounds when my waiting was at an
end after the supposed parting "for Eternity," yet my
father said: "It is ridiculous to lead a worldly life
when one is very old. I used to feel so when I saw old
men, but now it is my turn to be old, so I will retire
from social life." As he said it with no lingering affec-
tion for this world, I felt quite alone.
Towards the East the field stretched far and wide
and I could see clearly from Mount Hiye ^ to Mount
Inari. Towards the West, the pines of the forest of
Narabigaoka were sounding in my ear, and up to
the tableland on which our house stood the rice-
fields were cultivated in terraces, while from them
came the sound of the bird-scaring clappers, giving
me a homely country sentiment.
One moonlight evening I had a message from an old
acquaintance who had had an opportunity to send to
me, and this I sent back:
None calls upon me, or remembers me in my mountain village.
On the reeds by the thin hedge, the Autumn winds are sighing.
1037. In the Tenth month we changed our abode to
the Capital. Mother had become a nun, and although
» Mt. Hiye: 2500 ft.
41
Diaries of Court Ladies
she lived In the same house, shut herself up in a sepa-
rate chamber. Father rather treated me as an inde-
pendent woman than as his child. I felt helpless to
see him shunning all society and living hidden in the
shade.
A person [the Princess Yuko, daughter of the Em-
peror Toshiyaku] who had heard about me through a
distant relative called me [to her] saying it would be
better [to be with her] than passing idle lonely days.
My old-fashioned parents thought the court life
would be very unpleasant, and wanted me to pass my
time at home, but others said: "People nowadays go
out as ladies-in-waiting at the Court, and then fortu-
nate opportunities [for marriage] are naturally nu-
merous; why not try it.?" So [at the age of twenty-six]
I was sent to the Court against my will.
I went for one night the first time. I was dressed In
an eight-fold uchigi of deep and pale chrysanthemum
colours, and over it I wore the outer flowing robe of
deep-red silk.
As I have said before, my mind was absorbed In
romances, and I had no important relatives from
whom I could learn distinguished manners or court
customs, so except from the romances I could not
know them. I had always been in the shadow of the
antiquated parents, and had been accustomed not to
go out but to see moon and flowers. So when I left
home I felt as if I were not I nor was it the real world
[to which I was going]. I started in the early morning.
I had often fancied in my countrified mind that I
should hear more interesting things for my heart's
42
Of Old Japan
consolation than were to be found living fixed in my
parents' house.
I felt awkward in Court in everything I did, and I
thought it sad, but there was no use in complaining.
I remembered with grief my nieces who had lost their
mother and had been cared for by me alone, even
sleeping at night one on either side of me.
r Days were spent in musing with a vacant mind. I
felt as if some one were [always] spying upon me, and
I was embarrassed.^ After ten days or so I got leave
to go out. Father and mother were waiting for me
with a comfortable fire in a brazier.
Seeing me getting out of my palanquin,' my nieces
said: "When you were with us people came to see us,
but now no one's voice is heard, no one's shadow falls
before the house. We are very low-spirited; what can
you do for us who must pass days like this?" It was
pitiful to see them cry when they said it. The next
morning they sat before me, saying: "As you are here
many persons are coming and going. It seems live-
lier."
Tears came to my eyes to think what virtue [lit-
erally, fragrance] I could have that my little nieces
made so much of me.
It would be very* difiicult even for a saint to dream
of his prenatal life. Yet, when I was before the altar
of the Kiyomldzu Temple, in a faintly dreamy state
^ The custom of the Court obliged the court ladies to lead a life
of almost no privacy — sleeping at night together in the presence
of the Queen, and sharing their apartments with each other.
43
Diaries of Court Ladies
of mind which was neither sleeping nor waking, I saw
a man who seemed to be the head of the temple. He
came out and said to me:
"You were once a priest of this temple and you were
bom into a better state by virtue of the many Bud-
dhist images which you carved as a Buddhist artist.
The Buddha seventeen feet high which is enthroned
in the eastern side of the temple was your work. When
you were in the act of covering it with gold foil you
died."
"Oh, undeservedly blessed!" I said. "I will finish
it, then."
The priest replied: "As you died, another man cov-
ered it and performed the ceremony of offerings."
I came to myself and thought: "If I serve with
all my heart the Buddha of the Kiyomidzu Temple
... by virtue of my prayers in this temple in the
previous life . . ." ^
In the Finishing month I went again to the Court.
A room was assigned for my use.
I went to the Princess's apartment every night and
lay down among unknown persons, so I could not
sleep at all. I was bashful and timid and wept in
secret. In the morning I retired while it was still dark
and passed the days in longing for home where my old
and weak parents, making much of me, relied upon me
as if I were worthy of it. I yearned for them and felt
very lonely. Unfortunate, deplorable, and helpless
mind! — That was graven into my thought and al-
though I had to perform my duty faithfully I could
^ Some words are lost from this sentence.
44
tm^^
o •- «>
o * s
.a §
u s a
2 g §
c V
'5 i
Of Old Japan
not always wait upon the Princess. She seemed not to
guess what was In my heart, and attributing it only to
shyness favored me by summoning me often from
among the other ladies. She used to say, "Call the
yoimger ladies!" and I was dragged out in spite of
myself.
Those who were familiar with the court life seemed
to be at home there, but I, who was not very young,
yet did not wish to be counted among the elderly,
was rather neglected, and made to usher guests. How-
ever, I did not expect too much of court life, and
had no envy for those who were more graceful than
I. This, on the contrary, set me at ease, and I from
time to time presented myself before the Princess;
and talked only with congenial friends about lovely
things. Even on smile-presenting, interesting occa-
sions I shrank from intruding and becoming too
popular, and did not go far into most things.
Sleeping one night before the Princess, I was
awakened by cries and fluttering noises from the
waterfowl in the pond.
Like us the water jowl pass all the night in floating sleepy
They seem to he weary
With shaking away the frost from their feathers.
My companions passed their leisure time in talk-
ing over romances with the door open which separated
our rooms, and they often called back one who had
gone to the Princess's apartment. She sent word once,
"I will go if I must" [intending to give herself the
pleasure of coming].
45
Diaries of Court Ladies
The long leaves of the reed are easily bent,
So I will not forcibly persuade it.
But leave it to the wind.
In this way [composing poems] we passed [the
hours] talking idly. Afterwards this lady separated
from the Court and left us. She remembered that
night and sent me word —
That moonless^ flowerless winter night
It penetrates my thought and makes me dwell on it -^
I wonder why?
It touched my heart, for I also was thinking of that
night:
In my dreams the tears of that cold night are still frozen.
But these I weep away secretly.
The Princess still called my stepmother by the
name of Kazusa^ — Governor's lady. Father was dis-
pleased that that name was still used after she had
become another man's wife, and he made me write to
her about it:
The name of Asakura in a far-off country.
The Court now hears it in a divine dance-song: —
My name also is still somewhere heard [but not honourably].'^
One very bright night, after the full moon, I at-
tended the Princess to the Imperial Palace. I remem-
bered that the Heaven Illuminating Goddess was
enthroned within, and wanted to take an opportun-
ity to kneel before the altar. One moon-bright night
* Kazusa: Name of Province in the East.
* Asakura is a place-name in Kyushu. There was a song entitled
"Asakura" which seems to have been popular in those days and was
sung in the Court.
46
Of Old Japan
[1042 A.D.] I went in [to the shrine] privately, for I
know Lady Hakase^ who was taking care of this
shrine. The perpetual lights before the altar burned
dimly. She [the Lady Hakase] grew wondrously old
and holy; she seems not like a mortal, but like a
divine Incarnation, yet she spoke very gracefully.
The moon was very bright on the following night
and the Princess's ladies passed the time in talking
and moon-gazing, opening the doors [outer shutters]
of the Fujitsubo.^ The footsteps of the Royal con-
sort of Umetsubo going up to the King's apartment
were so exquisitely graceful as to excite envy. "Had
the late Queen ^ been living, she could not walk so
grandly," some one said. I composed a poem:
She is like the Mooriy tvhoy opening the gate oj Heaven,
goes up over the clouds.
We J being in the same heavenly Palace, pass the night
in remembering the footfalls of the past.
The ladies who are charged with the duty of intro-
ducing the court nobles seem to have been fixed upon,
and nobody notices whether simple-hearted country-
women like me exist or not. On a very dark night
in the beginning of the Gods-absent month, when
sweet-voiced reciters were to read sutras through-
out the night, another lady and I went out towards
the entrance door of the Audience Room to listen to
* Hakase is LL.D., so she might have been daughter of a scholar.
* Special house devoted to use of a King's wife.
' The Princess, whom our lady served, was the daughter of
King Goshijaku's Queen. The Queen died 1039. After this the
Royal Consort Umetsubo won the King's favour.
47
Diaries of Court Ladies
it, and after talking fell asleep, listening, leaning,
. . .^ when I noticed a gentleman had come to be
received in audience by the Princess.
"It is awkward to run away to our apartment [to
escape him]. We will remain here. Let it be as it will."
So said my companion and I sat beside her listening.
He spoke gently and quietly. There was nothing
about him to be regretted. "Who is the other lady?"
he asked of my friend. He said nothing rude or amo-
rous like other men, but talked delicately of the sad,
sweet things of the world, and many a phrase of his
with a strange power enticed me into conversation.
He wondered that there should have been in the
Court one who was a stranger to him, and did not
seem inclined to go away soon.
There was no starlight, and a gentle shower fell in
the darkness; how lovely was its sound on the leaves!
"The more deeply beautiful is the night," he said;
"the full moonlight would be too dazzling." Dis-
coursing about the beauties of Spring and Autumn
he continued: "Although every hour has its charm,
pretty is the spring haze; then the sky being tranquil
and overcast, the face of the moon is not too bright;
it seems to be floating on a distant river. At such a
time the calm spring melody of the lute is exquisite.
"In Autumn, on the other hand, the moon is very
bright; though there are mists trailing over the ho-
rizon we can see things as clearly as if they were at
hand. The sound of wind, the voices of insects, all
sweet things seem to melt together. When at such a
1 Some words lost.
48
Of Old Japan
time we listen to the autumnal music of the koto ^
we forget the Spring — we think that is best —
"But the winter sky frozen all over magnificently
cold ! The snow covering the earth and its light min-
gling with the moonshine! Then the notes of the
hitchiriki ^ vibrate on the air and we forget Spring
and Autumn." And he asked us, "Which captivates
your fancy? On which stays your mind?"
My companion answered in favour of Autumn
and I, not being willing to imitate her, said:
Pale green night and flowers all melting into one
in the soft haze —
Everywhere the moon^ glimmering in the Spring night.
So I replied. And he, after repeating my poem to
himself over and over, said: "Then you give up
Autumn? After this, as long as I live, such a spring
night shall be for me a memento of your personality."
The person who favoured Autumn said, "Others
seem to give their hearts to Spring, and I shall be
alone gazing at the autumn moon."
He was deeply interested, and being uncertain in
thought said: "Even the poets of the Tang Empire '
could not decide which to praise most. Spring or Au-
tumn. Your decisions make me think that there must
be some personal reasons when our inclination is
touched or charmed. Our souls are imbued with the
colours of the sky, moon, or flowers of that moment.
I desire much to know how you came to know the
^ A thirteen-stringed musical instrument.
* A pipe made of seven reeds having a very clear, piercing
sound.
' Famous period in Chinese history.
49
Diaries of Court Ladies
charms of Spring and Autumn. The moon of a win-
ter night is given as an instance of dreariness, and
as it is very cold I had never seen it intentionally.
When I went down to Ise to be present as the mes-
senger of the King at the ceremony ^ of installing
the virgin in charge of the shrine, I wanted to come
back in the early dawn, so went to take leave of the
Princess [whose installation had just taken place] in
a moon-bright night after many days' snow, half
shrinking to think of my journey.
"Her residence was an other-worldly place awful
even to the imagination, but she called me into an
adequate apartment. There were persons [in that
room] who had come down in the reign of the Em-
peror Enyu.^ Their aspect was very holy, ancient,
and mystical. They told of the things of long ago with
tears. They brought out a well-timed four-stringed
lute. The music did not seem to be anything happen-
ing in this world; I regretted that day should even
dawn, and was touched so deeply that I had almost
forgotten about returning to the Capital. Ever since
then the snowy nights of winter recall that scene,
and I without fail gaze at the moon even though
hugging the fire. You will surely understand me, and
hereafter every dark night with gentle rain will
touch my heart; I feel this has not been inferior to
the snowy night at the palace of the Ise virgin."
With these words he departed and I thought he
could not have known who I was.
* This gentleman's name is known.
' He ruled from 970 to 984. It was now 1045.
SO
Of Old Japan
In the Eighth month of the next year [1043] we went
again to the Imperial Palace, and there was in the
Court an entertainment throughout the night. I did
not know that he was present at it, and I passed that
night in my own room. When I looked out [in early
morning] opening the sliding doors on the corridor I
saw the morning moon very faint and beautiful. I
heard footsteps and people approached — some re-
citing sutras. One of them came to the entrance, and
addressed me. I replied, and he, suddenly remember-
ing, exclaimed, "That night of softly falling rain I
do not forget, even for a moment! I yearn for it." As
chance did not permit me many words I said :
What intensity of memory clings to your heart?
That gentle shower fell on the leaves —
Only for a moment [our hearts touched].
I had scarcely said so when people came up and I
stole back without his answer.
That evening, after I had gone to my room, my
companion came in to tell me that he had replied to
my poem : " If there be such a tranquil night as that
of the rain, I should like in some way to make you
listen to my lute, playing all the songs I can remem-
ber."
I wanted to hear it, and waited for the fit occasion,
but there was none, ever.
In the next year one tranquil evening I heard that
he had come into the Princess's Palace, so I crept out
of my chamber with my companion, but there were
many people waiting within and without the Palace,
and I turned back. He must have been of the same
SI
Diaries of Court Ladies
mind with me. He had come because it was so still
a night, and he returned because it was noisy.
/ yearn for a tranquil moment
To he out upon the sea of harmony^
In that enchanted boat.
Oh, boatman, do you know my heart?
So I composed that poem — and there is nothing
more to tell. His personality was very excellent and
he was not an ordinary man, but time passed, and
neither called to the other.
In Winter, though the snow had not come yet, the
starlit sky was clear and cold. One whole night I
talked with those who were in the Palace . . . ^
Like a good-for-nothing woman I retired from the
Court life.
On the twenty-fifth of the End month [Christmas
Day, 1043] I was summoned by the Princess to the
religious service of reciting Buddha's names. I went
for that night only. About forty ladies were there all
dressed in deep-red dresses and also in deep-red
outer robe. I sat behind the person who led me in —
the most shadow-like person among them — and I
retired before dawn. On my way home it snowed in
fluttering flakes, and the frozen, ghostly moon was
reflected in my dull-red sleeves of glossy silk. Even
that reflection seemed to be wet and sad. I thought
all the way: "The year comes to a close and the night
also — and the moon reflected in my sleeve — all
* Something seems to have occurred which may have been her
marriage to a noble of lower rank or inferior family than her own,
but one can only infer this, she does not tell it.
52
Of Old Japan
passes. When one Is in Court, one may become fa-
miliar with those who serve there, and know worldly
things better, and if one is thought amiable one is
received as a lady and favours may be bestowed" —
such had been my thought, but father was now dis-
appointed in me and kept me at home; but how could
I expect that my fortunes should become dazzling in
a moment? It was father's idle fancy, yet he felt
that it had betrayed him.
Though a thousand times, how many! I gathered parsley *
in the fields
Yet my wishes were by no means fulfilled.
I grumbled so far, and no farther.
I regretted deeply the idle fancies of old days, and
as my parents would not accompany me to temples
[on pilgrimages] I could hardly suppress my impa-
tience. I wish to strengthen my spirit to bring up
my child who is still in the germ. Moreover, I wish
to do my best to pile up virtuous deeds for the life
to come, so encouraging my heart I went to the
Ishiyama Temple after the twentieth day of the Frost
month [1045]. It snowed and the route was lovely.
On coming in sight of the barrier at Osaka Pass, I was
reminded that it was also in Winter when I passed it
on my way up to Kioto. Then also it was a windy
tempestuous day.
* There is an old fable about parsley: A country person ate parsley
and thought it very fine, so he went up to the Capital to present
it to the King, but the King was not so much pleased, for he could
not find it good. So "to gather parsley" means to endeavour to win
others' favour by offering something we care for but others do not.
S3
Diaries of Court Ladies
The sound of the Autumn toind at the barrier of Osaka!
It differs not from that heard long ago.
The temple at Seki, magnificent though it was,
made me think of the old roughly hewn Buddha. The
beach at Uchide has not changed in the passing of
months and years, but my own heart feels change.
Towards evening I arrived at the temple and after
a bath went up to the main shrine. The mountain wind
was dreadful. I took it for a good omen that, falling
asleep in the temple [I heard a voice], saying: "From
the inner shrine perfume has been bestowed. Tell it
at once.'' At the words I awoke, and passed the night
in prayer.
The next day the wind raged and it snowed heavily.
I comforted my lonely heart with the friend of the
Princess who came with me. We left after three days.
On the twenty-fifth of the Tenth month of the
next year [1046] the Capital was in great excitement
over the purification ceremonies before the Great
Ceremony.^
For my part I wanted to set out that same day for
Hase [Temple] for my own religious purification. They
stopped me, saying it was a sight to be seen only once
in one reign; that even the country-people come to»
see the procession, and it was madness to leave the
city that very day. "Your deeds will be spread
abroad and people will gossip about you," said my
brother angrily. "No, no, let the person have her
own will"; and according to my wish he [her hus-
band] let me start. His kindness touched me, but on
* Goreizai, from 1046 to 1068.
S4
Of Old Japan
the other hand I pitied those who accompanied me
[her retinue], who with longing hearts wanted to see
the ceremony.
But what have we to do with such shows ? Buddha
will be pleased with those who come at a time like
this. I wanted without fail to receive the divine
favour, and started before dawn. When I was cross-
ing the great bridge of Nijo, with pine torches flam-
ing before me, and with my attendants in pure white
robes, all the men on horseback, in carriage, or on
foot who encountered me on their way to the stands
prepared for sight-seers said, in surprise, "What is
that.'*" and some even laughed or scolded me. As I
was passing before the gate of Yoshinori the Com-
mander of the Bodyguard and his men were standing
there before the wide-open portals. They said, laugh-
ing, "Here goes a company to the temple — there
are many days and months in the world [to do that
•in]!" But there was one [standing by] who said:
*'What is it to fatten the eyes for a moment.** They
are firmly determined. They will surely receive Bud-
dha's favour; we ought also to make up our minds
[for the good] without sight-seeing." Thus one man
gpoke seriously.
I had wanted to leave the city before broad day-
light, and had started in the middle of the night, but
had to wait for belated persons till the very thick fog
became thinner. People flowed in from the country
like a river. Nobody could turn aside to make room
for anybody else, and even the ill-behaved and vulgar
children, who passed beside my carriage with some
55
Diaries of Court Ladies
difficulty, had words of wonder and contempt for us.
I felt sorry that I had started that day, yet praying
to Buddha with all my heart, I arrived at the ferry
of Uji. Even there the people were coming up to the
city in throngs, and the ferry-man, seeing these num-
berless people, was filled with his own importance,
and grew proud. He, tucking up his sleeves against
his face and leaning on his pole, would not bring the
boat at once. He looked around whistling and as-
sumed an indifferent air. We could not cross the river
for a long time, so I looked around the place, which
I had felt a curiosity to see, ever since reading Genji-
monogatari which tells that the daughter of the
Princess of Uji lived here. I thought it a charming
spot. At last we managed to get across the river and
went to see the Uji mansion.^ I was at once reminded
that the Lady Ukifune [of the romance] had been
living here.
As we had started before daybreak, my people
were tired out, and rested at Hiroichi to take food.
The Guard said: "Is that the famous mountain
Kurikoma.? It is towards evening, be ready with
your armour" [to protect from robbers or evil spir-
its]. I listened to these words with a shudder, but we
passed that mountain [without adventure] and the
sun was on its sunmiit when we arrived at the lake
^ This is called the ByodSin and is one of the famous buildings now
existing in Japan (see illustrations in Cram's Impressions of Japci-
nese Architecture), built upon an exquisite design, and original in char-
acter. It had been the villa of the Prime Minister, but was made into
a temple in 105 1, when the riches of the interior decorations were
more like the gorgeousness of Indian temples than the chaster
decorations of Japan.
S6
Of Old Japan
of Nieno. They went in several directions to seek a
lodging and returned saying there was no proper
place, only an obscure hut; but as there was no other
place we took that.
In the house there were only two men, for the
rest had all gone to the Capital. Those two men did
not sleep that night at all, but kept watch around
the house. My maids who were in the recess [perhaps
the outer part of the hut used as kitchen] asked,
"Why do you walk about so?" and the men answered,
"Why? we have rented our house to perfect strangers.
What should we do if our kettles were stolen? Of
course we cannot sleep!" I felt both dread and
laughter to hear them.
In the early morning we left there and knelt before
the great East Temple.^ The temple at Iso-no-Kami
was antique and on the verge of ruin. That night we
lodged at Yamabe Temple. Although I was tired
out, I recited sutras and went to sleep. In my dream
I saw a very noble and pure woman. At her coming
the wind blew deliciously. She found me out, and
said, smiling, "For what purpose have you come?"
I answered, "How could I help coming?" [since you
are here], and she said, "You would better be in the
Imperial Court, and become intimate with the Lady
Hakase." I was very much delighted and encouraged.
We crossed the river and arrived at the Hatsuse
Temple at night. After purifying, I went up to the
Temple. I remained three days, and slept expecting
* At Nara where the great Buddha, i6o feet high, was already-
standing.
57
Diaries of Court Ladies
to start in the morning. At midnight I dreamt that
a cedar twig ^ was thrown into the room as a token
bestowed by the Inari god. I was startled, but wak-
ing found it only a dream.
We began our return journey after midnight, and
as we could not find a lodging, we again passed a
night in a very small house, which seemed to be a
very curious one somehow. "Do not sleep! Some-
thing unexpected will happen!" "Don't be fright-
ened!" "Lie down even without breathing!" This
was said and I spent the night in loneliness and
dread. I felt that I lived a thousand years that night,
and when the day dawned I saw that we were in a
robbers' den. People said that the mistress of that
house lived by a strange occupation.
We crossed the Uji River in a high wind and the
ferry-boat passed very near the fishing seine.
Years have passed and only sounds of waters have come to my
ears^
To-day^ indeed^ I may even count the ripples around the fishing
net.
[This poem may seem a little obscure. It means
that her own life had been lived long in a kind of
dreamland of her own creating, but was gradually
emerging into reality.]
If, as I am doing now, I continue to write down
events four or five years after they have happened,
^ In those days it was the custom for the person who wished to be
favoured by the Inari god to crown his head with a twig of cedar.
The Inari god was then the god of the rice-plant. He is now confused
with the fox-god whose little shrines, flanked by small stone foxes,
are seen everywhere.
S8
Of Old Japan
my life will seem to be that of a pilgrim, but it is not
so. I am jotting down the happenings of several
years. In the spring I went to Kurama Temple. It
was a soft spring day, with mist trailing over the
mountain-side. The mountain people brought tokoro
[a kind of root] as the only food and I found it good.
When I left there flowers were already gone.
In Gods-absent month I went again, and the
mountain views along the way were more beautiful
than before, the mountain-side brocaded with the
autumn colours. The stream, rushing headlong,
boiled up like molten metal and then shattered into
crystals.
When I reached the monastery the maple leaves,
wet with a shower, were brilliant beyond compare.
The pattern of the maple leaves in Autumn dyed with the rain —
Beautiful in the deep mountain!
After two years or so I went again to Ishiyama. It
seemed to be raining, and I heard some one saying
rain is disagreeable on a journey, but on opening the
door I found the waning moon lighting even the
depths of the ravine. What I thought rain was the
stream rippling below the roots of the trees.
The sound of the mountain brook gives an illusion of rain drops,
Yet the calm of the waning moon shines over all.
The next time I went to Hase Temple, my journey
was not so solitary as before. Along the route various
persons invited me to ceremonious dinners, and we
made but slow progress. The autumn woods were
beautiful at the Hahasono forest in Yamashiro. I
59
Diaries of Court Ladies
crossed the Hase River. We stayed there for three
days. This time we were too many to lodge in that
small house on the other side of the Nara Pass, so we
camped in the field. Our men passed the night lying
on mukabaki ^ spread on the grass. They could not
sleep for the dew which fell on their heads. The moon
clear and more picturesque than elsewhere.
Even in our wandering journey^
The lonely moon accompanies us lighting us from the sky.
The waning moon I used to gaze at in the Royal City.
As I could do as I liked, I went even to distant
temples for worship, and my heart was consoled
through both the pleasures and fatigues of the way.
Though it was half diversion, yet it [her prayers]
gave me hope. I had no pressing sorrow in those days
and tried to bring up my boy in the manner I thought
best, and was impatient of passing time. The man
I depended upon [her husband] wished to attain to
happiness like other people, and the future looked
promising. A dear friend of mine, who used to ex-
change poems with me and continued to write,
through many changes of situation, although not so
often as of old, married the Governor of Echizen
and went down to that Province. After that all com-
munication between us ceased, so I wrote her a poem
finding the means of sending it with great difficulty:
Undying affection!
Can it end at last, overlaid zvith time
Even as snow covers the land in the Northern Province?
* A kind of leathern shield made of untanned deerskin worn hang-
ing from the shoulder.
60
Of Old Japan
She wrote back:
Even a little pehhle does not cease to he^
Though pressed under the snow of Hakusan;
So is my affection even though hidden.
I went down to a hollow of Nishlyama [in the west-
ern hills of Kioto], There were flowers blooming in
confusion. It was beautiful, yet lonely. There was no
sight of man. A tranquil haze enclosed us.
Far from towns, in the heart of the mountain,
The cherry blooms, and wastes its blooms away
With none to see.
When the sorrow of the World ^ troubled my heart I
made a retreat in the Uzumasa Temple. To me there
arrived a letter from one who served the Princess.
While I was answering it the temple bell was heard.
The outer world of many sorrows
Is not to be forgotten even here.
At the sound of the evening bell
Lonely grows my heart.
To the beautifully tranquil palace of the Princess I
went one day to talk with two congenial friends. The
next day, finding life rather tedious, I thought long-
ingly of them and sent a poem: ^
Knowing the place of our meeting to be the sea of tears,
Where memories ripple, and affections flow back,
Yet we ventured into it — and my longing for you grew stronger
than ever.
One wrote back:
We ventured into that sea.
To find the pearls of consolement.
No pearls, but drops of sad, sweet tears we found!
* The World: i.e. her husband.
* The following poems have been found impossible of literal trans-
lation on account of play of words.
6i
Diaries of Court Ladies
And the other:
Who would venture into the sea of tears
Seeking for the chance with zealous care,
Had not the flowers of lovely vision floated in it !
That friend being of the same mind with me, we
used to talk over every joy and sorrow of the world,
but she went down to the Province of Chikuzen in
Kyushu [extreme southwest of old Japan]. On a
moon-bright night I went to bed thinking of her with
longing, for in the palace we had been wont not to
sleep on such a night, but to sit up gazing into the
sky. I dreamed that we were in the palace and saw
each other as we had done in reality. I awoke startled;
the moon was then near the western ridge of the
mountain and I thought "I would I had not wak-
ened " ^ [quoting from a famous poem].
Tell her, oh, western-going moon,
That dreaming of her I could sleep no more.
But all the night
My pillow was bedewed with loving tears.
In the Autumn [1056] I had occasion to go down to
the Province of Izumi.^ From Yodo the journey was
very picturesque. We passed a night at Takahama.
It was dark, and in the depths of the night I heard the
sound of an oar, and was told that a singer had come.
My companions called her boat to come alongside
ours. She was lighted by a distant fire, her sleeves
^ As I slept fondly thinking of him
He appeared to my sight —
Oh, I would I had not wakened
To find it only a dream!
* Her brother Sadayoshi was Governor of that Province.
62
Of Old Japan
were long, she shaded her face with a fan and sung.
She was charming. The next evening, when the sun
was still on the mountain-top, we passed the beach of
Sumiyoshi. It was seen all in mist, and pine branches,
the surface of the sea, and the beach where waves
rolled up, combined to make a scene more beautiful
than a picture.
It is an evening of Autumn
— The seashore of Sumiyoshi!
Can words describe it?
What can he compared with it?
Even after the boat was towed along, I looked back
again and again, never satiated.
In the Winter I returned to Kioto. We took our boat
at Oe Bay. That night a tempest raged with such fury
that the very rocks seemed to be shaken. The god of
Thunder ^ came roaring, and the sound of dashing
waves, the tumult of the wind, the horrors of the sea,
made me feel that life was coming to an end. But they
dragged the boat ashore, where we spent the night.
The rain stopped, but not the wind, and we could not
start. We passed five or six days on these wide-
stretching sands. When the wind had gone down a
little, I looked out, rolling up the curtain of my cabin.
The evening tide was rising swiftly and cranes called
to each other in the bay.
People of the Province came In crowds to see us,
and said that if the boat had been outside the bay
that night it would have been seen no more. Even the
thought terrified me.
' Kaminari sama.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
Off Ishitsu, in tJu wild sea
The boat driven before the storm
Fades away and is seen no more.
The tvild gusts drive the boat —
Into the wild sea she disappears —
Off Ishitsu!
I devoted myself in various ways for the World
[her husband]. Even in serving at Court one had like-
wise to devote one's self unceasingly. What favor
could one win by returning to the parents' home from
time to time?
As I advanced in age I felt it unbecoming to behave
as young couples do. While I was lamenting I grew
ill, and could not go out to temples for worship. Even
this rare going out was stopped, and I had no hope of
living long, but I wanted to give my younger children
a safer position while I was alive.
I grieved and waited for the delightful thing [ai^
appointment] for my husband. In Autumn he got a
position,^ but not so good a one as we had hoped, and
we were much disappointed. It was not so distant as
the place from which he had returned, so he made up
his mind to go, and we hastily made preparations. He
started from the house where his daughter had
recently gone to live.^ It was after the tenth of the
Gods-absent month. I could not know what had
happened after he started, but all seemed happy on
* In 1057, as Governor of Shinano Province.
* She was thirty-five years old and her husband forty-one years
old when they were married. We may suppose that she was his
second wife. This daughter must have been borne by the first wife.
The cause of starting from his daughter's house is some supersti-
tious idea, and not the coldness of their relation.
64
Of Old Japan
that day. He was accompanied by our boy. My
husband wore a red coat and pale purple kimono,^
and aster-coloured hakama [divided skirt], and car-
ried a long sword. The boy wore blue figured clothes
and red hakama, and they mounted their horses be-
side the veranda.
V^Tien they had gone out noisily I felt very, very
lonely. As I had heard the Province was not so distant
I was less hopeless than I had been before.
The people who accompanied him to see him off
returned the next day and told me that they had gone
down with great show [of splendour] and, then con-
tinuing, said they had seen human fire ^ this morning
starting [from the company] and flying towards the
Capital. I tried to suppose it to be from some one
of his retinue. How could I think the worst.? I could
think of nothing but how to bring up these younger
ones.
He came back in the Deutzia month of the next
year and passed the Summer and Autumn at home,
and on the twenty-fifth of the Long-night month he
became ill.
1058. On the fifth day of the Tenth month all be-
came like a dream. ^ My sorrows could be compared
to nothing In this world.
Now I knew that my present state had been re-
* The rank of the person determined the colour of his clothes.
Red was worn by nobles of the fifth degree.
' The Japanese believed that "human fire" or spirit can be seen
leaving the body of one who is soon to die.
' Her husband died.
65
Diaries of Court Ladies
fleeted in the mirror offered to the Hase Temple
[about twenty-five years before by her mother] where
some one was seen weeping in agony. The reflection of
the happier one had not been realized. That could
never be in the future.
On the twenty-third we burnt his remains with de-
spairing hearts, my boy, who went down with him
last Autumn, being dressed exquisitely and much at-
tended, followed the bier weeping in black clothes with
hateful things [mourning insignia] on them. My feel-
ing when I saw him going out can never be expressed. I
seemed to wander in dreams and thought that human
life must soon cease here. If I had not given myself
up to idle fictions [she herself had written several]
and poetry, but had practised religious austerities
night and day, I would not have seen such a dream-
world.
At Hase Temple a cedar branch was cast down to
me by the Inari god and this thing [the loss of her
husband] would not have happened if I had visited
the Inari shrine on my way home. The dreams which
I had seen in these past years which bid me pray to
the Heaven Illuminating Honoured Goddess meant
that I should have been in the Imperial Court as a
nurse, sheltered behind the favour of the King and
Queen — so the dream interpreter interpreted my
dream, but I could not realize this. Only the sorrow-
ful reflection in the mirror was realized unaltered. O
pitiful and sorrowful I ! Thus nothing could happen as
I willed, and I wandered in this world doing no vir-
tuous deed for the future life.
66
Of Old Japan
Life seemed to survive sorrows, but I was uneasy
at the thought that things would happen against my
will, even in the future life. There was only one thing
I could rely on.
Ceaseless tears — clouded mind:
Bright scene — moon-shadow.
On the thirteenth of the Tenth month [1055] I
dreamed one night this dream:
There in the garden of my house at the farthest ledge
stood Amitabha Buddha ! He was not seen distinctly,
but as if through a cloud. I could snatch a glimpse
now and then when the cloud lifted. The lotus-flower
pedestal was three or four feet above the ground; the
Buddha was about six feet high.
Golden light shone forth; one hand was extended,
the fingers of the other were bent in form of benedic-
tion. None but I could see him, yet I felt such rever-
ence that I dared not approach the blind to see him
better. None but I might hear him saying, "Then this
time I will go back, and afterwards come again to
receive you." I was startled and awoke into the
fourteenth day. This dream only zvas my hope for the
life to come. ^
I had lived with my husband's nephews, but after
that sad event we parted not to meet again. One very
dark night I was visited by the nephew who was liv-
ing at Rokuhara; I could not but welcome so rare a
guest.
1 At death the Lord Buddha coming on a cloud appears to the
faithful one and accompanies the soul to Heaven.
67
Diaries of Court Ladies
No moon, and darkness deepens
Around Obdsute. Why have you come?
It cannot be to see the moon! *
After that time [the death of her husband] an in-
timate friend stopped all commimication.
She m^y be thinking that I •
Am no more in this worlds yet my days
Are wasted in weeping.
Weeping, alas I
In the Tenth month I turned, my eyes full of tears,
towards the intensely bright moon.
Even into the mind always clouded with grief.
There is cast the reflection of the bright moon.
Years and months passed away. Whenever I recol-
lected the dream-like incident [of his death] my
mind was troubled and my eyes filled so that I can-
not think distinctly of those days.
My people went to live elsewhere and I remained
alone in my solitary home. I was tired of medita-
tion and sent a poem to one who had not called on
me for a long time.
Weeds grow before my gate
And my sleeves are wet with dew.
No one calls on me,
My tears are solitary — alas!
She was a nun and she sent an answer:
The weeds before a dwelling house
May remind you of me!
Bushes bury the hut
Where lives the world-deserted one.
* The point of this is in the name of the place, Obasute, which
may be translated, "Aunt Casting Away," or " Cast-A way-Aunt."
It is a place famous for the beauty of its scenery in moonlight.
68
II
THE DIARY OF MURASAKI SHIKIBU
II
THE DIARY OF MURASAKI SHIKIBUi
A.D. IOO7-IOIO
As the autumn season approaches the Tsuchlmikado ^
becomes inexpressibly smile-giving. The tree-tops near
the pond, the bushes near the stream, are dyed in
varying tints whose colours grow deeper in the mel-
low light of evening. The murmuring sound of waters
mingles all the night through with the never-ceasing
recitation ^ of sutras which appeal more to one's heart
as the breezes grow cooler.
The ladies waiting upon her honoured presence are
talking idly. The Queen hears them; she must find
them annoying, but she conceals it calmly. Her
beauty needs no words of mine to praise it, but I can-
not help feeling that to be near so beautiful a queen
will be the only relief from my sorrow. So in spite
of my better desires [for a religious life] I am here.
Nothing else dispels my grief * — it is wonderful!
It is still the dead of night, the moon is dim and
darkness lies under the trees. We hear an officer call,
^ This diary seems to have been jotted down in disconnected
paragraphs and the editors have preserved that form.
2 Tsuchimikado: the residence of Prime Minister Fujiwara, the
father of the Queen.
^ Priests are praying for the easy delivery of the Queen, who has
gone to her parents' house before the birth, in accordance with old
Japanese custom.
* The writer of this diary lost her husband in looi.
71
Diaries of Court Ladies
"The outer doors of the Queen's apartment must be
opened. The maids-of-honour are not yet come —
let the Queen's secretaries come forward!" While this
order is being given the three-o'clock bell resounds,
startling the air. Immediately the prayers at the five
altars^ begin. The voices of the priests in loud recita-
tion, vying with each other far and near, are solemn
indeed. The Abbot of the Kanon-in Temple, accom-
panied by twenty priests, comes from the eastern ^
side building to pray. Even their footsteps along the
gallery which sound to'-do-ro to'-do-ro are sacred.
The head priest of the Hoju Temple goes to the man-
sion near the race-track, the prior of the Henji Temple
goes to the library. I follow with my eyes when the
holy figures in pure white robes cross the stately
Chinese bridge and walk along the broad path. Even
Azaliah Saisa bends the body in reverence before the
deity Daiitoku. The maids-of-honour arrive at dawn.
I can see the garden from my room beside the en-
trance to the gallery. The air is misty, the dew is still
on the leaves. The Lord Prime Minister is walking
there; he orders his men to cleanse the brook. He
breaks off a stalk of omenaishi [flower maiden] which
is in full bloom by the south end of the bridge. He
peeps in over my screen! His noble appearance em-
barrasses us, and I am ashamed of my morning [not
yet painted and powdered] face. He says, "Your
poem on this! If you delay so much the fun is gone!"
* Altars before Fudo, Gosanse, Gunsari, Daiitoku, Kongoyasha.
* See the plan of a great house of those days.
72
HaKB B »
Of Old Japan
and I seize the chance to run away to the writing-box,
hiding my face —
Flower-maiden in bloom —
Even more beautif-id for the bright dew,
Which is partial, and never favors me.
"So prompt!" said he, smiling, and ordered a writ-
ing-box to be brought [for himself].
His answer:
The silver dew is never partial.
From her heart
The flower-maiden's, beauty.
One wet and calm evening I was talking with Lady
Saisho. The young Lord ^ of the Third Rank sat with
the misu ^ partly rolled up. He seemed maturer than
his age and was very graceful. Even in light conversa-
tion such expressions as "Fair soul is rarer than fair
face" come gently to his lips, covering us with confu-
sion. It is a mistake to treat him like a young boy. He
keeps his dignity among ladies, and I saw in him a
much-sought-after romantic hero when once he walked
off reciting to himself:
Linger in the field where flower-maidens are blooming
And your name will be tarnished with tales of gallantry.
Some such trifle as that sometimes lingers in my
mind when really interesting things are soon forgot-
ten— why?
^ Yorimichi, the Prime Minister Fujiwara Michinaga's son, who
was then sixteen years old.
^ Misu: a thin finely woven bamboo curtain, behind which one
may see but not be seen, hung before great personages and women's
apartments.
73
Diaries of Court Ladies
Nowadays people are carrying pretty folding fans.
Since the twentieth of the Eighth month, the more
favoured court nobles and officers have been on night
duty, passing the nights in the corridor, or on the
mats of the veranda idly amusing themselves. Young
men who are unskilled in koto or fue [harp or flute]
amuse themselves with tonearasoi ^ and imayo,^ and
at such a time this is entertaining. Narinobu, the
Queen's Grand Chamberlain, Tsunefusa, the Lieu-
tenant-General of the Left Bodyguard and State Coun-
cillor, and Narimasa, the Major-General of the Body-
guard and Governor of Mino, passed the night in
diversions. The Lord Prime Minister must have been
apprehensive, for he has forbidden all public enter-
tainment. Those who have long retired from the court
have come in crowds to ask after the Queen's welfare,
so we have had no peace.
Twenty-sixth day. We finished the preparation of
perfume ^ and distributed it to all. A number of us
who had been making it into balls assembled to-
gether. On my way from Her Majesty's chamber I
peeped into Ben Saisho's room. She was sleeping. She
wore garments of hagi ^ and shion * over which she had
put a strongly perfumed lustrous robe. Her face was
^ Tonearasoi: at present not known.
* Imayo, or "new style," a kind of song in vogue in those days.
The verse consists of eight or ten alternating seven- and five-syllable
lines.
» This perfume was composed of purified Borneo camphor, aloe
wood and musk, and was used to perfume clothing, etc.
* Hagi: violet-coloured dress with blue lining, the violet dye
taken from sapan-wood; Shion: pale purple dress with blue lining.
74
Of Old Japan
hidden behind the cloth; ^ her head rested on a writ-
ing-case of gold lacquer. Her forehead was beautiful
and fascinating. She seemed like a princess in a pic-
ture. I took off the cloth which hid her mouth and
said, "You are just like the heroine of a romance!"
She blushed, half rising; she was beauty itself. She is
always beautiful, but on this occasion her charm was
wonderfully heightened.
Dear Lady Hyoe brought me some floss ^ silk for
chrysanthemums. "The wife of the Prime Minister
favours you with this present to drive away age,^ care-
fully use it and then throw it away."
May that lady live one thousand years who guards the flowers!
My sleeves are wet with thankful tears
As though I had been walking
In a garden of dewy chrysanthemums.
I wanted to send it, but as I heard that she had gone
away I kept it.
The evening I went to the Queen's chamber. As the
moon was beautiful, skirts overflowed from beneath
the misu.^ By and by there came Lady Koshosho and
Lady Dainagon. Her Majesty took out some of the
perfume made the other day and put it into an incense
burner to try it. The garden was admirable — "When
* A face covering used while sleeping.
* Floss silk was used to protect chrysanthemum flowers from frost.
The flower itself was believed to have the virtue of lengthening life.
The Imperial garden party undoubtedly originated from a belief in
this virtue in the flower.
* Ladies were crowded close behind the misu looking at the moon.
75
Diaries of Court Ladies
the ivy leaves become red!" they were saying — but
our Lady seemed less tranquil than usual. The priests
came for prayers, and I went into the inside room but
was called away and finally went to my own chamber.
I wanted only to rest a few minutes, but fell asleep.
By midnight everybody was in great excitement.
Tenth day of the Long-moon month.
When day began to dawn the decorations ^ of the
Queen's chamber were changed and she removed to
a white bed. The Prime Minister, his sons, and other
noblemen made haste to change the curtains of the
screens, the bed cover, and other things.-^ All day long
she lay ill at ease. Men cried at the top of their voices
to scare away evil spirits. There assembled not only
the priests who had been summoned here for these
months, but also itinerant monks who were brought
from every mountain and temple. Their prayers
would reach to the Buddhas of the three worlds. All
the soothsayers in the world were summoned. Eight
million gods seemed to be listening with ears erect
for their Shinto prayers. Messengers ran off to order
sutra-reciting at various temples; thus the night was
passed. On the east side of the screen [placed around
the Queen's bed] there assembled the ladies of the
Court. On the west side there were lying the Queen's
substitutes possessed with [or who were enticing] the
evil spirits.^ Each was lying surrounded by a pair of
* Hangings, screens, and clothes of attendants were all white at the
time of a birth.
* Which would otherwise have attacked the Queen. Some of the
ladies-in-waiting undertook this duty. There is a diflFerence of opinion
. 76
Of Old Japan
folding screens. The joints of the screens were cur-
tained and priests were appointed to cry sutras there.
On the south side there sat in many rows abbots and
other dignitaries of the priesthood, who prayed and
swore till their voices grew hoarse, as if they were
bringing down the living form of Fudo.^ The space
between the north room and the dais [on which was
the Queen's bed] was very narrow, yet when I thought
of it afterwards I counted more than forty persons
who were standing there. They could not move at all,
and grew so dizzy that they could remember nothing.
The people [i.e. the ladies-in-waiting and maids-of-
honour] now coming from home could not enter the
main apartment at all. There was no place for their
flowing robes and long sleeves. Certain older women
wept secretly.
Eleventh day. At dawn the north sliding doors were
taken away to throw the two rooms together. The
Queen was moved towards the veranda. As there was
no time to hang misu, she was surrounded by kicho.
The Reverend Gyocho and the other priests per-
formed incantations. The Reverend Ingen recited the
prayer written by the Lord Prime Minister on the
previous day adding some grave vows of his own. His
words were infinitely august and hopeful. The Prime
Minister joining in the prayer, we felt more assured
between the translators as to whether this was done with the inten-
tion of deceiving the evil spirits into attacking the wrong person (by
introducing into her neighbourhood other women surrounded with
screens and attendants) or by transmitting the supposed evil spirits
out of the Queen into her ladies by a sort of mesmerization.
^ Fudo: a terrible-looking Buddhist idol who was thought to have
the power to subdue all evil spirits.
Diaries of Court Ladies
of a fortunate delivery. Yet there was still lingering
anxiety which made us very sad, and many eyes were
filled with tears. We said, "Tears are not suitable to
this occasion," but we could, not help crying. They
said that Her Majesty suffered more because the
rooms were too crowded, so the people were ordered
to the south and east rooms. After this there re-
mained in the Royal Apartment only the more im-
portant personages. The Prime Minister, Lady Sa-
nuki, and Lady Saisho were within the [Royal] screen.
The honoured priest of Ninna Temple and the court
priest of Mii Temple were summoned within. The
Prime Minister gave various commands, and his
voice overpowered those of the priests. There were
also Ladles Dainagon, Koshosho, Miya-no-Naishi,
Nakatsukasa-no-KImi, Tayu-no-Myobu, Daishlklbu-
no-Omoto, Tono-no-Senji — these last were venerable
ladies of experience, but even they were bewildered
with good reason. I am yet a novice, and I felt with
all my heart that the occasion was serious. Also, in the
place a little behind, outside the curtain, there were
the nurses of the Princesses Nalshi-no-Kami and Na-
katsukasa, of the Queen's sister Shonagon, and of her
younger sister Koshlklbu. These nurses forced their
way Into the narrow passage behind the two screens
and there walked back and forth, so that none could
pass that way. There were many other persons bus-
tling about, but I could not distinguish them. The
Prime Minister's son, Lieutenant-General Saisho,
Major-General Masamichi of the Fourth Rank, not to
speak- of Lieutenant-General Tsunefusa, of the Left
78
Of Old Japan
Bodyguard, and Miya-noTayu, who had not known
Her Majesty familiarly, all looked over her screen for
some time. They showed eyes swollen up with weep-
ing [over her sufferings], forgetting the shame of it.
On their heads rice ^ was scattered white as snow.
Their rumpled clothes must have been unseemly, but
we could only think of those things afterward. A part
of the Queen's head was shaved.^ I was greatly aston-
ished and very sorry to see it, but she was delivered
peacefully. The after-birth was delayed, and all priests
crowded to the south balcony, under the eaves of the
magnificent main building, while those on the bridge
recited sutras more passionately, often kneeling.
Among the ladies-in-waiting on the east side were
seen some of the courtiers.^ Lady Kochujo's eye met
that of the Lieutenant-General. People afterwards
laughed over her astonished expression. She is a very
fascinating and elegant person, and is always very
careful to adorn her face. This morning she had done
so, but her eyes were red, and her rouge was spoiled by
tears. She was disfigured, and hardly seemed the same
person. The imperfectly made-up face of Lady Saisho
was a rare sight, but what about my own? It is lucky
for me that people cannot notice such things at such
a time.
^ For good luck.
* So that she might be ordained as a priestess and insured a good
reception in the next world, only done when the sick person is in
great danger.
^ This was contrary to etiquette and shows the extreme excite-
ment of the moment. Ladies and gentlemen of the court remained
in separate rooms on social occasions.
79
Diaries of Court Ladies
As' the after-birth came, it was fearful to hear the
jealously swearing voices of the evil spirits. Shinzo-
Azari took charge of Lady Ben-no-Kurodo; Soyo
took charge of Hyoe-no-Kurodo; a priest Hojuji took
charge of Ukon-no-Kurodo; ^ Chiso Azari took charge
of Lady Miya-no-Naishi. This last priest was over-
powered with the evil spirit, and as he was in a too
pitiable state Ninkaku Azari went to help him. It was
not because his prayer had little virtue, but the [evil]
spirit was too strong. Priest Eiko was in charge of
Lady Saisho's supplicator of the spirit [i.e. Queen's
substitute]. This priest swore all night till his voice
became hoarse. Most ladies who were summoned in
order that the spirits might enter into them remained
safe, and they were much troubled [thinking that it
would be to the Queen's advantage were they at-
tacked]. At noon we felt that the sun came out at
last. The Queen was at ease!
She Is now at peace. Incomparable joy! Moreover,
it is a prince, so the joy cannot be oblique. The court
ladies who had passed the previous day in anxiety, not
knowing what to do, as if they were lost in the
mist of the early morning, went one by one to rest
in their own rooms, so that before the Queen there
remained only some elderly persons proper for such
occasions. The Lord Prime Minister and his Lady
went away to give offerings to the priest who had read
sutras and performed religious austerities during the
past months, and to those doctors who were recently
* Kurodo = secretary (in charge of court manuscripts).
80
Of Old Japan
summoned. The doctors and soothsayers, who had
invented special forms of efficacy, were given pen-
sions. Within the house they were perhaps preparing
for the ceremony of bathing the child.
Large packages [of ceremonial clothes ^] were car-
ried to the apartments of the ladies-in-waiting. Ka-
raginu ^ and embroidered ^ trains were worn. Some
wore dazzlingly brilliant trains embroidered and or-
namented with mother-of-pearl. Some lamented that
the fans which had been ordered had not come. They
all painted and powdered. When I looked from the
bridge I saw Her Majesty's first officials, and the
highest officers of His Highness the Crown Prince
[the newborn child] and other court nobles. The
Prime Minister went out to have the brook, which
had been choked with mud, cleaned ^ out.
All the people seem happy. Even those who have
some cause for melancholy are overtaken by the gen-
eral joy. The First Official of our Queen has naturally
seemed happier than anybody, though he does not
show special smiles of self-satisfaction and pride.
The Lieu tenant-General of the Light Bodyguard
has been joking with the King's Adviser of the Middle
Rank, sitting on a mat on the balcony of the side
building. The sword of His Highness the young
Prince has been brought from the Imperial Court.
^ Everybody was still wearing white, colour of purification.
* See frontispiece.
' Every Japanese family does this to-day, for almost all gardens
have artificial brooks or ponds.
8i '
Diaries of Court Ladies
The Lieutenant-General, and First Secretary Yori-
sada, on his way home from the shrine at Ise ^ where
he had gone as Imperial Messenger to offer nusa,^
stopped at the gate [as he could not enter the house ^]
to inquire for Her Majesty. He was given some pres-
ent, I did not see it.
The navel cord was cut by the Prime Minister's
Lady. Lady Tachibana of the Third Rank gave the
breast for the first time [ceremonial]. For the wet-
nurse Daisaemon-no-Omoto was chosen, for she has
been in the Court a long time and is very familiar with
it; the daughter of Munetoki, courtier and Governor
of Bitchu, and the nurse of Kurodo-no-Ben were also
chosen as nurses.
The ceremony of bathing was performed at six
o'clock in the evening. The bath was lighted [by
torches]. The Queen's maid in white over green pre-
pared the hot water. The stand for the bathtub was
covered with white cloth.
Chikamitsu, Governor of Owari [Province], and
Nakanobu, the Head Officer attached to the Queen,
presented themselves before the misu.
^ Imperial shrine at Ise: the oldest shrine, built 5 B.C., dedicated
to the Heaven Shining Goddess, ancestor of the Imperial family.
This shrine is rebuilt every twenty years on the same model. It is the
most sacred spot in Japan, and all serious events pertaining to the
Empire or Imperial Household are announced there to the Goddess-
Ancestor by Imperial Messenger.
* Nusa : rolls of silk or paper oflFered by a worshipper.
' Because a birth in a house was defilement, while a messenger
to or from a god was holy,
82
Of Old Japan
There were two stands for kettles.
Lady Kyoiko and Lady Harima poured the cold
water. Two ladles, Omoku and Uma, selected sixteen
jars from among those into which the hot water was
poured [choosing the purest]. These ladies wore gauze
outer garments, fine silk trains, karaginu, and saishi.^
Their hair was tied by white cords which gave the
head a very fair look. In the bath Lady Saisho be-
came the partner of bathing [i.e. entered the bath
with the royal infant]. Lady Dainagon in her bathing-
dress — she was especially beautiful in this rare cos-
tume. The Lord Prime Minister took the August
Prince in his arms; Lady Koshosho held the sword,
and Lady Miya-no-Naishi held up a tiger's head be-
fore the Prince.^ Lady Miya-no-Naishi wore kara-
ginu with a pattern of pine cones. Her train was
woven in a marine design of sea-weeds, waves, etc.;
on the belt a vine-pattern was embroidered. Lady
Koshosho wore an embroidered belt with a pattern
of autumn leaves, butterflies, and birds, which was
bright with silver thread. Brocade was forbidden
except for persons of high rank and they used it only
for the belt. Two sons of the Prime Minister and
Major-General Minamoto Masamichi were scattering
rice in great excitement.^ " I will make the most noise,"
each shouted to the other. The priest of Henchi
Temple presented himself to protect the August
Child. The rice hit him on his eyes and ears so he held
* Saishi: a kind of gold ornament with five radiating points worn
on the forehead and tied on around the head. (See frontispiece.)
* This was to frighten away evil spirits.
^ Rice-scattering; for good luck.
83
Diaries of Court Ladies
out his fan and the young people laughed at him. The
Doctor of Literature, Kurodo Ben-no-Hironari, stood
at the foot of the high corridor and read the first
book of Sikki [historical records]. Twenty bow-string
men twanged the bow-string to scare away evil spirits,
they were ten men of the fifth, and ten men of the sixth
degree [of rank] arranged in two rows. The same cere-
monies of bathing were repeated in the evening. Only
the Doctor of Literature was changed. Doctor Mune-
toki. Governor of Ise, read the Kokyo [book on filial
piety], and Takachika read a chapter of Buntei [in the
Historical Records of Chinese Kings].
For seven nights every ceremony was performed
cloudlessly. Before the Queen in white the styles and
colours of other people's dresses appeared in sharp
contrast.^ I felt much dazzled and abashed, and did
not present myself in the daytime, so I passed my
days in tranquillity and watched persons going up
from the eastern side building across the bridge. Those
who were permitted to wear the honourable colours ^
put on brocaded karaginu,^ and also brocaded uchigi.
This was the conventionally beautiful dress, not
showing individual taste. The elderly ladies who could
not wear the honourable colours avoided anything
^ Here occurs an untranslatable sentence. Literally it would seem
to be: It seems hair growing in good monochromatic picture. That
might mean that the Queen seemed like a- beauty in a picture drawn
with ink and brush (see some illustrations in this book).
* Purple and scarlet.
* Karaginu: a short garment with long sleeves and worn of a
diflFerent colour from the uchigi. (See frontispiece.)
84
Of Old Japan
dazzling, but took only exquisite uchigi ^ trimmed
with three or five folds,^ and for karaginu brocade
either of one colour or of a simple design. For their
inner kimonos they used figured stuffs or gauzes. Their
fans, though not at first glance brilliant or attractive,
had some written phrases or sentiments in good taste,
but almost exactly alike, as if they had compared
notes beforehand. In point of fact the resemblance
came from their similarity of age, and they were in-
dividual efforts. Even in those fans were revealed
their minds which are in jealous rivalry. The younger
ladies wore much-embroidered clothes; even their
sleeve openings were embroidered. The pleats of their
trains were ornamented with thick silver thread and
they put gold foil on the brocaded figures of the silk.
Their fans were like a snow-covered mountain in
bright moonlight; they sparkled and could not be
looked at steadily. They were like hanging mirrors [in
those days made of polished metal].
On the third night Her Majesty's major-domo gave
an entertainment. He served the Queen himself. The
^ Uchigi: long unconfined flowing robe put on over the dress. It
was made of elegant material and lined with another colour and was
the distinctive and beautiful part of the court dress of that day.
Under it were worn two or more other silk robes of different colours,
one often intended to show through and modify the colour of the
other. They were fastened in front by a belt like the present-day ki-
mono, and over them was hung at the back the long and elaborate
train of heavy white silk on which the last word of elegance in em-
broidery or painting was placed. In the presence of Royalty the ladies
knelt in rows one behind the other, and doubtless these trains made
a great display spread out before those sitting behind. (See frontis-
piece.)
* See frontispiece.
85
Diaries of Court Ladies
dining-table of aloe wood, the silver dishes, and other
things I saw hurriedly. Minamoto Chunagon and
Saisho presented the Queen with some baby clothes
and diapers, a stand for a clothes chest, and cloth for
wrapping up clothes and furniture. They were white in
colour, and all of the same shape, yet they were care-
fully chosen, showing the artist mind. The Governor
of Omi Province was busy with the general manage-
ment of the banquet. On the western balcony of the
East building there sat court nobles in two rows, the
north being the more honourable place. On the south-
em balcony were court officials, the west being the
most honourable seat. Outside the doors of the prin-
cipal building [where the Queen was] white figured-
silk screens were put.
On the fifth night the Lord Prime Minister cele-
brated the birth. The full moon on the fifteenth day
was clear and beautiful. Torches were lighted under
the trees and tables were put there with rice-balls on
them. Even the uncouth humble servants who were
walking about chattering seemed to enhance the joyful
scene. All minor officials were there burning torches,
making it as bright as day. Even the attendants of the
nobles, who gathered behind the rocks and under the
trees, talked of nothing but the new light which had
come into the world, and were smiling and seemed
happy as if their own private wishes had been
fulfilled. Happier still seemed those in the Audi-
ence Chamber, from the highest nobles even to
men of the fifth rank, who, scarcely to be counted
86
Of Old Japan
among the nobility, met the joyful time going
about idly, and bending their bodies busily [i.e.
obsequiously].
To serve at the Queen's dinner eight ladies tied
their hair with white cords, and in that dress brought
in Her Majesty's dining-table. The chief lady-in-
waiting for that night was Miya-no-Naishi. She was
brilliantly dressed with great formality, and her hair
was made more charming by the white cords which
enhanced her beauty. I got a side glance of her when
her face was not screened by her fan. She wore a look
of extreme purity.
The following are the maids^-of-honour who tied
their hair; Minamoto Shikibu, daughter of the Gov-
ernor of Kaga Province; Kozaemon, daughter of the
late Michitoki, Governor of Bitchu ; Kohyoe, daugh-
ter of Akimasa, Governor of the Left Capital; Osuke,
daughter of Sukechika, the head priest of the Ise
shrine; O Uma, daughter of Yorinobu, an officer of the
Right Bodyguard; Ko Uma, daughter of Michinobu,
an officer of the Left Bodyguard ; Kohyoe, daughter of
Naritaka, Recorder of the Capital; Komoku [or Da-
kumi], daughter of Nobuyoshi. These were all young
and pretty. It was a sight worth seeing. This time, as
they chose only the best-looking young ladies, the
rest who used to tie their hair on ordinary occasions
to serve the Queen's dinner wept bitterly; it was
shocking to see them.
More than thirty ladies were sitting in the two rooms
east of the Queen's canopy, a magnificent sight. The
87
Diaries of Court Ladies
august dinner trays were carried by uneme.^ Near the
entrance of the great chamber folding screens sur-
rounded a pair of tables on which these dining-trays
had been placed. As the night advanced the moon
shone brightly. There were uneme,mohitori,^ migusi-
age,' tonomori,* kanmori-no-nyokwan,^ — some with
whose faces I was not familiar. There were also door-
keepers, carelessly dressed and with hairpins falling
out, crowded together towards the eastern corridor of
the principal building as if it were a public holiday.
There were so many people there was no getting
through them. After dinner the maids-of-honour came
outside the misu and could be plainly seen by the light of
the torches. The train and karaginu of Lady Oshikibu
was embroidered to represent the dwarf pine-wood at
Mount Oshio. As she is the wife of Michinoku, Gov-
ernor of the eastern extremity of the island, she serves
now in the Prime Minister's household. Dayu-no-
Miyobu neglected the ornamentation of her kara-
ginu, but she adorned her train with silver dust repre-
senting sea-waves. It was pleasing to the eye, though
not dazzling. Ben-no-Naishi showed on her train a
beach with cranes on it painted in silver. It was some-
thing new. She had also embroidered pine branches;
she is clever, for all these things are emblematic of a
long life. The device of Lady Shosho was inferior to
* Uneme: beautiful women, selected from various provinces foP
their beauty, especially to wait on the Royal table.
* Mohitori: officials who had charge of wells, shoyu (Japanese
sauce) and ice-houses.
' Migusiage: attendants whose hair was done up with hairpins.
* King's housekeepers. • Cleaners.
88
Of Old Japan
these — many laughed at her silver foil. She was sister
to Sukemitsu, the Governor of Shlnano, and has
lived at the court a long time. People wanted to see
this entertainment. A priest was there who used to at-
tend the court to beguile the night with religious and
other stories. I said to him, "You cannot see such a
lovely thing every day." "Indeed! indeed!" said he,
neglecting his Buddha and clapping his hands for joy.
The court nobles rose from their seats and went to
the steps [descending from the balcony]. His Lord-
ship the Prime Minister and others cast da.^ It was
shocking to see them quarrelling about paper. Some
[others] composed poems. A lady said, "What re-
sponse shall we make if some one oifers to drink sake
with us?" We tried to think of something.^
^ Da: a gambling game now not known. It was played with dice.
* (The following poem, then composed, is made with words of
two meanings. It is impossible to arrange it in poetic form in
English, but we present the two meanings in separate phrases,
which the reader may combine for himself.)
Japanese words with their meanings:
Mezurashiki hikari = uncommon light.
£, ,. (added,
bashi sou = < 1 ' • *
( pour more sake mto.
o , 1 . ( waxing moon.
Sakazuki wa = ■<
i a cup.
Chiyomo = for a thousand ages.
( circulate, O'moon never waning!
Megurame = circulate \ circulate the cup to all persons count-
C less times.
Poem.
First meaning:
We pray that the waxing moon [i. e. the young Prince] may never
wane, hut shine for a thousand ages' without change!
Second meaning:
May this cup [of joy] he full as soon as emptied and circulate freely
to all!
89
Diaries of Court Ladies
ShijonoDainagon Is a man of varied accomplish-
ments. No ladles can rival him In repartee, much less
compete with him In poetry, so they were all afraid of
him, but [this evening] he did not give a cup to any
particular lady to make her compose poems. Perhaps
that was because he had many things to do and It was
getting late. At this ceremony the ladles of high rank
are given robes, together with babies' dresses pre-
sented by the Queen. The ladies of the fourth rank
were each given a lined kimono, and those of the sixth
rank were given hakama.^ So much I saw.
The next night the moon was very beautiful. As It
is the delightful season, young people went boating.
They were all dressed uniformly in white and their
hair showed better than when they wear coloured
clothes. Kotaibu, Minamoto Shiklbu, Mlyakl-no-
JIju, Gosechl-no-Ben, Ukon, Kohyoe, Koelmon, Uma,
Yasurahl, Isebito — these were on the veranda
when the Lleutenant-General of the Left Bodyguard,
and the Lleutenant-General, the Prime Minister's
son, came to take them out In the boat punted by
Lleutenant-General Kanetaka of the Right Body-
guard. The rest of the ladles were neglected and fol-
lowed them with their eyes. They seemed to be jeal-
ous in spite of themselves. Into the very white gar-
den ^ the moon shone down and added to the beauty
of the malds-of-honour In their white dresses. There
were many palanquins waiting at the shelter [for con-
^ A pleated divided skirt worn by both men and women.
' In Kioto it used to be the custom to cover the earth of the gardens
with very white fine sand.
90
COURT DRESS OF MILITARY OFFICIAL
(For explanation see List of Illustrations)
Of Old Japan
veyances] near the north entrance. They were those
of the ladies-in-waiting of His Majesty's court, To-
saumi, Koshosho, Uma, Ukon, Chikuzen, Omi — so
far I have heard, but as I don't know them well there
may be some mistakes. The people in the boat came
in in confusion [hearing that visitors from the King's
Court had arrived]. The Lord Prime Minister came
out to welcome them and put them in good humour.
He seemed to be perfectly happy. Gifts were made to
them according to their rank.
On the seventh day His Majesty celebrated the
birth. His secretary and Major-General, Michimasa,
came as King's Messenger with a long list [of the
presents] put into a wicker box. A letter was immedi-
ately sent from the Queen to the King. The students
from the Kangakuin ^ came keeping step. The list of
visitors' names was presented to Her Majesty. Some
may perhaps receive gifts.
The ceremony of the evening was noisier than ever.
I peeped under the Queen's canopy. She who is es-
teemed by the people as the mother of the nation did
not seem to be in good spirits. She appeared a little
weary. She had grown thinner, and her appearance in
bed was slenderer, younger, and gracefuller. A little
lantern was hung under the canopy which chased the
darkness away even from the comers. Her fair com-
plexion was pale and transparently pure. I thought
* A school created in 825 a.d. by the Prime Minister Fujiwara
Fuyutsugu to educate the younger members of the Fujiwara family.
91
Diaries of Court Ladies
her abundant hair would be better tied up. There is
great impropriety in writing about her at all, so I will
stop here.
The general ceremonies were the same as the other
day. The gifts to the courtiers were bestowed from
within the misu. The women's dresses and the
Queen's dress [perhaps from the Queen's wardrobe]
were added to them. The chief of the King's secreta-
ries and court nobles received them, approaching the
misu.
His Majesty's gifts were uchigi, and kimonos, and
rolls of silk in the usual court fashion.^ The gifts to
Tachibana-no-Sanmi [who offered the breast to the
young Prince for the first time] were a set of women's
clothes and rolls of brocade, a silver clothes chest,
and wrappings for clothes [which perhaps were white].
I have heard that something wrapped up was added
also, though I could not see it in detail.
On the eighth day all changed their dress [which
had been white, the colour of purification]. On the
ninth evening the Vice-Governor "^ of the August
Crown Prince's retinue celebrated the birth. The
present was put on a white cabinet. The ceremony was
quite In the new style. On the silver clothes chest a
raised ornament was carved, and the island of Horai '
* This "court fashion" of sending rolls of silk as presents from the
Emperor or Empress prevails to-day, one thousand years later.
' This person was the second son of the Prime Minister; there-
fore the Queen's brother or half-brother and uncle of the Crown
Prince.
' The island of Horai; Japanese Elysium, a crystal island of eter-
nal youth and felicity, supposed to exist in mid-ocean. A miniature
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Of Old Japan
was also represented as usual, but in finer and newer
fashion. I am sorry I cannot describe it all exactly.
This evening the winter screens were used, and the
ladies wore richly coloured dresses. They seemed all
the more charming as it was the first time after the
birth [to see them]. The rich and brilliant colours
shone through the karaginu. The women's figures
also showed more distinctly and that enhanced their
beauty. This was the night that Lady Komano-no-
Omoto was put to shame.
It was after the tenth day of the Gods-absent
month, but the Queen could not leave her bed. So
night and day ladies attended her in her apartment
towards the West. The Lord Prime Minister visited
her both during the night and at dawn. He examined
the breasts of the wet-nurses. Those nurses who were
in a sound sleep were much startled and got up while
still asleep; it was quite a pity to see them. He very
naturally devoted himself with the utmost care, while
there was anxiety about the August Child. Sometimes
the Honourable Infant did a very unreasonable thing
and wet the Lord Prime Minister's clothes. He, loos-
ening his sash, dried his dress behind the screen. He
said: "Ah! it is a very happy thing to be wet by the
Prince. When I am drying my clothes is my most
comfortable moment!" So he said rejoicing. He espe-
cially favoured Prince Murakami, and as he thinks
I am related to that Prince he talked to me very fa-
presentation of this island is used on festal occasions as the emblem
of eternity, or unchangeableness.
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Diaries of Court Toadies
miliarly. I know many things which may be expected
to happen! ^
The day of the King's visit was approaching, and
the Lord's mansion was improved and adorned.
Beautiful chrysanthemums were sought for every-
where, to plant in the garden. Some were already fad-
ing, others in yellow were especially lovely. When
they were planted and I saw them through the shift-
ing morning mists, they seemed indeed to drive away
old age.
I wish I could be more adaptable and live more
gaily in the present world — had I not an extraordi-
nary sorrow — but whenever I hear delightful or in-
teresting things my yearning for a religious life grows
stronger. I become melancholy and lament. I try to
forget, for sorrow is vain. Am I too sinful.? So I was
musing one morning when I saw waterfowl playing
heedlessly in the pond.^
Water jowl floating on the water —
They seem so gay.
But in truth
It is not gay to live anxiously seeking means of existence.
I sympathized with them who outwardly have no other
thought but amusement, yet in reality are seeking a
livelihood in great anxiety.
* The Prime Minister wished to arrange a marriage between his
eldest son and the Prince's daughter. The authoress's cousin had
adopted the Prince's son.
* This incident has for some reason become very famous and artists
have used it as a subject for pictures. One of these is now hanging in
the Imperial Museum in Tokyo.
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Of Old Japan
Lady Koshosho sent me a letter, and when I was
writing the answer a brisk shower came pattering
down. The sky looked threatening and the messenger
was in a hurry, so I think I wrote but a broken-legged
poem. After dark the messenger returned with a
strongly perfumed and deeply coloured paper ^ on
which was written :
The dark sky dulls my dreamy mind.
The down-dripping rain lingers —
0 my tears down Jailing, longing after thee!
I have forgotten what I wrote to her except the poem:
There are pauses between the showers of the outer world.
But there is no time when my sleeves, wet with tears, are dry.
That day the Queen saw the new boats which were
presented for her inspection. The dragon^s head and
the phoenix at the prow made me think of animated
living figures.
The visit ^ of His Majesty was to be made at eight
or nine o'clock in the morning. From early dawn ladles
adorned themselves with great care. As the seats of
the courtiers were placed in the west side building the
Queen's apartment was not so much disturbed. I have
heard that the ladles serving at the Imperial shrine
dressed very elaborately in the rooms of the first
maid-of-honour.
In the early morning Lady Koshosho came back
* Poems were written on oblongs of crimson, yellow, gold, or other
paper according to the feeling of the writer. Nowadays oblong poem
papers can be bought anywhere, but they are generally white or
gray with gold decoration.
* The King's visit was made October i6, ioo8.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
from her father's. We dressed our hair together. In
spite of the fixed hour His Majesty's coming will be
delayed, we thought, and our relaxed minds were still
indolent. Some ladies had ordered unornamented silk
fans and were on tiptoe with expectancy when the
drums were heard [announcing Royalty] and they
were in an awkward predicament.^ We welcomed the
Royal equipage. The boatmen's music was very good.
When the Royal palanquin drew near, the bearers,
though they were rather honourable persons, bent
their heads in absolute humility as they ascended the
steps. Even in the highest society there are grades of
courtesy, but these men were too humble. The Royal
dais was prepared at the west side of the Queen's.'^ His
honourable chair was placed in the eastern part of the
south veranda. A little apart from it on the east side
were hung misu, and two of the court ladies in attend-
ance on the King came out from behind that misu. The
beautiful shape of their hair, tied with bands, was like
that of the beauties in Chinese pictures. Lady Saemon
held the King's sword. She wore a blue-green pattern-
less karaginu and shaded train with floating bands
and belt of " floating thread " brocade dyed in dull red.
Her outer robe was trimmed with five folds and was
chrysanthemum-coloured. The glossy' silk was of
crimson; her figure and movement, when we caught
a glimpse of it, was flower-like and dignified. Lady
* It was de rigueur for ladies to conceal their faces with fans.
* The left side is the more honourable position, but this time the
King sat at the right side because perhaps they could not move the
Queen's dais.
' A special effect of brilliant shinmg produced by beating the silk.
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Of Old Japan
Ben-noNaishi held the box of the King's seals. Her
uchigi was grape-coloured, her brocaded train and
karaginu were the same as the former lady. She is a
very small and smile-giving person and seemed a little
shy and I was sorry for her. Her face and clothes were
in better taste than those of the other ladies. Her hair-
bands were blue-green. Her appearance suggested one
of the ancient dream-maidens descended from heaven.
The officers of the King's Bodyguard managed
things connected with the state carriage [perhaps
drawn by a bullock] In fine style. They were elegantly
dressed. The First Lieutenant-General took His
Majesty's sword and gave it to Lady Saemon.
Looking over those who were inside the misu I saw
that persons who were permitted to wear honourable
colours were in karaginu of blue or red, painted trains,
and uchigi which were as a rule brocade of old red and
old rose. Only the Right Bodyguard wore clothes of
shrimp pink. The beaten ^ stuffs were like the min-
gling of dark and light maple leaves in autumn. The
under garments were in deep and pale jasmine yellow
or in green and white. Some wore scarlet and green,
and others dresses trimmed with three folds. Among
those who were not permitted to wear figured silk the
elderly persons wore blue, or dull red and old rose five-
fold-bordered uchigi. The colour of the sea painted on
their trains was tasteful and quiet. On their belts was
a repeated design.
The younger ladles wore five-fold-trimmed kara-
ginu of chrysanthemum colours according to their
* A special effect of brilliant shining produced by beating the silk.
97
Diaries of Court Ladies
taste. The first garment was white and those who wore
a blue dress covered It with a red one. Those who wore
old rose on the outside took more richly coloured gar-
ments underneath.^ Among those whose dress was in
combination with white, only those who made skilful
combinations seemed well dressed. I saw some fans
exquisitely strange and original. We can compare
their tastes more easily in their everyday dress, but on
such an occasion as this, when they give their whole
minds to the costumes, vying with each other, they
all seem like so many works of art. They look rather
alike, and it is difficult to distinguish ages, or to know
whether hair is thick or thin. Their faces and heads
were hidden by fans, yet some ladies seemed more
dignified and others inferior. Ladies who seem dis-
tinguished at such a time must be beautiful indeed.
'Five ladies who had formerly served both the King
and our Queen were assembled here. They were, two
ladies-in-waiting, two maids-of-honour, and one cook.^
To serve the dinner Ladies-in-Waiting Chikuzen
and Sakyo, their hair tied with bands, came out near
the square pillar where the court ladies sat. They were
like beautiful angels [Japanese word, tennin]. Sakyo
wore karaginu of white, and blue under white. Lady
Chikuzen wore five-fold-trimmed karaginu of chrys-
^ These garments were evidently made of very thin material,
colours underneath being intended to modify the outer ones, hence
the art of dressing became very subtle.
* Doubtless this office was highly important and held in honour.
In those days poison and inferior foods were to be guarded against.
Throughout the journal it may be noticed that all directly serving
the King and Queen in any way are persons of high rank.
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Of Old Japan
anthemum colours. The ornament of their trains was
dyed by rubbing.^ Lady Tachibana of the Third Rank
prepared the dinner. She is an old lady and wore blue ^
karaginu, and yellow chrysanthemum uchigi woven in
a "floating thread" pattern. A sudare was rolled up,
but a post obscured the view. The Lord Prime Minis-
ter, taking the August young Prince in his arms went
before the King. His Majesty took the child himself.
The Honourable Infant cried a little in a very young
voice. Lady Ben-no-Saisho stood holding the Prince's
sword. The Prince was taken to the Lord Prime Min-
ister's wife, who sat on the west side of the inner door.
After His Majesty had gone, Ben-no-Saisho came out
and said to me: "I was exposed to brightness [i.e. the
radiance of the King's presence]. I felt discomposed."
Her blushing face was beautiful in every feature, and
set off her dress delightfully.
When night came we had beautiful dances. The
court nobles presented themselves before the King
[to dance]. The names of the dances performed were:
The Pleasures of Ten Thousand Ages.
The Pleasures of a Peaceful Reign.
The Happy Palace.
When they danced the "Long-Pleasing ^ Son," the
* In this curiously delicate operation the actual leaf or flower from
which the colour was obtained was rubbed onto the silk to make the
desired pattern.
* Light blue and some kinds of yellow are colours relegated to the
elderly in Japan. Babies and young people are dressed in bright
colours and showy patterns. The old wear plain stuffs and pale or
dull colours.
* This dance was performed by court nobles at the coronation of
the present Emperor at Kioto, 191 5.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
closing one, they went out singing and danced along
the road beyond the garden hills. ^ As they went far-
ther away the sound of flute and drum mingled with
the sound of wind in the pine-wood towards which
they were going. The garden brook, cleansed very
carefully, was refreshing to us and the [sound of the]
water rippling on the pond gave us a chilly feeling.
Lady Sakyo offered the Queen sympathy, not know-
ing that she had doubled her undergarments, so peo-
ple laughed secretly. Lady Chikuzen talked of the
late King Enyu,'* who had visited her often. She talked
about the events of those days, and I felt that she was
about to utter things unfit for this happy occasion, so
I did not answer her saying I was too tired. We were
sitting with a curtain between us. If there had been
some one to ask, "Alas, what things?" she would have
spilled the unfit words.^ The dancing before the King
had begun and it was very delightful, when the voice
of the young Prince was heard crying beautifully. The
Minister of the Right said flatteringly that the Au-
gust Child's voice was in accord with the music. The
Commander of the King's Left Bodyguard recited
with others "The Pleasures of Ten Thousand Years"
and "The Pleasures of Ten Thousand Autumns." Our
honourable host, the Lord Prime Minister, said,
"Ah! I held the previous condescending visit as a
great honour, but this is the greatest." He wept in in-
* Artificial hills in Japanese gardens are intended to bring moun-
tain scenery to mind, whether large or small. They are sometimes
of considerable size.
* Reigned 970 to 984. This lady may have been his mistress or had
interesting reminiscences to relate.
100
Of Old Japan
toxica tlon of joy. There's really no need of my saying
it, but he is so grateful to the King and so conscious
of his happiness it is lovely to see it.
The Prime Minister withdrew and His Majesty
retired from the chamber. He summoned the Minister
of the Right to order him to record that the Queen's
officials and Prime Minister's stewards were to be
advanced in rank. To-no-Ben presented to him all
who were to be thus honoured. The nobles of the Fuji-
wara clans ^ arrived together, but there were only
those immediately connected with the Prime Minis-
ter's family, the other three families were not among
them. Then came the chief officers of the Right Body-
guard, the high officials of the Queen Dowager, the
officials of our Queen to whom additional duties were
assigned, and other members of the court who had
been promoted and who came to thank the King. His
Majesty went in beside the Queen, but as the night
was far advanced it was not long before the Prime
Minister called the Royal carriage and the King re-
turned to his own palace.
The next day Royal messengers came here before
the morning mist had cleared up. I arose late and did
not see them. Last evening was the first time that His
^ The feuds of the Fujiwara family. Fujiwara Fuhito had four sons
who became the founders of the four great Fujiwara families —
Minami, Kyo, Kita, and Shiki. They were all aspiring to the King's
favour and at enmity with each other, the present Prime Minister
Michinaga far outstripping the others in power.
lOI
Diaries of Court Ladies
Majesty the King had met the Queen during these
months. After the visit the duties of the August
Prince's attendants and ladies were made public.
Some who had not heard about it before were disap-
pointed and jealous. The decorations of the Queen's
apartment, which had been neglected, were improved.
Things became more attractive in the Queen's pres-
ence. For years the Prime Minister had felt anxious
[as the Queen had had no child], but his hopes being
realized he and his wife devoted themselves to taking
care of the Queen. The August Child seems to have
shed brightness around him.
In the evening the moonlight was very beautiful.
The Second Official of the August young Prince came,
perhaps thinking that his thanks might be offered by
a court lady. The bridge opposite the door was wet
with vapour from the bath. No one answered, so he
went to the room of Lady Miya-no-Naishi which is
next the bridge of the eastern building. Lady Saisho
was in the inner room. The man, holding back the un-
locked door, asked again, "Is some one within?" But
she did not come out. Just then the Queen's First
Officer appeared and called, " Is some one there."* " She
felt it impossible not to reply, so made a faint answer.
The new official was in a gay humour and said re-
proachfully, "You did not answer me, but you espe-
cially favour the Head Officer! It is natural enough,
but not kind; is there so much difference between the
nobles in this place? It is too much!" He sung "The
August Happiness of the Day." As the night ad-
I02
Of Old Japan
vanced the moon became brighter; "It would be bet-
ter to take away the obstruction from before the
door," said he persuasively. I thought It awkward
that a noble of the Court should stand there below me
like that, but I did not open the door. If I were
younger, I thought, my Inexperience would be my
excuse were I to talk with him or open the door, but
one cannot talk thoughtlessly when one is young no
longer, so I did not open the door but held It with my
hand.
The first day of the Frost month was the fiftieth
day after the birth. The persons who were to pre-
sent themselves came In full dress. The sight before
her presence was like a picture of a poet's assembly.
Many kich5 were arranged along the east side of the
Queen's dais from the inner room to the veranda.
The Royal dinlng-table was placed towards the south
front of the house. At the west side was prepared the
Queen Dowager's dinner. It was placed on a tray of
aloe wood. I don't know what kind of a stand It was
on because I did not see it. She wore a grape-coloured
kimono trimmed with five folds and red uchlgi. Those
serving the dinner were Lady Saisho and Lady Sa-
nuki. The malds-of-honour dressed their hair with
saishi and bands. Lady Dainagon served the August
Prince's dinner at the east side — a little dining-table,
plate, stand for chopsticks, with a central decoration
representing a bit of seashore — all as small as play-
things for dolls. At the east end where the sudare was
a little rolled up, there were in waiting such ladies as
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Diaries of Court Ladies
Ben-no-Nalshi, Lady Nakatsukasa, Lady Koshosho;
as I was inside I could not see in great detail. That
night Lady Sefu, the nurse, was permitted to wear a
dress of honourable colour. She seemed still girlish,
as she took the August Prince in her arms and gave
him to the Lord Prime Minister who was within the
dais. He came out quietly and they were plainly seen
in the flickering light of the torches. It was very
lovely. The August Prince was dressed in red brocade
with shaded skirt — exquisitely pretty. The Mochi ^
was given to him by the Lord Prime Minister. The
seats of the courtiers had been prepared at the west
side of the east building; there were two ministers
present. They came out onto the bridge and were very
drunk and boisterpus.
As the torches burnt low, the Major-General of the
Fourth Rank was called to light lanterns. Boxes and
baskets of food,'^ the Prime Minister's gifts, were
borne in by the attendants and piled up on the bal-
cony near the railing. Some of the boxes were to be
taken to the King's kitchen, and as the next day was
to be a day of abstinence for religious devotion they
were carried away at once.
The Queen's First Officer came to the misu and
asked if the court nobles should be invited there. As
* Mochi: a cake made of beaten rice flour paste.
« These dainty white wooden boxes of food arranged in a way
pleasing to the eye are still a feature of Japanese life. They are dis-
tributed, with varying contents, at weddings and funerals, sold at
railway stations, and carried on picnics.
104
»
<
o
CO
id
»
Of Old Japan
the answer was "yes," every one came led by the
Prime Minister, and approached the east door. Ladies
stood in two or three rows; the misu was rolled up by
those who were nearest it. Lady Dainagon, Lady
Koshosho, and others. The Minister of the Right
came dancing wildly and made a hole in the kicho
behind which ladies were sitting. They laughed, say-
ing, "He has long passed the age for that." He did not
notice, but made a great many unbecoming jokes,
taking away ladies' fans. The August Prince's First
Officer took a sake cup ^ and stepped out; he sung a
song; although it was unaccompanied by dancing it
was very delightful. Farther towards the east, leaning
against a door-post, the General of the Right was
standing, studying the ladies' sleeves and the skirts of
their garments showing below the misu. He is differ-
ent from other men. The ladies, thinking that after
all the intoxicated men were only trying to seem
young and irresistible, made light of their behavior and
said, "It is nothing, nobody else will behave so."
Compared with such men the General is far superior.
He was afraid of the sake cup, and when it came to
him passed it by, singing the song which begins "One
Thousand and Ten Thousand Ages." The First Officer
of the Light Bodyguard said, "I think Lady Mura-
saki must be somewhere here!" I listened, thinking,
"How can she be here in a place where there is no
1 At banquets a great cup waS used which could contain one or two
quarts of liquor. When this was circulated among the guests each
was expected to empty the cup, and it was the pride of the drinker
to toss it off in one draught.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
such graceful person as Prince Genji?"^ The Minister
of the Right said, " Sanmi-no-Suke [officer of the third
rank], accept this cup!" When the officer came out
from below the Lord Keeper of the seal [an inferior
position] the drunken man wept. The King's Adviser,
leaning in a comer, was flirting with Lady Hyobu.
The Prime Minister did not forbid even unmention-
able jokes. It was an awful night of carousal, so after
the ceremony I signalled to Lady Saisho and we hid
ourselves, but there came noisily the Prime Minister's
sons and Lieutenant-General Saisho, so, although we
two had remained hidden behind the screen, even
this was taken away and we were captives. "Compose
a poem each, and you shall be excused," said the Lord
Prime Minister. I was frightened and helpless, and
made haste to comply:
How can I number the years of the Prince!
One thousand, nay, eight thousand, may he live, and more.
"Well done!" said he, reciting it twice, and he an-
swered immediately:
0 would I might live the life of a crane —
Then might I reckon the years of the Prince
Up to one thousand!
He was much intoxicated, but the poem had feeling,
for it came from his innermost desire. The child cher-
ished in this way will have a very bright future. Even
such as I can imagine the thousand prosperous years
of His August Highness! He felt satisfied with his
own poem and said, "Has Your Majesty heard the
poem? I have made a poem!" and then — "I am
* The hero of Genji Monogatari.
io6
Of Old Japan
worthy to be your father and you are worthy to be
my daughter — Mother is smiling, she must think
she is happy. She may be thinking she has got a good
husband ! " said he in extreme intoxication. As is usual
with drunken persons all were listening. His wife
seemed to be embarrassed by this conversation and
retired. "Mother will be angry if I do not follow her,"
said he, and went through the dais hurriedly, mutter-
ing, "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but a child is adored
because of its father!" and everybody laughed.
The day for the Queen's return to the palace ap-
proaches and her ladies have no tranquil hours be-
cause of continual ceremonies. Her Majesty had had
blank books made, so from early morning I was
summoned to attend her to arrange the paper and to
write letters which were sent with the books and the
romances to be copied. I also spent days in compiling
these into books. "What fancy is this.? Why do you
do such things these chilly days."*" the Lord Prime
Minister said, but he himself brought out fine papers,
brushes and ink, and even writing-boxes. These were
given to the ladies by the Queen's own hand. They
were bashful, but excuses were in vain, and they went
into comers and composed and came back blushing,
saying, "I have done this," only to be given more
brushes and ink. I had brought my romances from
home and hidden them in my own room, but one
day the Prime Minister entered it secretly to hunt
about and found them and gave them to the first
lady-in-waiting. As the books are not at all clearly
107
Diaries of Court Ladies
written, I am ashamed to think what their opinion
must be.^
The infant Prince begins to babble and crow. His
Majesty is naturally impatient to have him. The
waterfowl have begun to come more and more to the
pond before the house.
I longed for snow while we were staying there, but
just then I had to go home to my parents. Two days
after retiring from the Court a great snow came. The
old familiar trees of my home reminded me of those
melancholy years when I used to gaze upon them
musing when the colours of flowers, the voices of
birds, the skies of Spring and Autumn, moon shadows,
frost and snow, told me nothing but that time was
revolving, and that I was menaced with a dreary fu-
ture. Before I went to Court I tried to avoid sadness
by writing to those who were in the same state of
mind, even to those with whom I was only slightly
acquainted, and associating with them I consoled my
heart in various ways. Although an unimportant per-
son I had passed my life without feeling any sort of
contempt of myself until I went to Court — since then,
alas! I have experienced all the bitterness of it. To-
day I took out romances, but they no longer inter-
ested me. I was ashamed to think what those melan-
choly persons to whom I used to write had thought of
me since I went to Court, so I had no courage to write
to them again. Those with whom I am now intimate
^ The Queen desired a literary Court to rival that of the first Queen.
See note on p. 131.
108
Of Old Japan
would have to publish my letters broadcast, so how
can I write to them my imnost heart? — thus my let-
ters have inadvertently grown few. I had a feeling
that association with some of the younger ladies who
used to visit me before I went to Court could not con-
tinue. Some of them I had to refuse when they came,
and in my home all these trifles have made me feel
more deeply that I have gone into a world not in-
tended for me. I write only to those from whom I can
never part, to whom my heart prompts me to speak.
O worthless heart, that feels love only for those with
whom it daily associates ! I long for Lady Dainagon
with whom I spent every night before the Queen,
when we told each other all our heart's secrets — is it
also my worldly heart that longs for a companion
other than Buddha?
Like two wild ducks
Floating with unrestful slumber,
Yet even those nights I would recall —
Feathers wet and cold —
But colder tears!
Lady Dainagon returned this answer:
Midnight sleep was broken
But no friend to brush away the cold tears!
I envy the Oshidori ^ which has ever its mate by its side.
Her handwriting is very elegant. She is a very true-
hearted person.
A lady wrote me, "The Queen has seen the snow,
and she regrets deeply that you are not here at Court."
The Prime Minister's Lady wrote to me, "When I
* A special kind of wild duck called oshidori which is always seen
in couples.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
tried to stop your going away you said you would go
at once that you might come back soon. Was not that
true? — for many days have passed." She may not
have been in earnest, yet as I received such a letter
I went back to the Court.
It was on the seventeenth of the Frost month
that the Queen went back to the palace. The time
had been fixed for eight o'clock in the evening, but
the night was far advanced. I could not see more
than thirty ladies who tied up their hair. To the
east balcony of the Queen's apartments came more
than ten ladies-in-waiting from His Majesty's Court
[to escort the Queen]. Her Majesty's senji [woman
who repeats the Queen's words to outsiders] went in
Her Majesty's coach with her. The Lord Prime Min-
ister's wife and Lady Sen, the nurse, holding the
August Infant in her arms, went in a coach adorned
with silk fringes. Lady Dainagon and Lady Saisho
were in a gold-studded coach. In the next one went
Lady Koshosho and Lady Miya-no-Naishi. The
Lieutenant-General of His Majesty's stud was in the
next one. I was to go in that one. His manner ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with so mean a companion and
I was much discomposed. Lady Jiyu, Ben-no-Naishi,
Lady Saemon, the Prime Minister's first attendant,
and Lady Shikibu went in their proper order in their
palanquins. As it was bright moonlight I was greatly
embarrassed, and in the palace I followed the Lieu-
tenant-General not knowing where I trod. If some one
had been looking at me jrom behind [Japanese expres-
IIO
Of Old Japan
sion signifying "gossiping about or criticizing"], I
must have been ashamed indeed. .
I passed that night in the third little room on the
corridor of the Kokiden.-^ Lady Koshosho came and
we talked of the sadness of our lives. We took off our
kimonos and put on doubly wadded ones, and making
a fire in an incense-burner we were complaining of the
cold when the Chamberlain and the State Council-
lor and Lieutenant-General Kinnobu came to inquire
for us. I wished I might have been entirely forgotten
this evening. It annoyed more than it pleased us; nev-
ertheless, as they had come to make inquiries, I said:
"To-morrow I will return the compliment and go to
inquire after you. To-night I am shivering with cold."
Saying these words we secretly stole away from that
room. Some were now preparing to go back to their
homes; we thought them to be some of the lower offi-
cials. I do not say this as comparing them with my-
self. By the way. Lady Koshosho is very noble in
character and beautiful, but I notice she is thinking
sadly of the World. ^ One reason is her father's rather
humble rank which makes good fortune delay to come
to her.
This morning Her Majesty saw in detail last eve-
ning's presents from the Prime Minister. The hair
ornaments in a case were more lovely than words can
express. There were a pair of salvers. On one of them
* Kokiden: residence of the first Queen,
* The World; i.e. matrimonial affairs.
Ill
Diaries of Court Ladies
were poem papers and bound blank books. On the
other were the poetical collections of the Kokinshu,
Gosenshu, and Juishu. ^ Each was bound in five vol-
umes. The copyists of these volumes were the King's
Adviser and attendant of middle rank and Enkwan.^
The covers were of thin figured silk; the fastenings of
braided silk of the same material. They were fitted
into a basket. There were also ancient and modern
poetical collections of various families, such as those
of Yoshinobu and Motosuke. The copies made by
Enkwan^ and Chikazumi^ were kept for the Queen's
private use. They were made in the new fashion.
On the twentieth day of the Frost month the dance
of Gosetchi ^ was performed. A costume was given to
the young lady whom the King's attendant and State
Councillor offered for the dance. The Lieutenant-
General asked for a garland for his dancer, which was
given. At the same time a box of perfume ornamented
with artificial leaves and plum blossoms was given
^ Three anthologies, of Ancient and Modern Poems, Later Selec-
tions of Poems, and Miscellaneous Poems, respectively.
^ These men were famous calligraphers.
* This famous dance, whose origin is given below, was performed
at the present Emperor's coronation at Kioto in 1915, by five daugh-
ters of ancient noble families selected for their beauty. It is said that
these young ladies immediately thereafter received a great many
offers of marriage.
Gosetchi was a great holiday succeeded by two days of feasting.
The dancing girls (of the diary) were all daughters of persons of high
rank, three being daughters of courtiers and two daughters of prov-
ince governors. Tradition says that when King Tenmu was at his
palace of Yoshino, heavenly maidens came down and danced before
him fluttering the long celestial sleeves of their feathery dresses five
times. This was the origin of the dance.
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Of Old Japan
her. As the arrangements had been made a long time
beforehand this year, there was great rivalry among
the dancers. Torches were lighted in close rows along
the outer doors of the eastern veranda so there was
day-brightness, and it was really awkward to walk
there. I felt for the girls, but it was not they only
who were embarrassed. Young nobles looked at the
girls face to face, almost bringing the lights down In
front of them. They tried to draw a curtain before
themselves, but in vain, and the nobles' eyes were
still on them. My heart throbs even at the memory
of it.
The helpers ^ of courtier Narito's daughter were
dressed in brocaded karaginu, which was distinctive
and pleasing even at night. She was overwhelmed by
her dress and her movements were ungraceful, yet
the nobles paid her special attention. The King came
to see the dance. The Lord Prime Minister, too, crept
in from the side entrance, so we felt constraint.
The helpers of Nakakyo's daughter were all of the
same height. They were graceful and charming, and
people agreed that they were not inferior to any
ladies.
The State Councillor and Lleutenant-General had
all his maids as helpers of his daughter. One of them
was ungraceful, being fat and countrified, so all were
laughing at her. The daughter of T5 [State Council-
* Each dancer was attended by helpers who were sometimes per-
sons of degree. Their duties were to arrange trains and costumes in
the postures of the dance.
"3
Diaries of Court Ladies
lor] gave a fresh and distinct impression because of
her family.* She had ten helpers.
The ladies who were proud of their good looks
seemed more beautiful in this artificial light.
On the morning of the day of the Tiger ^ the court-
iers assembled. Although it is a common custom to
have the dance, the younger ones were especially curi-
ous to see the dancers. Was it because they had ac-
quired rude country manners during these months of
absence from the Court? There the dress dyed by rub-
bing the leaves of the indigo plant was not to be seen.
When night came the second official of the Crown
Prince was summoned and perfumes were bestowed
upon him. Quantities of it were heaped up in a large
box.
That night the dance was performed in the Seiry-
oden.^ The King was present to see it. The Prime
Minister's wife sent a messenger to the Governor of
Owari.
As the August young Prince was to be present, rice
was thrown to keep off evil spirits, and people reviled
them [the spirits] and called them names. It gave us
a queer feeling. I was weary and wanted to rest a lit-
tle, so I remained in our chamber thinking to present
myself when it should be necessary. Lady Kohyoe and
Lady Kohyobu sat beside the brazier. We were saying
* Her father was Keeper of the Seal. Her aunt was one of the
queens.
^ See signs of the zodiac, of Old Japan.
' The name of a detached hall in the Imperial Palace.
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Of Old Japan
that the hall was crowded and nothing could be seen
distinctly, when the Lord Prime Minister came in.
"Why do you stay here? Come with us!" so we went
reluctantly. I watched the dancers thinking how tired
they must be, and what a heavy task they had before
them. The daughter of the Governor of Owari became
ill and retired. Human fate is like a dream, it seems!
After the dance His Majesty retired.
Young noblemen talk of nothing these days but the
rooms of those dancers.-^ Even the borders of the cur-
tains hanging over the sudare were varied according
to the taste of the dancer. Their hair-dressing and
their style also varied extremely, so the young men
talked about that, and more improper things too.
Even in ordinary years [when there was no unusual
festivity] the dancing girls' hearts are always filled
with anxiety, how much more so this year. While
I was thinking about it they came out in single file.
My heart swelled with sympathy. It may be they
have no great patrons to depend on who could pro-
tect them. As they are all chosen for their beauty all
are attractive, and it would be difficult to say which
is superior to the other, although the man of fashion
may perhaps perceive differences. In this brilliant
light they may not even shade their faces with their
fans. They are placed in rivalry with each other in
rank, in prudence, and in wit, and must struggle each
to excel the other, although at the same time they
* Like the knights' tents in the tournaments each girl's apart-
ment was distinguished by special devices of cloths or banners hung
before it.
"5
Diaries of Court Ladies
feel shyness In the presence of the young men. Sur-
rounded by the young nobles, they are forced to hold
their own among them worthily. I feel sorry for them.
Governor Tamba's daughter wore a darkish blue
gown. The State Councillor To's daughter wore red.
The maids of the latter wore the blue karaginu of a
girl and were so beautiful that they made us women
jealous. One girl did not seem at all dignified. The
daughter of the State Councillor and Lieutenant-
General was tall and had beautiful hair. Her attend-
ants wore deep-coloured clothes trimmed with five
folds and their outer garments were varied according
to taste. The last girl wore a plain grape-coloured one,
and that simple dress was more beautiful, as it showed
taste in colour combination.
The secretaries of the sixth rank went towards
them to take away their fans. They threw them down
themselves. Though they were graceful they did not
seem like girls. If we were in their places it would
seem like a dream to us. I had never supposed I
should mingle with these court ladies ! Yet the human
heart is an invisible and dreadful being. If I became
accustomed to [court life] my bashfulness would be
overcome and I could easily stand face to face with
men. As if in a vision my future appeared to me, and
such a state of things appeared to me undesirable.
My mind was greatly troubled and I could observe
nothing.
The apartment temporarily given to the dancer
who was the daughter of the King's Adviser and State
ii6
Of Old Japan
Councillor was just across the way [in the building
of another queen, see map of palace] on the corridor
opposite to that of our Queen. A part of the sudare of
that room was in sight above the outer shutter, al-
though we could hear voices but faintly. The State
Councillor and Lieutenant-General, who knew about
it all, said, "There are ladies called Sakyo and Uma
who once served that Queen over there." "It was
Sakyo who sat in the eastern part of the hall last night
as a helper of a certain young lady who danced," said
Genshosho, who knew her. Some of our Queen's ladies
chanced to overhear these remarks. "How extraordi-
nary! Yet she must remember old times," said they;
"how is it possible that a former lady-in-waiting
should return to the court as a maid? She may be
thinking it will never be known, but we will one day
bring it to light!"
Our ladies may have been scheming for this when
they chose among the multitude of fans kept by the
Queen those representing the Island of Horai ^ — did
she feel it, I wonder?
Ground-pine [Lycopodium] was made into a wreath
and put into a box-cover [probably of a writing-
box, in those days large and elegantly lacquered]. A
comb and face-powder were put in also, for the young
courtiers had said, " that lady, who is rather advanced
in years, wears a curved comb suitable for a young
^ Horai: an island of eternal life and felicity supposed to exist in
the eastern ocean. Horai symbolizes changelessness, and it must have
been intended as a hint at the impropriety of Sakyo's changed posi-
tion.
"7
Diaries of Court Ladies
lady." So the comb which was put Into the box was
curved too much in the vulgar new fashion with per-
fume balls clumsily covered with paper. A poem was
added to it written by Lady Saifu:
Among the many ladies that night of the dance
The belle was the one who wore the lycopodium.
The Queen said: " If you are going to send at all, send
something clever, here are many fans for it." But
some ladies replied: "That will attract too much
attention. It is too unusual. If you send this publicly
you will not succeed in puzzling her; perhaps we would
better send it anonymously." Therefore a lady who
was an entire stranger to her was chosen. She went,
and, speaking loudly, said: "Here is a letter from
Lady Chunagon. It is sent by her Queen to Lady
Sakyo." I thought it would be awkward if the messen-
ger were caught by them, but she ran away as soon as
she had put down the things. She reported that she
heard some one saying, "Whence do you come?"
There is no doubt she really thought it a gift from our
Queen.
Days passed without any Interesting events. After
that evening of dancing the Court became absolutely
dull. The preparatory music on the eve of the Omi
ceremony ^ was very fine. The young courtiers were
still filled with thoughts of the dancers. After the
Queen's return to the palace, the little sons of another
wife of the Prime Minister were permitted to come in
* Festival of the ancient gods, for which preparation was made
the day before by fasting.
Ii8
Of Old Japan
to play with the ladles-in-walting. They came to us
without end, which was a great bother. I did not show
myself to them, taking advantage of my advanced
age. They were not thinking of the dancers, but were
playing by the side of Ladies Yasurai and Kohyoe,
joking and chattering like little birds.
At the occasional festival of the Kamo shrine the
Vice-Lieutenant-General [first son of the Prime
Minister] was made the King's substitute. It was a
day of fasting also, so the Lord Prime Minister had
passed the night at the palace. The nobles and dancers
passed the night of the festival In making a great
noise with much merriment In the corridors. Next
morning an attendant of the Chamberlain brought
something to an attendant of the Lord Prime Minister.
It was the box-cover of the previous night. -^ There was
in it a silver case for romances, besides a mirror, a
comb of aloe wood, and a silver kogai. The comb
seemed to be given to adorn the hair of the messenger
at the festival. Something was written on the box-
cover in reed style in raised characters. It was the
answer to the poem of the lycopodium. Two charac-
ters were omitted and it was difficult to read. She
seemed to have misunderstood. The Chamberlain
thought it really was a gift to her from our Queen, so
* This incident was very well known and is mentioned in several
of the writings of the period. The mirror is the symbol of the soul of
a Japanese woman. With the mirror Sakyo sent a poem:
Alas'. Hie waving moss deceived your vision.
The clear mirror is never tarnished:
Therefore look deep,
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Diaries of Court Ladies
the return was made thus openly. It was but a foolish
joke and I felt sorry for her.
The Prime Minister's wife came to court to see the
festival. His son, adorning his head with artificial wis-
teria, appeared quite a man, noble and dignified. The
Lady Kura [his nurse] , not taking any notice of the
dancers, wept for joy watching her young lord. As it
was still the day of fasting, they came back from the
shrine at two in the morning, and the sacred dance
was performed listlessly, as the important persons
were absent. Kanetoki [a dancer] who had been very
handsome last year, was much fallen off. Though a
stranger to him I felt regret, being reminded of the
fleeting life of us all
[Here an interval occurs.]
On the twentieth of the Finishing month I went
again to Court. It was the anniversary of the
day on which I had first come. I remembered my
former career as a wanderer on dream paths, and I
loathed myself for having become so familiar with
court life. The night was far advanced and as the
Queen was fasting, we did not present ourselves be-
fore her. I felt lonely and was lying down. The maids-
of-honour around me said: "The hours here are very
different from those at home. There all would be
sleeping by this time, but here our dreams are broken
by the sound of shoes along the corridor." Hearing
them girlishly talking I murmured to myself;
My life and the year are closing together.
At the sound of the wind dreary is my heart.
120
Of Old Japan
On that moon-hidden night [last night of the year]
the driving off of evil spirits was soon finished. We
dyed our teeth [black], and after finishing decorating
our faces we sat at ease. Ben-no-Naishi came, and
after talking she went to sleep. The Queen's seam-
stress sat in the doorway watching the maid Ateki
sewing. Just then we heard an unusual noise from the
direction of Her Majesty's apartment. I tried to wake
up Ben-no-Naishi, but she was heavy with sleep.
Some one was heard crying wildly. I was frightened
and could not think what to do. Was it a fire? But no,
it was not that. I pushed the seamstress forward, say-
ing, "Go there! over there! Oh, dear!!" Then, "Her
Majesty is in her own room, we must by all means
get to her!" I shook Ben-no-Naishi roughly to awaken
her and we three ran trembling — flying rather than
walking. We saw two naked persons. They were
Lady Yugei and Lady Kohyobe. It seemed that they
had been robbed of their clothes, and I felt more dis-
tressed than before. The kitchen servants had all gone
out; even the Queen's guards had retired after devil-
driving. We clapped our hands, but no one came.
Some went to call the women attendants, while I, for-
getting my shyness, said, "Call Hyobu-no-Jo, the
secretary." He was sought for, but had left the palace.
I felt irritated indeed, but at last an assistant to the
Master of Ceremonies came who poured oil into sev-
eral lamps. We found many who had fainted. At the
news a messenger arrived from the King, but we were
too frightened to receive him properly. He took out
dresses from the royal wardrobe to give them. The
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Diaries of Court Ladies
new dresses for New Year's Day were not stolen, so
these ladies took their misfortune lightly — but un-
forgettably dreadful is a nude form. I can never call it
laughable. It was too dreadful to speak of, but we
could not help talking.
The New Year's Day [1008] was inauspicious. The
rice-cake [mochi ^] ceremony was deferred. However,
on the third day, the August Crown Prince went up
to the King and the rice-cake festival was given for
him. His attendant was Lady Dainagon. The dress of
the ladies on the first day was karaginu of purple and
old rose colour, red kimono and shaded train; on
the second day, red and purple brocade, deep violet
glossy silk, green karaginu, train dyed by rubbing
flowers. On the third day we wore white and rose-col-
oured brocaded garments, trimmed with many folds.
The karaginu was of dull red and old rose brocade.
When we wear deep violet-coloured shining silk the
inner robe is of crimson ; when we wear crimson out-
side the inner dress is usually of deep violet. The pale
and deep colour of- spring leaf buds, dull red, golden
yellow, and light and dark crimsons — dresses of
these ordinary colours were worn trimmed with six
folds in very beautiful combinations.^
* Mochi: it is still the custom in Japan to serve a cake made of
beaten rice on New Year's Day, the great festival of the year. The
sound of this beating is heard from house to house throughout the
country, and gives everybody a holiday feeling. The ceremonies last
three days.
' These colour combinations were very subtle because the effect
was produced by the play of one or perhaps two colours showing
through one another.
122
Of Old Japan
Lady Saisho held the August Prince's honourable
sword. The Lord Prime Minister took the August
Prince in his arms and they presented themselves be-
fore the King. Lady Saisho's dress was a garment
trimmed with three and five folds, and figured of the
same colour trimmed with seven folds. The uchigi was
adorned with a pattern of oak-leaves beautifully em-
broidered. She wore a karaginu and train trimmed
with three folds. Her unlined inner kimono was woven
in a pattern. Her costume was in the Chinese style.
Her hair was ornamented more elaborately than usual.
Her style of dress and manner showed great knowl-
edge of the world. She is rather tall and has a well-
rounded figure. Her face is very small and exquisitely
tinted.
[The following eleven paragraphs are portraits of
prominent ladies of the court.]
Lady Dainagon is very small and refined, white,
beautiful, and round, though in demeanour very lofty.
Her hair is three inches longer than her height. She
uses exquisitely carved hairpins. Her face is lovely,
her manners delicate and charming.
Lady Senji is also a little person, and haughty. Her
hair is fime .and glossy and one foot longer than the
ordinary. She puts us to shame, her carriage is so
noble. When she walks before us we feel so much in
the shade that we are uncomfortable. Her mind and
speech make us feel that a really noble person ought
to be like her,
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Diaries of Court Ladies
— If I go on describing ladles' manners I shall be
called an old gossip, so I must refrain from talking
about those around me. I will be silent about the
questionable and imperfect.
Lady Koshosho, all noble and charming. She is
like a weeping-willow tree at budding-time. Her style
is very elegant and we all envy her her manners. She
is so shy and retiring that she seems to hide her heart
even from herself. She is of childlike purity even to a
painful degree — should there be a low-minded person
who would treat her ill or slander her, her spirit would
be overwhelmed and she would die. Such delicacy and
helplessness make us anxious about her.
LadyMiya-no-Naishi, also a beauty of good height.
Her appearance as she sits is very dignified. She is
fashionable. Although no single feature is especially
beautiful she has altogether an air of youth and
beauty. Her face is [literal translation] high in the
middle and she excels others in the fairness of her
skin. Her hair-ornaments, her forehead, oh, beauti-
ful! produce an effect of refinement and elegance.
She is very frank and unaffected in manner, and
never the least bit awkward about anything. She is
naturalness itself. Her character may be an example
for us. She never tries consciously to attract, and she
has no vanity.
Lady Shikibu is her younger sister. She is too
plump, and her complexion is a fragrant white. She
124
Of Old Japan
has a bright small face and beautiful hair, although it
is not long. She presents herself before the Queen with
false hair. Her plump appearance, oh, smile-giving!
Her eyes and forehead are lovely indeed; her smile is
full of sweetness.
Among the younger ladies I think Kodayu and
Genshikibu are beautiful. The former is a little per-
son quite modern in type. Her pretty hair is abun-
dant at the roots, but gets too thin at the end, which is
one foot longer than she is. Her face is full of wit.
People will think her very pretty, and indeed there is
no feature one would wish to improve. The latter is
tall and rather superior. Her features are fine; she is
smile-giving and lovable. She is very refined and
seems to be a favourite daughter of some person of
dignity.
Lady Kohyoe-no-Jo is also refined. These ladies
cannot be' looked down upon by court nobles. With
every one some fault is to be found, but only those
who are ever mindful to conceal it even when alone,
can completely succeed.
Lady Attendant Myaki is a very pretty person.
Her hair is scarcely longer than her uchigi, the ends
are beautifully cut. Her face was agreeable also when
I last saw it.
There Is also Lady Gosetchi-no-Ben.^ She is the
adopted daughter of Middle Adviser Hei. Her face is
^ One of the young women who had danced the Gosetchi.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
like a picture. She has a broad forehead and eyelids
drooping at the corners. Her features are not remark-
able at any point, but her complexion is white, her
hands and arms are pretty. When I saw her in the
spring for the first time her hair, which was profusely
abundant, was one foot longer than herself, but it
suddenly became thinner at the ends, and now it is
only a little longer than she is.
A Lady Koma had very long hair, an agreeable
lady in those days; now she has become like the
bridge of a lute which has been immovably fastened
with glue. She has gone home.
So much for their appearance and now for their
dispositions. Here few can be selected, though each
has some good points and few are entirely bad. It is
very difficult to possess such qualities as prudence,
wit, charm, right-mindedness, all at once. As to many
ladies, the question is whether they excel most in
charms of mind or person. It is hard to decide!
Wicked, indeed, to write so much of others!
There is Lady Chujo who waits upon the Princess
dedicated to the service of the Kamo shrine. I had
heard of her and secretly managed to see her letters
addressed to other persons. They were very beauti-
fully written but with such an exalted opinion of her-
self; in the whole world she is the person of pro-
foundest knowledge! None to compare with her, it
seems she is thinking. On reading them my heart beat
faster, I was furiously indignant for every one here
126
Of Old Japan
[the ladies of her own Queen's Court], although it
may be it is wrong to feel so. "Be it in composition
or poetry who can judge save our Princess-Abbess,
who will have bright futures but the ladies attending
our Princess?" ! 1 It may be reasonable, yet I have
never seen, compared to ours, any good poems by the
lady attendants of that Princess-Abbess. They seem
to be living an idle poetic life, but if they were to
compete with us, it is not necessarily certain they
would be superior, though no one knows them well.
On a beautiful moonlight night or morning, at the
time of flowers or of cuckoo, courtiers might visit
their residence. Other-worldly and sacred it is, and
made to the taste of their Princess. There they re-
main undisturbed, admiring her. On the other hand,
with us many things occur. The Queen has to go up
to His Majesty's apartment, the Lord Prime Minister
comes, and we have to keep watch at night. But there
is nothing of all this in that world all their own where
they may mdulge in elegance and avoid blunders. If
I could live there like an old piece of buried wood
thrown in among them, I might succeed in freeing
myself from the reproach of shallowness — would
that I might indulge in elegance there, relaxing my-
self! Forward young ladies there can devote them-
selves to dress, making themselves inferior to none
and pleasing to courtiers. On the other hand, in our
Queen's Court we rather neglect to adorn ourselves,
for our Queen has no rivals now. Moreover, she
thinks unfavourably of frivolous women, so those
who wish to serve her and remain in favour keep
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Diaries of Court Ladies
from association with men. Of course everywhere
there are light-hearted, unashamed, thoughtless
women, and men who visit our court to find them
say we are awkward and unversed in social usage.
Our ladies of the higher ranks are, indeed, much too
reserved and haughty; it is not in this way that they
can bring honour to our Queen. It is painful to see
them. The attendants of the Princess-Abbess seem
to have been alluding to these ladies, but both de-
fects and merits are found in every one, so we may
not be inferior to them after all. Even our young
ladies nowadays have heard of self-respect. It
would be embarrassing if they were too frivolous,
but one would not wish them to be heartless
either.
Our Queen of perfect mind, enviably lovely, is re-
served and never obtrusive, for she believes that few
who are forward can avoid blunders. In fact, imper-
fect wit is worse than reserve. Our Queen when she
was very young was much annoyed to hear persons
of shallow culture saying vulgar, narrow things with
conceit, so she favoured ladies who made no mistakes,
and childlike persons pleased her very well. This is
why our ladies have become so retiring. As Her
Majesty grows older, she begins to see the world as it
is, the bad and good qualities of the human heart.
Reserve or boldness — she knows neither is good.
The court nobles rather look down on us — "Nothing
interesting here!" they seem to say. The Queen
knows this, but she knows we cannot please every-
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Of Old Japan
body. If we stumble, hideous things may happen.
Yet we must not be faint-hearted and bashful either,
so Her Majesty says, but our old habits are not so
easily shaken off, and all the young nobles of the
present day are, on their side, only indulgent pleasure-
seekers.
The ladies around the Abbess, who indulge in
aesthetic pursuits, gazing at the moon and admiring
flowers, may talk only of these things to the nobles,
boastfully and intentionally, and the nobles might
say that it is difficult to find ladies with whom they
can chatter light-heartedly morning or evening, or
discuss interesting topics occasionally; although, as I
have n't heard them say it, I don't know really what
they think. In general conversation it is awkward to
say profound things. It is far better to speak with
simplicity, and the nobles seem to think so. The dif-
ficulty is to understand the occasion and adapt one's
self to it.
When the First Official of Her Majesty comes to
report to her, the delicate, shy ladies-in-waiting can-
not meet him on common ground, or converse flu-
ently, not because they are deficient in words or
thoughts, but because of their extreme timidity.
They fear their faults may be noticed so they cannot
decide what to say. Others [Abbess ladies] may not
be so. Even women of high birth must [follow the
general custom when they become ladies-in-waiting
at the Court, but many behave as if they were still
daughters at home.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
The Great Adviser ^ is displeased to be received by
ladies of low rank, so when he comes to the Queen's
court to make some report and suitable ladies to re-
ceive him are not available, he goes away without
seeing Her Majesty. Other court nobles, who often
come to make reports, have each a favourite lady,
and when that one is away they are displeased, and
go away saying to other people, that the Queen's
ladies are quite unsatisfactory. There may be some
reason in it, yet it is quite unreasonable for the Ab-
bess's ladies to say that we are unworthy to be seen
or heard. It is easy to criticize, and difficult to realize
our own ideals. These ladies, however, do not know
that, and being full of conceit, they treat others with
disdain, thus revealing their own limitations. Oh,
how I wanted to show the letters to the Queen, but
they had been stolen by the lady who secretly showed
them to me, and they were soon taken back. I cov-
eted those letters!
Lady Izumi Shikibu ^ corresponds charmingly,
but her behaviour is improper indeed. She writes
with grace and ease and with a flashing wit. There is
fragrance even in her smallest words. Her poems are
attractive, but they are only improvisations which
drop from her mouth spontaneously. Every one of
them has some interesting point, and she is ac-
quainted with ancient literature also, but she is not
* Fujiwara Michitaka, the Prime Minister's brother.
* This lady was one of the greatest poets Japan has ever produced.
See her diary, which is the record of her liaison with a young prince.
130
Of Old Japan
like a true artist who is filled with the genuine spirit
of poetry. Yet I think even she cannot presume to
pass judgment on the poems of others.
The wife of the Governor of Tamba Province is
called by the Queen and Prime Minister Masa Hira
Emon.-^ Though she is not of noble birth, her poems
are very satisfying. She does not compose and scatter
them about on every occasion, but so far as we know
them, even her miscellaneous poems shame us. Those
who compose poems whose loins are all but broken,
yet who are infinitely self-exalted and vain, deserve
our contempt and pity.
Lady Seishonagon.^ A very proud person. She
values herself highly, and scatters her Chinese writ-
ings all about. Yet should we study her closely, we
should find that she is still imperfect. She tries to be
exceptional, but naturally persons of that sort give
offence. She is piHng up trouble for her future. One
who is too richly gifted, who indulges too much in
emotion, even when she ought to be reserved, and
cannot turn aside from anything she is interested in,
^ A daughter of the famous court lady, poet, and historian Aka-
zome Emon, to whom the court history of the time is traditionally
ascribed.
2 Seishonagon. A lady famous for her learning and wit and with
a little reputation for daring. Pretty and vivacious, learned and
witty, she was allowed liberties unrebuked — one may call her the
New Woman of the day. She served in the court of the first Queen
Sadako, daughter of the Prime Minister's brother. The two Queens
were in rivalry. Seishonagon was the literary light of that court, as
Murasaki Shikibu and Izumi Shikibu were of this.
Diaries of Court Ladies
in spite of herself will lose self-control. How can such
a vain and reckless person end her days happily!
[Here there is a sudden change from the Court to
her own home.]
Having no excellence within myself, I have passed
my days without making any special impression on
any one. Especially the fact that I have no man who
will look out for my future makes me comfortless. I
do not wish to bury myself in dreariness. Is it because
of my worldly mind that I feel lonely? On moonlight
nights in autumn, when I am hopelessly sad, I often
go out on the balcony and gaze dreamily at the moon.
It makes me think of days gone by. People say that
it is dangerous to look at the moon ^ in solitude, but
something impels me, and sitting a little withdrawn
I muse there. In the wind-cooled evening I play on
the koto,^ though others may not care to hear it. I
fear that my playing betrays the sorrow which be-
comes more intense, and I become disgusted with
myself — so foolish and miserable am I.
My room is ugly, blackened by smoke. I play on
a thirteen or six-stringed koto, but I neglect to take
away the bridges even in rainy weather, and I lean
it up against the wall between the cabinet and the
^ Because one may be bewitched; ancient belief dating from long
before her day.
* A koto is called a horizontal harp, but it consists of a number of
strings stretched the length of the instrument, the scale made by an
arrangement of bridges placed under the strings, and played upon
by four ivory keys worn on the four fingers of the right hand.
132
Of Old Japan
door jamb. On either side of the koto stands a lute
[Japanese biwa]. A pair of big bookcases have in them
all the books they can hold. In one of them are placed
old poems and romances. They are the homes of
worms which come frightening us when we turn the
pages, so none ever wish to read them. [Perhaps her
own writings, she speaks so slightingly of them.] As
to the other cabinet, since the person ^ who placed his
own books [there] no hand has touched it. When I am
bored to death I take out one or two of them; then
my maids gather around me and say: "Your life will
not be favoured with old age if you do such a thing!
Why do you read Chinese? Formerly even the read-
ing of sutras was not encouraged for women." They
rebuke me in the [shade i.e. behind my back]. I have
heard of it and have wished to say, "It is far from
certain that he who does no forbidden thing enjoys
a long life," but it would be a lack of reserve to say
it [to the maids]. Our deeds vary with our age and
deeds vary with the individual. Some are proud [to
read books], others look over old cast-away writings
because they are bored with having nothing to do.
It would not be becoming for such a one to chatter
away about religious thoughts, noisily shaking a
rosary. I feel this, and before my women keep myself
from doing what otherwise I could do easily. But
after all, when I was among the ladies of the Court
I did not say what I wanted to say either, for it is
useless to talk with those who do not understand
^ Her husband who was a scholar in Chinese literature. He died
in looi. It is now 1008.
Diaries of Court Ladies
one and troublesome to talk with those who criticize
from a feeling of superiority. Especially one-sided
persons are troublesome. Few are accomplished in
many arts and most cling narrowly to their own
opinion.
Pretty and coy, shrinking from sight, unsociable,
proud, fond of romance, vain and poetic, looking
down upon others with a jealous eye — such is the
opinion of those who do not know me, but after see-
ing me they say, "You are wonderfully gentle to
meet with; I cannot identify you with that imagined
one."
I see that I have been slighted, hated, and looked
down upon as an old gossip, and I must bear it, for
it is my destiny to be solitary. The Queen said once,
"You were ever mindful not to show your soul, but
I have become more intimate with you than others."
I hope that I may not be looked at obliquely even by
those who are ill-natured, affected, and unsociable.
As a rule one Is easy at the back [I.e. not afraid of
gossip] who is modest, gentle, and of tranquil dis-
position. Even a coquettish and frivolous person is
not rebuked if she is good-natured and of a dis-
position not embarrassing to others. A person who
is self-exalted and eccentric with scornful mouth and
demeanor can be unmistakably perceived, and one
can be on one's guard; by observing closely one
may discover faults of speech and behaviour. Those
whose words and deeds are not in harmony, or who
are always trying to outdo one another, attract
134
Of Old Japan
notice. One seldom wishes to criticize those who have
defects, but are good-natured. One cannot but sym-
pathize with them. Those who habitually do evil
with intention deserve to be freely talked about and
laughed at even though sometimes they do it with-
out intention. We ought to love even those who hate
us, but it is very difficult to do it. Even the Buddha
of Profound Mercy does not say that the sins against
Buddha, the laws of religion, and priests, are slight.
Moreover, in this muddy world it is best to let alone
the persons who hate us. If we compare one who tries
to excel in hatred saying extraordinary words and
watching [their effect] ill-humouredly face to face,
with one who coldly hides her heart with a tranquil
manner, we can see which is superior.
There is a lady, Saemon-no-Naishi, who unreason-
ably cherished hatred of me. I was not at first aware
of it, but later heard of much criticism of me in my
absence. Once the King was listening to a reading of
my Genji-monogatari, and said, "She is gifted, she
must have read the Chronicle of Japan." This lady
heard of it, and unreflectingly spread abroad among
the courtiers the idea that I am very proud of my
learning, giving me the name of "The Japanese
Chronicle lady" — it is laughable, indeed! I am re-
served even before the maids of my own house; how
then should I show my learning in Court.? When my
elder brother Shikibu-no-Jo was a boy he was taught
to read "Chinese Historical Records." ^ I listened,
* Large and learned volumes by the Chinese scholar Seu-ma Ch'ien.
135
Diaries of Court Ladies
sitting beside him, and learned wonderfully fast,
though he was sometimes slow and forgot. Father,
who was devoted to study, regretted that I had not
been a son, but I heard people saying that it is not
beautiful even for a man to be proud of his learning,
and after that I did not write so much as the figure
one in Chinese. I grew clumsy with my [writing]
brush. For a long time I did not care for the books I
had already read. Thus I was ashamed to think how
others would hate me on hearing what Lady Saemon
said, and I assumed an air of not being able to read
the characters written on the Royal screen. But the
Queen made me read [to her] the poetical works
of Li T'ai Po, and as she wished to learn them I
have been teaching her since the Summer of two
years ago the second and third volumes of that col-
lection very secretly when none were present. Her
Majesty and I tried to conceal it, but His Majesty
the King and the Lord Prime Minister finding it out,
the latter presented to the Queen many poetical
books which he had had copied. I think that bitter
Saemon does not know it yet. If she did, how she
would criticize me!
Everything in this world is burdensome. Now
I shall not be afraid whatever happens. Whatever
others may say of me I will recite sutras kneeling
before Amitabha Buddha.* When my mind has be-
come completely free from the burden of the world,
nothing will weaken my determination to become a
* The Merciful Buddha of the West Paradise.
136
Of Old Japan
saint. Though I set myself devotedly against worldly
passions, it seems that there extends before me a
limbo of dull wanderings before I can mount the
cloud J I must be there now. I am now of a fit age
for the religious life. It is common to suppose that
men read sutras when they are old, yet really they
are not read, for minds grow more and more relax
with age. I may be Interpreted as one who imitates
persons of profound thought, but I will devote my-
self to the religious life. The person of deep-rooted
sin cannot succeed even in such a hope [as that].
There happens many a circumstance which makes me
think of the [probable] wickedness of my pre-natal
life and everything makes me sad.
[There seems to be an abrupt transition here and
the following paragraph seems to be part of a letter,
perhaps sent with the diary or other writing.]
I wish I could make known everything to you,
good and bad, things of the world, and those relating
to my life — all that I could not write in my letters.
You could not expect such writing as this from your
friend.? You feel weary of life; please look into my
heart, also weary. Please write to me — even a little
— whatever comes into your mind. It would be very
unfortunate if my writings were scattered about and
made known to others. I have written many things
of this sort, but recently I have torn up all my old
* It is believed that this Buddha comes to welcome the departing
soul of the believer mounted on a rainbow-coloured cloud.
Diaries of Court Ladies
writings, burying some, and making dolls' houses of
the rest. Since that time I have received no letters
and am determined to write no more on fresh paper,
so thrifty have I become! I think I am not in the
wrong. After reading, please return quickly. As I
could not revise all there may be some defects; read
— overlooking them.
My mind has been wholly occupied with the things
and persons of our world, and as I close this writing
I reflect on how deeply rooted was my interest in
them, but it was only accident that closed my de-
scriptions of others.
[Here an interval during which she returns to Court.]
On the eleventh of the First month, 1009, in the
early morning they went to the temple. The Lord
Prime Minister's wife accompanied the Queen, others
went by boat. I was belated and went at night.
There was preaching. People made confession ac-
cording to the custom of the mountain temple.^
Many pictures of pagodas were painted, and they
amused themselves. Most of the nobles had retired,
and there were few persons left when the midnight
preaching began. The preachers and interpreters of the
sutras were twenty in number. . . . [Here is a sentence
whose meaning is lost.] They all preached in diff"erent
ways about the merit of the Queen's presence; there
were many things laughed at. After the preaching
the courtiers went boating; they all rowed and en-
^ The great Enryakuji on Mount Hiye, northeast of Kioto.
138
Of Old Japan
joyed themselves. At the eastern corner of the temple
a bridge had been built opposite the door opening
towards the North. There the High Official of the
Crown Prince was leaning against the railing. The
Lord Prime Minister came for a little while and talked
with Lady Saisho, but as we were in the Queen's
presence we could not be at our ease. It was pretty
both within and without the temple. The pale moon
appeared, and young nobles sang songs of the new
fashion. A song related that those who had gone into
the boat were young and pretty. The old Secretary
of the Treasury was among them. He was ashamed
with reason to sing with the others, and stood there
rather embarrassed. The back view of him was com-
ical and those within the misu [i.e. the ladies] secretly
laughed. Some one said, "He in the boat is regretting
old age." The High Official on the bridge heard it
and sang, "The ancient seekers for eternal life — the
tradition is full of lies."^ It sounded very latest
fashion, indeed. Some sang "The Duckweed'* ac-
companied by the flute. Even the morning wind
gave us unusual impressions because of the place.
In the Queen's presence was placed Genji-mono-
gatari. Once the Lord Prime Minister saw it and
after many playful words wrote to me on a [poem]
paper attached to a plum branch.
[The following poem depends for its point on the
play upon a word with two meanings.]
^ A line from an old Chinese poem about Jofuku and Bunsei, seek-
ers of the herb of eternal life. When they entered the boat they were
young men, but were very old when they returned.
139
Diaries of Court Ladies
love
Being notorious for .
" "' ( sourness
I think none pass by without breaking a branch!
[Her answer]
No one in passing has ever broken the plum tree
Who then can know if it be sour?
Oh, regrettable! to be spoken of in such a way!
One night I slept in a room near the corridor. Some
one came knocking at the door. I was afraid and
passed the night without making a sound. The next
morning the following poem was sent me [from the
Prime Minister] :
All the night through, knocking louder than a water-rail,
I stood in vain at the door of hinoki wood
weary and lamenting.
I wrote back:
A cause of deep regret, indeed.
Had the door opened at the knocking of the water-rail!
[Here a space of nearly one year elapses.]
Third day of First month [loio]. The August
Princes have presented themselves before the King
for three days ^ to receive gifts of mochi. Ladies of
high rank accompanied them. Saemon-no-Kami held
the Prince, and the mochi was brought to His Ma-
jesty by the Lord Prime Minister. The King, facing
towards the east door, gave it to the August Princes.^
It was a beautiful sight to see the young Princes com-
* The Japanese New Year ceremonies extend over three days.
' Both these little princes, grandsons of the Prime Minister,
eventually came to the throne.
140
Of Old Japan
ing and returning through the corridor. The Queen
Dowager did not present herself. On the first day
Lady Saisho served at table; her colour combination
was cunningly executed. Ladies Takumi and Hyogo
officiated as the Queen's secretaries. The ladies who
tied their hair were particularly attractive. The lady
who was entrusted with the preparation of toso ^ was
very vain of her skill and behaved as if she were a
doctor of medicine. Ointment was distributed as
usual.
The Prime Minister took the younger Prince In
his arms and the King embraced him lovingly, say-
ing, "Long life and health" as usual. The Lord
Prime Minister replied, "I will uphold the younger
Prince in my arms"; but at that His Augustness the
Crown Prince became jealous and begged [to be
taken up too], saying, "Ah! Ah!" The Prime Min-
ister was much pleased, and the General of the Right
Bodyguard and others were amused by it.
The Lord Prime Minister had an audience with
the King and they came out together to find amuse-
ment. The Minister was much intoxicated. "Trouble-
some!" I thought, and hid myself away, but I was
found. "You are summoned by the father of the
Queen, yet you retire so early! Suspicious person!"
said he. "Now, instead of the Queen's father it is
you who must compose a poem! It is quite an ordi-
nary occasion, so don't hesitate!" He urged, but it
^ Toso: New Year's drink of spiced sake supposed to prolong life.
141
Diaries of Court Ladies
seemed to me very awkward to make one only to
have it laughed at. As he was very much in liquor,
his face was flushed and flamed out in the torchlight.
He said, "The Queen had lived for years alone and
solitary. I had seen it with anxiety. It is cheering to
behold troublesome children on either side of her."
And he went to look at the Princes, who had been
put to bed, taking off the bedclothes. He was singing:
"// there be no little pines in the field
How shall I find the symbol of looo ages?"
People thought it more suitable that he should sing
this old song than make a new one. The next evening
the sky was ha2y; as the different parts of the palace
are built compactly in close rows I could only catch
a slight glimpse of it from the veranda. I admired
his recitation of last evening with the nurse Madam
Nakadaka. This lady is of deep thought and learning.
I went home for a while. For the fifty days' cere-
mony of the second Prince, which was the fifteenth
day of the Sociable Month, I returned in the early
morning to the palace. Lady Koshosho returned in
embarrassing broad daylight. We two live together;
our rooms adjoin and we throw them together, each
occupying the whole when the other is absent. When
we are there together we put kicho between them.
The Lord Prime Minister says we must be gossiping
about other people. Some may be uneasy to hear that,
but as there are no unfriendly strangers here we are
not anxious about it.
142
Of Old Japan
I went to the Queen's audience. My friend wore
brocaded uchigi of old rose and white, a red karaginu
and figured train. My dress was of red and purple and
light green. My karaginu was green and white. The
rubbed design on the train was in the very latest
fashion, and it would perhaps have been better if a
younger lady had worn it. There were seventeen
ladies of His Majesty the King's court who presented
themselves before the Queen. Lady Tachibana of the
third rank served the royal table. Ladies Kodayu and
Shikibu on the balcony. The serving of the young
August Prince's dinner was entrusted to Lady Kosho-
sho. Their Majesties sat within the dais [one for each].
The morning sun shone in and I felt too much bril-
liancy in their presence. The King wore a robe with
narrow sleeves. The Queen was dressed in red as
usual. Her inner kimonos were purple and red with
pale and dark green and two shades of yellow. His
Majesty's outer dress was grape-coloured ^ brocade,
and his inner garment white and green — all rare
and modern both in design and colour.
It seemed to be too dazzling in their presence, so
I softly slid away into an inner room. The nurse.
Madam Nakadaka, holding the young Prince in her
arms, came out towards the south between the can-
* The names of these colours are translated in modem terms.
The Japanese names of colours for dresses were all of colours in
combination, which often were called after flowers or plants.
These names could not convey the right idea. For instance, what is
here translated old rose and white, would be in those days called
cherry, intended to convey to the mind the thought of the cherry-
tree in bloom.
Diaries of Court Ladies
opied King and Queen. She is short in stature, but of
dignified demeanour. She was perfectly tranquil and
grave and a good example for the young Prince [then
not two months old!]. She wore grape-coloured uchigi
and patternless karaginu of white and old rose. That
day all did their utmost to adorn themselves. One
had a little fault in the colour combination at the
wrist opening. When she went before the Royal pres-
ence to fetch something, the nobles and high officials
noticed it. Afterwards, Lady Saisho regretted it
deeply. It was not so bad; only one colour was a
little too pale. Lady Kotaiyu wore a crimson unlined
dress and over it an uchigi of deep and pale plum
colour bordered with folds. Her karaginu was white
and old rose. Lady Gen Shikibu appears to have been
wearing a red and purple figured silk. Some said it was
unsuitable because it was not brocade. That judg-
ment is too conventional. There may be criticism
where want of taste is too apparent, but it were
better to criticize manners. Dress is rather unim-
portant in comparison.
The ceremony of giving mochi to the Prince is
ended and the table is taken away. The misu of the
anteroom was rolled up, and we saw ladies sitting
crowded at the west side of the dais. There were Lady
Tachibana of the third rank, and Naishi Nosuke, the
younger attendant of the August Princes sitting in
the doorway. In the east anteroom near the shioji^
there were ladies of high rank. I went to seek Lady
* Paper doors.
144
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Of Old Japan
Dainagon and Lady Koshosho, who were sitting east
of the dais. His August Majesty sat on the dais with
his dining-table before him. The ornaments of it were
exquisitely beautiful. On the south balcony there sat
the Minister of the Right and Left and the Chamber-
lain, the first officials of the Crown Prince and of
the Queen and the Great Adviser Shijo, facing towards
the North, the West being the more honourable seat.
There were no officials of low rank. Afterwards they
begun to amuse themselves. Courtiers sat on the
southeast corridor of the side building. The four lower
officials took their usual places [on the steps below
Royalty] to perform some music. They were Kage-
masa, Korekaze, Yukiyoshi, Tonomasa. From the
upper seat the Great Adviser Shijo conducted the
music. To no Ben played the lute, Tsunetaka
played the harp [koto]. The Lieutenant-General of
the Left Bodyguard and State Councillor played the
flute. Some outsiders joined in the music. One made
a mistake in the notes and was hissed. The Minister
of the Right praised the six-stringed koto. He became
too merry, and made a great mistake, which sent a
chill even to the onlookers.
The Prime Minister's gift was flutes put Into two
boxes.
Ill
THE DIARY OF IZUMI SHIKIBU
Ill
THE DIARY OF IZUMI SHIKIBU
A.D. IOO2-IOO3
Many months had passed in lamenting the World, ^
more shadowy than a dream. Already the tenth day
of the Deutzia month was over. A deeper shade
lay under the trees and the grass on the embank-
ment was greener.^ These changes, unnoticed by
any, seemed beautiful to her, and while musing
upon them a man stepped lightly along behind
the hedge. She was idly curious, but when he came
towards her she recognized the page of the late
prince.^ He came at a sorrowful moment, so she said,
"Is your coming not long delayed? To talk over
the past was inclined." "Would it not have been
presuming.? — Forgive me — In mountain temples
have been worshipping. To be without ties is sad, so
wishing to take service again I went to Prince Sochi-
no-miya."
"Excellent! that Prince is very elegant and is
known to me. He cannot be as of yore?" [i.e. unmar-
ried.] So she said, and he replied, "No, but he is very
gracious. He asked me whether I ever visit you now-
* In the writings of the ladies of those'days World (yononaka) is
often used as a synonym of love-affair; i.e. their relations with men.
* In those days noblemen's houses were surrounded with an em-
bankment, instead of a wall.
' Prince Tametaka, the third Prince of the Emperor Rezrei who
reigned 968-969. The Prince died on June 13, 1002. He had been
Izumi Shikibu's lover.
149
Diaries of Court Ladies
adays — *Yes, I do,' said I; then, breaking off this
branch of tachibana ^ flowers, His Highness replied,
*Give this to her, [see] how she will take it.' The
Prince had in mind the old poem:
The scent of tachibana flowers in May
Recalls the perfumed sleeves of him who is no longer here.
So I have come — what shall I say to him?"
It was embarrassing to return an oral message
through the page, and the Prince had not written;
discontented, yet wishing to make some response,
she wrote a poem and gave it to the page:
That scent, indeed, brings memories
But rather, to be reminded of that othery
Would hear the cuckoo's ^ voice.
The Prince was on the veranda of his palace, and
as the page approached him with important face, he
led him into an inner room saying, "What is it?" The
page presented the poem.
The Prince read it and wrote this answer:
The cuckoo sings on the same branch
With voice unchanged^
That shall you know.
His Highness gave this to the page and walked
away, saying, "Tell it to no one, I might be thought
amorous." The page brought the poem to the lady.
Lovely it was, but it seemed wiser not to write too
often [so did not answer],
^ Tachibana: a kind of orange.
* The cuckoo sings when the tachibana is in flower. In this in-
stance the "cuckoo" means the young Prince. Thus there is a sug-
gestion here if he chooses to take it.
150
Of Old Japan
On the day following his first letter this poem was
sent:
To you I betrayed my heart —
Alas! Confessing
Brings deeper griefs
Lamenting days.
Feeling was rootless, but being unlearned in lone-
liness, and attracted, she wrote an answer:
// you lament to-day
At this moment your heart
May feel for mine —
For in sorrow
Months and days have worn away.
He wrote often and she answered — sometimes —
and felt her loneliness a little assuaged. Again she
received a letter. After expressing feelings of great
delicacy:
[7 would] solace [you] with consoling words
If spoken in vain
No longer could be exchanged.
To talk with you about the departed one; how would it be
[for you] to come in the evening unobtrusively?
Her answer:
As I hear of comfort I wish to talk with you, but being an
uprooted person there is no hope of my standing upright.
I am footless [meaning, I cannot go to you].
Thus she wrote, and His Highness decided to come
as a private person.
It was still daylight, and he secretly called his ser-
vant Ukon-no-zo, who had usually been the medium
by which the letters had reached the Prince, and said.
Diaries of Court Ladies
"I am going somewhere." The man understood and
made preparations.
His Highness came in an humble palanquin and
made his page announce him. It was embarrassing.
She did not know what to do; she could not pretend
to be absent after having written him an answer that
very day. It seemed too heartless to make him go back
at once without entering. Thinking, "I will only talk
to him," she placed a cushion by the west door on
the veranda, and invited the Prince there. Was it
because he was so much admired by the world that he
seemed to her unusually fascinating? But this only
increased her caution. While they were talking the
moon shone out and it became uncomfortably bright.
He: "As I have been out of society and living in the
shade, I am not used to such a bright place as this " —
It was too embarrassing! — "Let me come in where
you are sitting; I will not be rude as others are. You
are not one to receive me often, are you.^*" "No
indeed ! What a strange idea ! Only to-night we shall
talk together I think; never again!" Thus lightly
talking, the night advanced — "Shall we spend the
night in this way.?" he asked:
The night passes.
We dream no faintest dream —
What shall remain to me of this summer night ?
She:
Thinking of the world
Sleeves wet with tears are my bed-fellows*
Calmly to dream sweet dreams —
There is no night for that.
152
HIS HIGHNESS CAME IN A HUMBLE PALANQUIN
Of Old Japan
He: "I am not a person who can leave my house
easily. You may think me rude, but my feeling for
you grows ardent." And he crept into the room.
Felt horribly embarrassed, but conversed together
and at daybreak he returned.
Next day's letter:
In what way are you thinking about me? I feel anxiety —
To you it may he a common-place to speak of love^
But my feeling this morning —
To nothing can it be compared!
She answered :
Whether commonplace or not —
Thoughts do not dwell upon it
For the first time [/] am caught in the toils.
O what a person! What has she done! So tenderly
the late Prince spoke to her! She felt regret and her
mind was not tranquil. Just then the page came.
Awaited a letter, but there was none. It disappointed
her; how much in love I When the page returned, a
letter was given.
The letter:
Were my heart permitted even to feel the pain of waiting /
It may he to wait is lesser pain —
To-night — not even to wait for —
The Prince read it, and felt deep pity, yet there must
be reserve [In going out at night]. His affection for his
Princess is unusually light, but he may be thinking
it would seem odd to leave home every night. Per-
haps he will reserve himself until the mourning for the
late Prince Is over; ^ it is a sign that his love is not
deep. An answer came after nightfall.
^ The period of mourning was to end on June 13, 1003.
Diaries of Court Ladies
Had she said she was waiting for me with all her heart.
Without rest towards the house of my beloved
Should I have been impelled! ^
When I think how lightly you may regard me!
Her answer:
Why should I think lightly of you?
/ am a drop of dew
Hanging from a leaf
Yet I am not unrestful
For on this branch I seem to have existed
From before the birth of the world.
Please think of me as like the unstable dew which cannot
even remain unless the leaf supports it.
His Highness received this letter. He wanted to
come, but days passed without realizing his wish.
On the moon-hidden day [last day of month] she
wrote:
// to-day passes
Your muffled voice of April, 0 cuckoo
When can I hear ?
She sent this poem, but as the Prince had many
callers it could only reach him the next morning.
His answer:
The cuckoo's song in spring is full of pain.
Listen and you will hear his song of summer
Full-throated from to-day.^
And so he came at last, avoiding public attention.
The lady was preparing herself for temple-going, and
in the act of religious purification. Thinking that the
rare visits of the Prince betrayed his indifference, and
* The cuckoo sings with low note in early spring, but when April
is passed his voice grows clear and loud. It is a favourite bird in Japan.
154
Of Old Japan
supposing that he had come only to show that he was
not without sympathy, she continued the night ab-
sorbed in religious services, talking little with him.
In the morning the Prince said: "I have passed an
extraordinary night" —
New is such feeling for me
We have been near^
Yet the night passed and our souls have not met.
And he added, " I am wretched."
She could feel his distress and was sorry for him;
and said:
With endless sorrow my heart is weighted
And night after night is passed
Even without meeting of the eyelids.
For me this is not new.
May 2. The Prince wrote to her: "Are you going
to the temple to-day? When shall you be at home
again."*"
Answer:
In its season the time of gently falling rain will be over.
To-night I will drag from its bed the root of ayame.^
Went to the temple and came back after two or three
days to find a letter [from him] :
My heart yearns for thee, and I wish to see thee, yet I am
discouraged by the treatment of the other night. I am sad
^ The meaning of the poem is vague. Ayame may mean Iris sibi-
rica — rain-stop, darkness — these are homonyms in Japanese. The
fifth day of the fifth month was a festival day, and people adorned
their houses with iris sibirica, so the last line might mean that she
wanted to prepare for the festival. If we take the word ayame in the
meaning of rain-stop, then we can understand the poem as follows:
"It is the wet season now, and it is raining within my heart. To-night
I am going to the temple to pray that the rainy season will be over
(and to chase away the darkness from my soul). After that I wish
you to come."
ISS
Diaries of Court Ladies
and ashamed. Do not suppose that I remain at home because
my feeling is shallow.
She is cold-hearted^ yet I cannot forget her.
Time wipes out bitterness^ but deepens longings
Which to-day have overcome me.
Not slight is my feeling, although —
Her reply:
j^re you coming ? Scarcely believable are your words,
For not even a shadow
Passes before my unfrequented dwelling.
The Prince came as usual unannounced. The lady
did not believe that he would come at all, and being
tired out with the religious observances of several
days, fell asleep. No one noticed the gentle knocking
at the gate. He, on the other hand, had heard some
rumours, and suspecting the presence of another
lover, quietly retired. A letter came on the morning
of the next day:
/ stood before your closed door
Never to be opened.
Seeing, it became the symbol of your pitiless heart !
I tasted the bitterness of love, and pitied myself.
Then she knew that he had come the night before
— carelessly fallen asleep ! — and wrote back :
How can you write the thought?
The door of precious wood was closely shut,
No way to read that heart.
All is thy suspicion — O that I could lay bare my heart [to
you]!
The next night he wanted to come again, yet he
was advised against it. He feared the criticism of the
Chamberlain and Crown Prince, so his visits became
IS6
Of Old Japan
more and more infrequent. In the continuous rains
the lady gazed at the clouds and thought how the
court would be talking about them. She had had
many friends; now there was only the Prince. Though
people invented various tales about her, she thought
the truth could never be known to any. The Prince
wrote a letter about the tedious rain:
You are thinking only of the long rains
Forever falling everywhere.
Into my heart also the rain falls —
Long melancholy days.
It was smile-giving to see that he seized upon every
occasion to write her a poem, and she also felt as he
did that this was a time for sentiment.
The reply:
Unaware of the sadness in your hearty
Knowing only of the rain in mine.
And on another paper she wrote another poem:
// passes^ the very sorrowful life of the world —
^ ^ ^ I meditation it can he known
fi \ high-<vater mark
\ flood will be exceeded.
Is it still long? [before you come].
The Prince read this letter and the messenger came
back with his answer:
Helpless man,
I am weary even of life.
Not to you alone beneath the sky
Is rain and dulness.
For us both it is a stupid world.
Diaries of Court Ladies
It was the sixth day of the Fifth month — rain
not yet stopped. The Prince had been much more
touched by her answer of the day before, which was
deeper in feeling, and on that morning of heavy rain
he sent with much kindness to inquire after her.
Very terrible was the sound of rain . . .
Of what was I thinking
All the long night through
Listening to the rain against the window?
I was sheltered, but the storm was in my heart.
The lady wrote thus to the Prince, and he thought,
"Not hopeless."
His poem:
All the night through^ it was of you I thought —
How is it in a house where is no other
To make rain forgotten?
At noon people were talking about the flooding of the
Kamo River, and many went to see it, the Prince
among them. He wrote:
How are you at present? I have just come back from flood-
seeing.
The feeling of my heart, like the overflotving waters of the floods
But deeper my hearths feeling.
Do you know this?
She wrote:
Toward me the waters do not overflow.
No depth lies there
Though the meadow is flooded.
Words are not enough.
In these words she replied to him; and his High-
ness made up his mind to come, and ordered per-
fumery for himself. Just then his old nurse, Jiju-no-
Menoto, came up: "Where are you going .^" she said,.
IS8
Of Old Japan
"People are talking about it. She is no lady of high
birth. If you wish her to serve you, you may summon
her here as a servant. Your undignified goings-out
are very painful for us. Many men go to her, and
some awkward thing may happen. All these improper
things are suggested by Ukon-no-Zo.^ He accom-
panied the late Prince also. If you wander out in the
depths of night no good can come of it. I will tell the
Prime Minister ^ of the persons who accompany you
in these night visits. In the world there may be
changes. No one can tell what will happen to-morrow.
The late Minister loved you much and asked the
present one to show you favour. You must keep
yourself from these indiscretions till worldly affairs
are quite settled."
The Prince said: "Where shall I go."* I am so bored,
and am seeking temporary recreation. People are
foolish to make much of it."
He said this, although much hurt by the necessity
for it. Besides that, he thought her not unworthy of
him and even wished to bring her to the palace [as a
concubine]. On the other hand, he reflected that in
that case things even more painful to hear would be
said, and in his trouble of mind days were passed.
At last he visited her. "I could not come in spite
of my desires. Please do not think that I neglect you.
The fault is in you; I have heard that there are many
* Ukon-noZo, an officer in the Bodyguard. He seems to have
been an attendant of the late Prince Tametaka, before he served the
present Prince.
* Prime Minister Fujiwara-no-Michinaga, the most powerful man
of the age. (See the Introduction and the Murasaki Shikibu diary.)
Diaries of Court Ladies
friends of yours who are jealous of me. That makes
me more reserved, and so many days have gone by."
The Prince talked gently, and said: "Now come
for this night only. There is a hidden place no one
sees; there I can talk with tranquil mind." The pal-
anquin was brought near the veranda. She was
forced to enter it and went, without her own volition,
with unsteady mind. She kept thinking that people
would know about it, but as the night was far ad-
vanced no one found them out. The conveyance was
quietly brought to a corridor where no one was and
he got out.
He whispered, "As the moon is very bright, get
down quickly." She was afraid, but hurriedly obeyed
him. "Here there is no one to see us; from this time
we will meet here. At your honourable dwelling I am
always anxious about other men. I can never be at
ease there." His words were gentle, and when it was
dawn he made her get into the palanquin and said,
*'I wish to go with you, but as it is broad daylight I
fear people may think I have passed the night out-
side the Court."
He remained in the palace, and she on her way
home thought of that strange going out and of the
rumours that would fly about — yet the uncom-
monly beautiful features of the Prince at dawn were
lingering in her mind.
Her letter:
Rather would I urge your early return at evening
Than ever again make you arise at davm
It is so sorrowful.
i6o
Of Old Japan
His reply:
To see you departing in the morning dew —
Comparing,
It were better to come back in the evening unsatisfied.
Let us drive away such thoughts. I cannot go out this
evening on account of the evil spirit [i.e., he might encounter
it]. Only to fetch you I venture.
She felt distress because this [sort of thing] could
not go on always. But he came with the same pal-
anquin and said, "Hurry, hurry!" She felt ashamed
because of her maids, yet stole out into the carriage.
At the same place as last night voices were heard, so
they went to another building. At dawn he com-
plained of the cock's crowing, and leading her gently
into the palanquin, went out [with her]. On the way
he said, "At such times as these, always come with
me," and she — "How can it always be so?" Then
he returned.
Two or three days went by; the moon was wonder-
fully bright; she went to the veranda to see it and
there received a letter:
What are you doing at this moment? Are you gazing at
the moon?
Are you thinking with me
Of the moon at the mountain's edge?
In memory lamenting the short sweet night —
Hearing the cock, awake too soon!
More than usually pleasing was that letter, for her
thoughts were then dwelling on the bright moon-
night when she was unafraid of men's eyes at the
Prince's palace.
i6i
Diaries of Court Ladies
The answer:
That night
The same moon shone down —
Thinking so I gaze,
But unsatisfied is my heart,
And my eyes are not contented
With moon-seeing.
She mused alone until the day dawned. The next
night the Prince came again, but she knew not of it.
A lady was living in the opposite house. The Prince's
attendant saw a palanquin stopping before it and said
to His Highness, "Some one has already come —
there is a palanquin." "Let us retire," said the
Prince, and he went away. Now he could believe the
rumours. He was angry with her, yet being unable to
make an end of it he wrote: "Have you heard that
I went to you last night? It makes me unhappy that
you don't know even that.
Against the hill of pines where the maiden pines for me.
Waves were high — that I had seen.
Yet to-day's sight, 0 ominous! "^
She received the letter on a rainy day, O unlooked-
for disaster! She suspected slanderous tongues.
You only are my always-waited-for island —
What waves can sweep it away!
So she answered, but the Prince being somewhat
troubled by the sight of the previous night, did not
write to her for a long time.
* In the Japanese Matsu, n. = pine-tree; Matsu, v. = to wait.
This poem refers to a famous one:
// my heart grows faithless, and beat for another man.
May waves pass over the hill of pines, where I pine for my beloved!
162
Of Old Japan
Yet at last:
Love and misery in various shapes
Pass through my mind and never rest.
She wished to answer, but was ashamed to explain
herself, so only wrote:
Let it be as you will, come or not, yet to part without
bitter feeling would lighten my sorrow.
From that time he seldom sent letters. One moon-
bright night she was lying with grieving thoughts.
She envied the moon in its serene course and could
not refrain from writing to the Prince:
In her deserted house
She gazes at the moon —
He is not coming
And she cannot reveal her heart —
There is none who will listen.
She sent her page to give the poem to Ukon-no-Zo.
Just then the Prince was talking with others before
the King. When he retired from the presence, Ukon-
no-Zo offered the letter. "Prepare the palanquin,"
he said, and he came to her. The lady was sitting
near the veranda looking at the sky, and feeling that
some one was coming had had the sudare rolled
down. He was not in his court robe, but in his soft,
everyday wear, which was more pleasing to her eye.
He silently placed his poem before her on the end of
his fan, saying, "As your messenger returned too
soon without awaiting my answer — " She drew it
towards her with her own.
The Prince seemed to think of coming in, but
went out into the garden, singing, "My beloved is
163
Diaries of Court Ladies
like a dew-drop on a leaf." At last he came nearer,
and said: "I must go to-night. I came secretly, but
on such a bright night as this none can escape being
seen. To-morrow I must remain within for religious
duties, and people will be suspicious if I am not at
home." He seemed about to depart, when she —
"Oh, that a shower might come! So another bright-
ness, more sweet than the heavenly one, might
linger here for a while!" He felt that she was more
amiable than others had admitted. "Ah, dear one,"
he said, and came up for a while, then went away,
saying:
Unwillingly urged by the moon on her cloudy track
His body is going outj but not his heart.
When he was gone she had the sudare rolled up and
read his poem in the moonlight.
She is looking at the moon,
But her thoughts are all of me
Hearing this
It draws me to her side.
How happy! He seemed to have been thinking her
a worthless woman, but he has changed his mind,
she thought. The Prince, on his side, thought the
lady would have some value for him when he wanted
to be amused, but even while he was thinking it, he
was told that the Major-General was her favourite
and visited her in the daytime. Still others said,
"Hyobukyo is another of her lovers." The Prince
was deterred by these words and wrote no more.
One day His Highness's little page, who was the
lover of one of her maids, came to the house. While
164
Of Old Japan
they were chattering the page was asked if he had
brought a letter, he answered: "No; one day my
Lord came here, but he found a palanquin at the
gate. From that time he does not write letters. More-
over, he has heard that others visit here." When the
boy was gone this was told. She was deeply humili-
ated. No presumptuous thoughts nor desire for
material dependence had been hers. Only while she
was loved and respected had she wished for inter-
course. Estrangement of any other kind would have
been bearable, but her heart was torn asunder to
think that he should suspect her of so shameful a
thing. In the midst of mourning over her unfortunate
situation, a letter was brought her:
I am ill and much troubled these days. Of late I visited
your dwelling, but alas 1 at an unlucky time. I feel that I am
unmanly.
Let it he —
/ will not look toward the beach —
The seamarCs little boat has rowed away.
Her answer:
You have heard unmentionable things about me. I am
humiliated and it is painful for me to write any more. Per-
haps this will be the last letter.
j^/r^j 1 xS aimlessness
Off the shore of | ^^^^
With burning heart and dripping sleeves,
I am he who drifts in the seaman^s boat.
It was already the Seventh month. On the seventh
day she received many letters from elegant persons in
deference to the celestial lovers,^ but her heart was
* For the Festival of the stars on the seventh day of the Seventh
month see the notes on pages 23, 24 of the Sarashina Diary. On this
i6s
Diaries of Court Ladies
not touched by them. She was only thinking that
she was utterly forgotten by the Prince, who had
never lost such an opportunity to write to her; but
[at last] there came a poem:
Alas! that I should become like the Herder-God
Who can only gaze at the Weaving One
Beyond the River of Heaven.
The lady saw that he could not forget her and she
was pleased.
Her poem:
/ cannot even look towards that shore
Where the Herder-God waits:
The lover stars also might avoid me.
His Highness would read, and he would feel that
he must not desert her. Towards the moon-hidden
day [end of the month] he wrote to her:
I am very lonely. Please write to me sometimes as to one
of your friends.
Her reply:
Because you do not wake you cannot hear —
The wind is sighing in the reeds —
Ahf nights and nights of Autumn !
The messenger who took the poem came back with
one from him:
O my beloved, how can you think my sleep untroubled.^
Lately sad thoughts have been mine and never sleep is sound.
The wind blows over the reeds —
/ will not sleep, but listen
Whether its sigh thrills my heart.
evening it was customary to write letters or pay visits in memory of
the heavenly lovers.
i66
Of Old Japan
After two or three days, towards evening, he came
unexpectedly and made his palanquin draw into the
courtyard. As she had not yet seen him in the day-
light, he was abashed, he said, but there was no help
for it. He went away soon and did not write for so
long that anxiety began to fill her heart, so at last
she sent:
Wearily the Autumn days drag hy —
From him no message —
Boding silence!
Sweet are man's promises, but how different is the heart!
Then he wrote that, though he never forgot her,
of late he could not leave the palace.
Though days pass
And others may forget
I can never lose the thought
That meeting in the evening
Of an Autumn day.
The lady was pitiable, having no one to depend on,
and tried to sustain herself with the uncertain con-
solations of a life of sentiment. Reflection increased
her wretchedness, and when the eighth month came
she went to Ishiyama Temple ^ to revive her doleful
spirit intending to remain there for seven days.
One day the Prince said to his page: "It is a long
time since I wrote; here is a letter for her." The page
replied: "I went to her house the other day and heard
that she had lately gone to Ishiyama Temple." "Then
* Ishiyama Temple is some five miles to the east of Kioto. To reach
there one must rise over the ascent of Osaka, and the barrier of
Seki at the foot of Mount Seki, where travellers were stopped and
examined. The temple commands a fine view of Lake Biwa, still
more distant.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
— It IS already late in the' day — tomorrow morning
you shall go there." He wrote a letter and the page
went to Ishiyama with it.
Her mind was not in the presence of Buddha, but
at home in the Royal City. She was thinking that
were she loved by him as at the beginning there
would have been no wandering like that. She was
very sad, yet sadness made her pray to the Buddha
with all her heart.
Perceiving that some one approached, she looked
down, wondering who it might be. It was the Prince's
page ! As she had just been thinking of the Prince, she
hurriedly sent her maid to question him. The letter
was brought and opened with more agitation than
usual. It was as follows:
You seem to be steeped in Buddha's teaching. It would
have given me pleasure to have been informed of it. Surely
I am not loved so deeply that I am a hindrance to your de-
votion to Buddha. Only to think of your calm makes me
jealous.
The poem:
Do you feel that my soul wanders after you.
Passing across the Barrier ?
O ceaseless longing !
When shall you return?
When she was in his neighbourhood he wrote but
seldom — gratifying that he should send a letter so
far!
The answer:
* This group of poems have as their base the play upon words of
two meanings, or place-names whose meanings make the necessary
i68
Of Old Japan
She was thinking thai he had quite forgotten —
Who can it be that is coining across the barrier?
You ask when I shall go back — it is as yet uncertain.
OntheMountl^?^;"'?.
{ while being
My yearning is towards the \
'^ ( open water
( Uchi de no Harna
\ The beach of going out
Does not lie towards ] ,, ^ , .
( the royal city.
The Prince read her poems and said to the page:
"I am sorry to trouble you, but please go once more."
His poem:
Osaka Yama
I sought for you in the ^ , .
( mount of meeting
But though never forgetting you
My way was lost in the trackless valley.
His second poem:
Being overwhelmed with sorrow
I wished to remain in retirement
Omi no umi
\ the lake of meeting
J J j{ Uchi de no Kama
^ \ the beach of going out.
She wrote back only poems :
Tears which could not be restrained at the barrier
Omi no umi —
Flow towards the ^ , , r
lake of meeting
And on the margin she wrote:
Let me try you —
My own heart also.
Come and tempt me towards the royal city.
suggestive idea. Omi is the name of the province in which are Ishi-
yama and Lake Biwa. Here the word is used as the homophon of
meeting. Mount Nagara is near the Ishiyama Temple. Nagara is the
homophon of "while being (on the mountain)."
169
Diaries of Court Ladies
His Highness had never thought of going so far [to
seek her], but he thought he must go to her as he had
received such a letter. He came and they went back
together.
His poem:
Infelicitous love! Although entered into the Way of Eternal Law}
Who was it came
And tempted hack to the Royal City?
The answer:
Out of the mountain to the darker path I wander j
Because I met you once more.
Towards the moon-hidden day a devastating wind
blew hard. It rained and she was even sadder than
usual, when a letter was brought. She thought the
Prince had not lost a fit occasion to inquire for her,
and she could harbour no hard thoughts of him.
His poem:
In sorrow I gaze upon the sky of Autumn
The clouds are in turmoil
And the wind is high.
Her answer:
A gentle wind of Autumn makes me sad
O day of storm —
No way to speak of it!
The Prince thought in this he could read her true
feeling, but days passed before his visit.
It was after the tenth day of the Ninth month. He
waked and saw the morning moon.^ It seemed a long
time since he had seen her. He felt that she was gazing
at this moon, so followed by his page, he knocked at
* Law of Buddha.
' The waning moon is called the morning moon because it can
be seen after dawn.
170
Of Old Japan
her gate. The lady was lying awake and meditating,
lost in a melancholy which may have been due to the
season. She wondered at the knock, but knew not who
the visitor might be. She waked the maid lying beside
her, who was in a sound sleep; the latter called out
for the manservant. When he went out, waking with
difficulty, the knocking had ceased and the visitor had
gone. The guest must have thought her a dull sleeper
and been disheartened. Who was It likely to be?
Surely one of like mind with herself! Her man, who
had gone out after much rousing, and seen no one,
complained that It was only her fancy. " Even at night
our mistress Is restless — Oh, these unpeaceful per-
sons ! " Thus he grumbled away, but went to sleep
again at once.
The lady got up and saw the misty sky. When morn-
ing came she jotted down her thoughts aimlessly,
and while doing It received a letter:
In the Autumn night
The pale morning moon was setting
When I turned away from the shut door.
He must have thought her a disappointing woman.
Yet she was happy to think that he never failed to
associate her with every changing season and came to
her door when he was attracted by the lovely sight of
the sky, so she folded the notes she had just written
and sent them to His Highness.
The notes;
Sound of wind; wind blows hard as if it were determined to
blow away the last leaves on the branch. It grows cloudy and
threatening, rain patters slightly. I am hopelessly desolate.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
Before the Autumn ends
My sleeves will be all rotted zoith tears.
The slow rains cannot do more to them.
I am sad, but no one remarks it; the leaves of trees and
plants change day by day and so affection in him. In antici-
pation I feel the dreariness of the long winter rains; the
leaves are pitifully teased by the winds; the drops on the
leaves which may vanish at any moment — how like they are
to my own life!
The sight of the leaves ever reminds me strangely of my
own sadness. I cannot go within, but lie on the veranda ; may-
hap my end is not far off. I feel a vague anger that others
are in comfortable sleep and cannot sympathize with me.
Just now I heard the faint cry of a wild goose. ^ Others will not
be touched by it, but I cannot endure the sound.
How many nights, alas! —
Sleepless —
Only the calls of the wild geese —
Let me not pass the time in this way. I will open the shutter
and watch the moon declining towards the western horizon.
It seems distant and serenely transparent. There is mist over
the earth; together comes the sound of the morning bell and
the crowing of cocks. There will be no moment like this in
past or future. I feel that the colour of my sleeves is new to me.
Another tvith same thoughts
May be gazing at the pale morning moon
Of the Long-night month —
No sight is more sorrowful.
Now there comes a knocking at the gate. What does it
mean? Who passes the night with thoughts like mine?
There is one of like mind with me
Musing upon the morning moon.
Bui no way to find him out!
* Wild geese visit Japan in Autumn and fly away northwards in the
early spring. They are never alone, and their cries calling to each
other make the solitary woman feel loneliness more keenly.
172
THE LADY GOT UP AND SAW THE MISTY SKY
Of Old Japan
She had meant to send the last poem only to the
Prince, but when she learned that it was His Highness
himself who had come she sent all.
The Prince read and did not feel that his visit had
been in vain, if she also had been awake and sadly-
dreaming. He wrote promptly and the letter was pre-
sented while she was gazing aimlessly. She opened it
anxiously and read:
First poem:
^he thinks her own sleeves only are wet
But another's also are rotting.
Second poem:
Dew-life soon to vanish away.
Hangs long suspended in forgetfulness of self
On the long-blooming chrysanthemum flower.
Third poem:
Sleepless the call of wild geese on the cloud-track
Yet the pain is from your own heart.
Fourth poem:
There may be another with thoughts like mine.
Who is gazing toward the sky of the morning moon.
Fifth poem:
Alhough not together
You too were gazing at the moon
Believing that I went this morning to your gate,
Alas!
O that gate hard to be opened !
So her writing had not been uselessly sent!
Towards the moon-hidden day she had another
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letter. After excusing himself for his late neglect he
wrote:
I have an awkward thing to ask you. There is a lady with
whom I have been secretly intimate. She is going away to a
distant province and I want to send her a poem which will
touch her heart deeply. Everything you write touches me, so
please compose a poem for me.
She was unwilling conceitedly to cany out his
wishes, but she thought it too prudish to refuse him,
so she wrote with the words: "How can I satisfy
you?"
Her poem:
In the tears of regret
Your image will linger long
Even after chilly Autumn has gone by.
It is painful for me to write a heartfelt letter in your place.
And on the margin she wrote:
Leaving you, where can she go?
For me no other life.
The Prince wrote back:
Very good poem is all that I can say. I cannot say that you
have expressed my heart. Forsaking me she wanders away.
So let it he.
Let me think of you, the unexcelled one.
There is not another.
Thus I can live on.
It was the Tenth month and more than ten days
had passed before the Prince came to her.
"The inner room is too dark and makes me rest-
less. Let me sit here near the veranda." He said many
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Of Old Japan
heart-touching and tender words. She could not help
being pleased. The moon was hidden and rain came
pattering down; the scene was in harmony with their
feeling. Her heart was disturbed with mingled emo-
tions. The Prince perceived her feeling and thought:
"Why is she so much slandered by others.? She is al-
ways here alone sorrowing thus." He pitied her and
startled the lady a little whose head was bowed in
distress on her hand by reciting a poem:
It is not dripping rain nor morning dew
Yet here lying, strangely wet are the sleeves of the arm-pillow.
She was overwhelmed by feeling and could not
speak, but he saw her tears glistening in the moonlight.
He was touched and said: "Why do you not speak?
Have my idle words displeased you?" She replied:
"I do not know why, but I feel that my heart is
anguished, though your words are in my ears. You
will see," she went on lightly; "I shall never forget
your poem on the sleeves of the arm-pillow."
Thus the pitiful sad night was passed, and the
Prince saw that she had no other lover. He was sorry
to go away from her in the early dawn, and imme-
diately sent a message: "How are you to-day? Are
the tears dry this morning?"
Her answer:
In the morning they were dry.
For only in a dream
Were the sleeves oj the arm-pillow wet.
He read it and smiled at the word "arm-pillow"
which she had said she should never forget.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
His poem:
You say it was only in a dream
That the sleeves were wet with tears:
Yet I cannot dry them — the sleeves of the arm-pillow.
I have never experienced so sorrow-sweet an autumnal
night. Was it the influence of the time?
After that he could not live without seeing her, and
visited her oftener. As he saw her more intimately
he saw that she was not a faithless woman. Her help-
less situation touched his heart more and more, and
he became deeply sympathetic with her. Once he said
to her: "Even though you live on thus in solitude, I
shall never forget you, but it would be better to come
to my palace. All these slanderous rumours are due
to your living alone. I for my part never met any
men [here]; is it because I come from time to time?
Yet others tell me very improper things about you
which should not be heard; it made me unspeakably
sad to turn away from your shut gate. Remembering
that you are living in loneliness I sometimes have
made a decision; yet being old-fashioned in my ways
I hesitated to tell you of it because I anticipated the
profound sadness with which you would hear these
rumours; nevertheless, I cannot continue our rela-
tions in this way. I fear that the rumour might be-
come true; then I should not be allowed to come, and
you would become for me like the moon in the Heav-
enly way. If you really feel the loneliness you speak
of, please come to me. There are many persons living
there [in his palace], yet you will have no feeling of
constraint. As I have been unhappy in my domestic
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STRANGELY WET ARE THE SLEEVES OF THE ARM-PILLOW
Of Old Japan
relations, I do not linger in that desolate region [the
house of his Princess]; but am always alone, perform-
ing religious services; I hope that my loneliness may
be lessened by talking with you whose mind is in
sympathy with mine."
Her feeling was opposed to such a thing; she had
never told him about the late Prince. Yet there was
no mountain retreat to which she could fly from
World-troubles and her present condition seemed like
a never-ending night. There had been many men who
had wanted her; hence many strange reports were
flying about. She could have confidence in no one but
the Prince, so she was much tempted.
She thought: "He has his wife, yet she lives In a de-
tached house, the nurse does all for him. If I show my
affection and take pride in it, I shall be much blamed;
my wish is that he should hide me from the world."
"Though to be visited by you is a rare occurrence,
such a time soothes my heart; there is nothing else.
So let anything happen, I will yield to your every
wish. Elsewhere they are saying ugly things about us;
if they see the fact accomplished, how much harder
their words will be!"
"Those harsh words will be said about me, not you,
at any rate. I will find you a completely retired house
where we can talk tranquilly." He gave her much
hope, and went away in the depths of night — the
barred door [outer strong gate of lattice work] had
been left open [for that purpose].
She thought within herself, being much troubled:
"If I continue to live alone, I can keep myself re-
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spected. If I were forsaken by him in his palace, I
should be laughed at."
After she retired this poem came:
/ went along the path when night was opening.
Sodden were they^
The sleeves of the arm-pillow.
"That idle fancy of the sleeves he has not forgot-
ten." This pleased her.
Her poem:
Your sleeves are wet with the dews on the grass of the morning
path.
The sleeves of my arm-pillow are wetj but not with dew.
The next night the moon was very bright. Here and
there people were gazing at it. The next morning the
Prince wanted to send her a poem and was waiting
for the page [to take it]. The lady, too, had noticed the
whiteness of the hoar-frost [and sent this poem] :
There was frost on the sleeves of the arm-pillow.
And in the morning,
Lol A frost-white world I
The Prince was sorry the lady had got ahead of him.
He said to himself: "The night was passed yearning
after the beloved and frost — "
Just then the page presented himself and His
Highness said, with some temper, handing his letter
to the page: "Her messenger has already come; I
am beaten. I wish you had come earlier." The page
ran to her, and said: "I had been summoned before
your messenger got there. I was late and he is angry."
The lady read the letter:
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Of Old Japan
The moon last night was very bright,
In a frosty morning
I await
With hope unwarranted
One who cannot be expected.
His letter seemed not to have been suggested by
hers, and she was pleased that His Highness had been
in the same mood with herself.
Her poem :
/ did not sleepy gazing at the moon all night
But the dawning of the day
Was in whiteness of hoar-frost.
You are angry with the page. He is very sorry, and it
awakes my pity.
The morning sun shines on the frost
So, like the sun, your face.
Two or three days passed without a word from him.
Her heart was in his promise which gave her hope,
but she could not sleep for anxiety. While lying awake
in bed, she heard a knocking at the gate. It was just
dawn. "What can it be?" she wondered, and sent
a servant to inquire. It was the Prince's letter. It was
an unusual hour for it and she wondered sorrowfully
whether the Prince had been conscious of her emo-
tion. She opened her shutter and read this letter In
the moonlight:
Do you see that the little night opens ^
And on the ridge of the mountain, serenely bright.
Shines the moon of a night of Autumn?
The bridge across the garden pond was clearly seen
* It is the Japanese way to say night opens instead of day dawns.
The word little means nothing but a feeHng of endearment.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
in the moonlight. The door was shut, and she thought
of the messenger outside the gate and hastened her
answer: ^, . , , , ,
1 he ntght opens and I cannot sleepy
Yet I am dreaming dreams^
And, loving them, the moon I do not see.
The Prince thought the answer not invented, and
that it would be amusing to have her near him, to
respond to his every fancy. After two days he came
quietly in a palanquin for women. It was the first
time she had shown herself to him in full ^ daylight,
but it would be unfriendly to creep away and hide,
so she went to welcome him, creeping a little nearer
to the entrance. He excused himself for the absence of
those days and said: "Make up your mind quickly as
to the thing I spoke of the other day. I am always
uneasy in these wanderings, yet more uneasy when
I cannot see you. O troublesome are the ways of this
absurd world!"
She replied: "I wish to yield to your mind, what-
ever it may be, yet my thoughts are troubled when I
anticipate my fate and see myself neglected by you
afterwards."
He said: "Try it, I can come very seldom." And
he went away. On the hedge there was a beautiful
mayumi ^ and the Prince, leaning against the bal-
ustrade:
* The Japanese lady in her dwelling where the light was softened
by her window-panes of white silk, or her sudare, dwelt always in
a sort of twilight probably very becoming to beauty.
* Mayumi — Evonymceus europus. In Autumn the leaves of the
tree become purple or red, and they are so pretty that people call
them "mountain brocade."
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Of Old Japan
Our words are like these leaves^
Ever coloured deeper and deeper —
And she took it up [completing the 3 i-syllable poem
he had begun] :
Although it is only the pearl dew that deepens them.
The Prince was pleased and thought her not with-
out taste.
He seemed very elegant. He was attired as usual,
his underdress exquisite. Her eye was much charmed,
and she thought that she was too frivolous [to be
thinking about it].
Next day he wrote:
Yesterday I was sorry that you were embarrassed, yet the
more attracted by it.
She answered:
The Goddess of Mount Katuragi ^ would have felt so too —
There is no bridge across the way of Kume.
I did not know what to do.
The messenger came back with his poem:
Were my devotion to be rewarded
How could I stop,
Though bridge were none at Katuragi San.
After that he came oftener, and her tiresome days
were lightened.
* According to an ancient fable, En-no-Shokaku, a great magi-
cian who could command even gods, once summoned gods of many
mountains to make a stone bridge at Kume on Mount Katuragi in
the Province of Yamato. The goddess of Mount Katuragi was very
shy, and, working only at night, never showed herself before others.
The magician grew angry with her, and punished her by unveiling
her. That was the cause of the failure in the work. (The inmost soul
hides itself and works in the dark. If you try to bring it into clear
consciousness, you will fail in your work.)
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Diaries of Court Ladies
But her old friends also sent letters and visited her,
too, so she wanted to go to the Prince's palace at
once, lest some unlucky thing should occur; yet her
heart was anxious and hesitating.
One day he sent word: "Maple trees of the moun-
tain are very beautiful. Come! let us go together to
see them." She answered, "I shall be glad to do it."
But the appointed day came and his Highness wrote :
"To-day I must confine myself for a religious service."
But that night it stormed, and the leaves were all
gone from the trees. She waked and wrote to the
Prince how sorry she was that they could not have
gone the previous day.
His answer;
In the Godless month ^ it stormed —
To-day I dream and dream
And wonder if the storm was within my heart.
She returned:
Was it a rainstorm? How my sleeves are wet!
I cannot tell — but muse profoundly.
After the night storm there are no more maple leaves. O
that we could have gone to the mountain yesterday!
His Highness returned:
O that we might have gone to see the maple leaves, for
this morning it is useless to think of it.
And on the margin there was a poem :
Though I believe
No maple leaves are hanging on the boughs,
Yet we may go to see
If scattering ones remain.
* The Godless month — the Tenth month; so called because in that
month all the gods left their abodes and went to the High Plain of
Heaven to hold counsel together.
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Of Old Japan
And she answered:
Were the mountains of evergreens to change into red leaves^
Then we would go to see them
With tranquil, tranquil hearts.
My poem will make you laugh!
The night came and the Prince visited her. As her
dwelling was in an unlucky direction,^ he came to
take her out of it.
"For these forty-five days I shall stop at my
cousin's, the Lieutenant-General of the Third Rank,
on account of the unlucky direction [of my own
house]. It is rather embarrassing to take you to that
unfamiliar place." Yet he dared to take her there.
The palanquin was drawn into its shelter [small
house built for it]; the Prince got out and walked
away alone, and she felt very lonesome. When all
were asleep he came to take her in and talked about
various things. The guards, who were curious about
it, were walking to and fro. Ukon-no-Zo and the
page waited near the Prince. His feeling for her was
so intense at this moment that all the past seemed
dull. When day dawned he took her back to her own
home, and hurriedly returned himself to get back
before people woke up.
She could no longer disregard the earnest and con-
descending wish of His Highness, and she could no
* In those days they believed in lucky and unlucky directions.
Those who went in an unlucky direction might have some unfortu-
nate incidents. This belief still holds in the country life of the people.
The writer was once deprived of a good servant who wanted to come
to her, but could not because her house was in an " unlucky direc-
tion!"
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Diaries of Court Ladies
more treat him with indifference. She made up her
mind to go to live with him. She received kind ad-
vice against it, but did not listen. As she had been
unhappy, she wanted to yield herself to good fortune;
yet when she thought of the court servitude she hesi-
tated and said to herself: "It is not my inmost wish.
I yearn for a retired religious life far away from
worldly troubles. What shall I do when I am forsaken
by the Prince.^ People will laugh at my credulity. Or
shall I live on as I am.^ Then I can associate with my
parents and brothers; moreover, I can look after my
child, ^ who seems now like an encumbrance." Never-
theless, at last she wanted to go, and she did not
write her heart to the Prince, for she thought he
would know everything about her if they should live
together. Her old friends sent letters, yet she did not
answer them saying [to herself]: "There is nothing to
write."
A letter from the Prince — in it was written: "I
was a fool to believe in you." His words were few.
There was an old poem :
You are faithless^ yet I will not complain.
As the silent sea
Deep is the hate in my heart.
Her heart was broken. There were many extra-
ordinary rumours about her, yet there were days
when she believed that no harm could come of a
false rumour. Some one must have slandered her,
* In 997 she had Koshikibu-noNaishi (she was also a poetess and
court lady). Her husband was Tachibana Michisada, to whom she
was married before she knew Prince Tanetaka.
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Of Old Japan
suspecting that she was yielding to the earnest de-
sires of the Prince and going to Hve at the palace.
She was sad, but could not write to him. She was
ashamed to think of what the Prince might have
heard. The Prince, seeing that she did not explain
herself, wrote to her again:
Why do you not answer.? Now I believe in the rumour.
How swiftly your heart changes ! I heard something I did not
believe, and wrote to you that you might wipe away such un-
pleasant thoughts from my mind.
These words opened [I.e. lightened] her bosom a
little. She wanted to know what he had heard and
suddenly the wish to see him came to her.
0 could you come to me this instant! I hunger to see thee,
but cannot go because I am buried in slander.
The Prince wrote back:
You are too afraid of slanders and I read your mind in this
caution. I am angry about it.
She thought he was teasing her, yet it saddened
her, and she replied:
1 cannot help it, please come in any case!
He returned:
I say to myself, " I will not suspect, I will not resent," but
my heart does not follow my will.
Her answer:
Your enmity will never cease. I rely upon you, yet I suspect
your faithfulness.
In the evening the Prince came. He said: "I wrote
to you not believing the story. If you wish not to
have such things said of you, come!"
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Diaries of Court Ladies
She replied: "Then take me there!" But when it
was dawn His Highness returned alone. He wrote to
her continually, yet he seldom visited her. Once
there was a great storm — the Prince did not in-
quire for her. She thought His Highness did not
sympathize with her solitude, so wrote to him in the
evening:
The season of the withering frost is sadj
The autumnal wind rages
And the sighing of the reed never stops.
The Prince's answer was:
The solitary reed which none hut me remembers
How it is sighing in the raging wind!
I am even ashamed to confess how much my mind is com-
pletely occupied with you.
She was pleased, indeed. The Prince sent his pal-
anquin, saying that he was going to the hidden
rendezvous to avoid the imlucky direction of his
house. The lady went thither, thinking she would
follow every wish of his. They talked tranquilly for
many days and nights, and her unrest was chased
away. She was now not unwilling to live with him,
but when the time for avoiding the unlucky direction
was over, she was sent back to her home. There she
thought of him more longingly than ever, and sent
a poem:
In this hour of longing
Reflection brings to mind each day gone by
And in each one
Was less of sorrow.
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Of Old Japan
He replied:
Sorrows of love were less each yesterday.
But how can those vanished days be caught again?
There is no other way but to resolve to come to me.
She was still cautious and could not take things so
easily. She passed many days in musing. By this time
the coloured leaves [of Autimm] had all fallen. The
sky was clear and bright. One evening as the sun was
setting she felt very lonely and wrote to him:
You art always my consolation,
Yet with the end of day sadness comes.
He replied :
/4ll are sad when the day ends.
Yet are you sadder than any —
You who wait?
I can sympathize with you and I am coming.
The next morning the frost was very white; he sent
to inquire for her, asking, "How are you feeling now? '*
She sent a poem:
Not in repose was the night passed;
But the frosty morning
Brought its own charm.
Incomparable.
His answer contained many touching words, and a
poem:
To think alone is [not life].
If you were thinking the same thoughts —
She answered:
You are you and I am I,
Yet between your heart and mine is no separation.
Make no such distinctions.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
The lady caught cold. Though not serious she suf-
fered. The Prince often inquired for her and at last
she answered, saying:
A little better. The thread of life thinned down and it seemed
to be going to break, but now it is dear to me because of you.
Is it because I am deep in sin.?
He wrote back:
Gladly do I hear it:
The thread of your life
Cannot easily he broken^
For it is tied together^
With pledges of long-enduring affection.
The end of the year was at hand. The first day of
the Frost month seemed like a day of early spring,
but the next morning it snowed. The Prince sent a
poem:
Since the god-age it has snowed^
It is a known things
Yet that snow seems very fresh this morning!
She returned an answer:
First snow! I see it young every winter.
Yet my face grows old
As Winter comes.
Days were passed in exchanging these nothings.
Again his letter:
I become impatient to see you, and just now wanted to go
to you, but my friends have met here to compose poems to-
gether.
She wrote:
Had you no time to come?
Then I would go to you.
OthatIknewt^;''^':''f''yi^''''
{ the art of composing poems,
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Of Old Japan
He was pleased.
Come to my house. Here is the even way and here's the way
to see each other.
That night he visited her, and talked touchingly
of many things. "Would you be sad," he said, "if I
should desert my house and become a monk.?" He
spoke sadly, and she wondered why such a thought
had entered his mind, and whether it could be true
or not. Overcome with melancholy she wept. Outside
was tranquil rain and snow: they slept not at all,
but talked together with feeling throughout the
night as if the world were all forgotten. She felt that
his affection was deeper than she had suspected. He
seemed to feel everything in her, and could sympa-
thize with her every emotion. In that case she could
accomplish her determination from the beginning [to
go to become a nun]. So she made up her mind, but
said nothing and sat lamenting. He saw her feeling
and said:
Lovers' fancy of a moment held us both through the night.
And she continued:
Tears came to their eyes.
And without was the rain.
In the morning he talked of merrier things than
usual, and went back. Though she had no faith in it
[I.e. the convent], yet she had been thinking of it to
comfort her solitude. Now her mind was confused,
trying to think how to realize it, and she told her
perplexed feeling to the Prince:
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Diaries of Court Ladies
On waking I cannot think.
I zvish that those were only dreams [of which we talked last night].
And on the margin she wrote:
We made our vows so earnestly,
Yet must these vows yield
To the common fate of the changing world,
I am sorry to think of it.
The Prince read it and made answer:
I wanted to write to you first —
/ will not think it real.
Those sad things were only dreams
Dreamed in a night of dreams.
I wish that you would think so too. You dwell too much
upon nothing.
Only life is fickle:
We know not how it will end.
But promises shall endure
As long as the pine-tree at Suminoye.^
O my beloved, I spoke to you of what I did not heartily
wish. You are too literal. I am sorry for that.
Yet the lady's thought lingered over that sad in-
tention and she lamented much. Once she was mak-
ing haste to set out when she received the Prince's
letter:
Oh, I longed for it, though I had fust seen it
A yamato-nadeshiko ^ grovnng in the hedge of a mountain-
dwelling.
It was painful to her present mind, yet she replied:
// you love, come and see.
Even the thousand swift gods will not forbid
Those who follow in the Way.
* The pine-tree at Suminoye is famous for its age.
' Yamato-nadeshiko — Japanese pink; the homonym means the
caressed girl of Yamato.
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Of Old Japan
He smiled over the poem. As he was reading sutras
those days he sent the following poem:
The way of meeting is not god-forbidden.
But I am on the seat of the Law
And cannot leave it.
Her answer:
Then will I go thither to seek you,
Only do you enlarge the seat!
Once it snowed heavily and he sent her a poem
afiixed to a branch covered with snow :
Snow falls ^ and on all the branches
Plum flowers are in bloom.
Though it is not yet spring.
This was unexpected and she wrote back:
Thinking that plum flowers were in bloom
I broke the branch,
And snow scattered like the flowers.
The next morning early he sent a poem:
These winter nights lovers keep vigil.
Lying on one's lonely bed
Day dawns
And the eyelids have not met.
Her answer:
Can it be true?
On Winter nights eyes are shut in ice [frozen tears]
And midnight hours are desolate.
I wait for dawn, although no joy is in it.
What the Prince had been thinking of he wrote in
heart-dwindling words, saying, "I think I cannot
live out my life in this world," so she wrote back:
For m<?, it is fitting to speak of these things.
For they recall
The romance of past days.
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Diaries of Court Ladies
His poem:
/ would not exist even for a moment
In a world where sorrows
Follow one another like the joints
In the bamboo stalk.
He had been troubling himself to find out a fit
place to conceal her, but he reflected, "She is not
used to such a life and would be embarrassed by it.
For my part, I should be much rebuked. It is simpler
to go myself and bring her as my maid."
So on the eighteenth of the Finishing month
on a moon-bright night he visited her. He said in
the ordinary way, "Now, please come," and she
thought it for a night only. When she got into the
palanquin alone, "Take an attendant with you. If
you are willing we will talk together tranquilly to-
morrow and the day after to-morrow."
He had not spoken in this way before, and she,
guessing his intention, took her maid with her.
She was not carried to the same house as before. The
room was beautifully adorned, and he said, "Live here
privately; you may have several attendants." Now
she was sure she had understood him and she thought
it fortunate to come thus secretly. People would be as-
tonished to find she had come here to live before they
were aware. When day dawned she sent her servant
to fetch her case of combs and other things. The
Prince left the room, but the shutters were still closed.
It was not frightful, but uncomfortable,
"I wish," said the Prince, "to arrange that you
shall live in the North building. This room is near the
192
IN THE DAYTIME COURTIERS CAME TO SEE HIM
Of Old Japan
Audience Room and has no charm in it" [i.e. some
one might discover her]. So she shut herself up and
listened in secret. In the daytime courtiers of the ex-
Emperor [his father] came to see him. He said: "How
is it with you here? Can you stay? I feared that you
would find it disagreeable by my side"; and she
answered, "I feared just the same thing." He laughed
and said: "To tell the truth, take care of yourself
while I am away; some impertinent fellows may come
to catch a glimpse of you. In a few days I will have
you live openly in the room where now is my house-
keeper [nurse]. The room where I pass the day has no
visitors."
After two or three days she was removed to the
North side building.^ People were astonished and ran
and told the Princess, who said: "Even without this
event, I have not been treated as I ought to have been.
She is of no high birth; it is too much." She was angry
because he had told her nothing. His secrecy dis-
pleased her very much, and she was more inconsolable
than ever. The Prince felt sorry for her and tried to
be with her oftener. She said to him: "I am ill with
hearing rumours and have come to hate seeing people.
Why have you not told me this before? I would not
have interfered: I cannot bear to be treated like a
woman of no importance. I am ashamed to think that
people are laughing at me." She said it weeping and
weeping. He answered: "I brought her for my maid,
and I thought that you would allow it; as you are
angry with me the Lieutenant-General [her brother]
^ See plan of palace or nobleman's house.
Diaries of Court Ladies
hates me also. I brought her to dress my hair and she
shall serve you also." The Princess was not softened
by these words, but she was silenced.
Thus days passed and the lady became used to the
court life. She dressed his hair and served in every-
thing. As he did not allow her to retire to her private
room, the visits of the Princess became more and more
rare. The Princess lamented it infinitely. The year
turned back and on the first day of the Social month
all the courtiers came to perform the ceremony of
congratulation before the Emperor. The Prince was
among them. He was younger and fairer than any,
and even this made her ashamed of herself. From
the Princess's house her ladies went out to see the
procession, yet they did not care so much to see the
courtiers as to look at her. They were in great dis-
order looking about; it was an ugly sight.
After dark when the ceremony was over. His High-
ness came back and all the court nobles came with
him to amuse themselves. It was very gay and a con-
trast to the solitary life of her old home. One day the
Prince heard that even the lowest servants were
speaking evil of her. He thought it was due to the
behaviour of his wife, and being displeased seldom
went to the Royal dwelling. She was sorry for the Prin-
cess, yet she did not know what to do. She remained
there, thinking that she would do as she was bid.
The Princess's elder sister was married to the Crown
Prince and just then was living with her parents.
She wrote to the younger Princess: "How are you? I
have heard something of what people are saying
194
Of Old Japan
these days. Is It true? Even I feel disgraced. Come to
us during the night."
The Princess could not console herself when she
thought how much people who make talk about
nothing were gossiping. She wrote back to her sister:
"I have received your letter. I had been unhappy
in the world [married life] and now am In a painful
situation. For a time I will go back, and beholding
the young Princess will comfort me. Please send some
one to summon me. I cannot go away when I desire,
for he will not permit It." She began to put her affairs
in order, taking away those things which must not
be seen by others. She said: "I am going there for a
while, for if I stay here my husband will feel uncom-
fortable to come to me. It is painful for both of us."
And they said: "People are talking and laughing
about it a good deal. He went out himself to get her.
She is dazzling to the eye; she lives in the court ladies'
room over there. She goes to the Prince's hall three or
four times a day. It is quite right that you should
punish him — going away with few words!"
All hated the lady, and he was sorry for her. His
Highness suspected what his wife was going to do,
and he found his conjecture realized when the sons of
his brother-in-law came to fetch her. A lady-in-wait-
ing said to the housekeeper: "The princess has taken
important things with her; she is going away." The
housekeeper was in great anxiety and said to the
Prince: "The Princess is going away. What will the
Crown Prince think of it! Go to comfort her."
It was painful to her [the lady] to see these things
195
Diaries of Court Ladies
going on. She was very sorry and pained, yet, as it
was an unfit time to say anything, she kept silence.
She wanted to get away from this disagreeable place,
but thought that also not good. She thought she could
never get rid of her trouble if she stayed. His Highness
went towards the Princess, who met him as if nothing
had happened. "Is it true," he said, "that you are
going to your elder sister? Why have you not asked
me for the palanquin?" She answered: "Something
has happened. There is something which demands
me and they have sent messengers for me." She said
nothing more. The Princess's words, her letters, and
those of her sister were written roughly, from sup-
position.
THE END
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
A
OLD JAPANESE CALENDAR
The year was divided according to a Lunar Calendar, which
was one month or so in advance of the present Solar Calendar.
Names of the Months
First month; Social month; Spring-birth month.
Second month; Clothes-again-doubled month; Little-grass-
growing month.
Third month; Ever-growing month; Flowery month; Dream-
ing month.
Fourth month; Deutzia month; First Summer month.
Fifth month; Rice-sprout month; Tachibana month.
Sixth month; Watery month (rice-fields filled with water).
Seventh month; Rice-ear month; Literary month (people
composed poems on the star festival).
Eighth month; Rice-ear-swelling month; Mid-autumn.
Ninth month; Chrysanthemum month; Long-night month.
Tenth month; Gods-absent month ; Thunderless month; Little
Spring.
Eleventh month; Frost month.
Twelfth month; Last month; Spring-waiting month.
B
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS
CONNECTED WITH THE DIARIES
974. Izumi Shikibu, the daughter of Masamune, Governor
of the Province of Echizen, bom.
977. Prince Tametaka (future lover of Izumi Shikibu) bom.
978. Prince Atsumichi (future lover of Izumi Shikibu) bom.
Murasaki Shikibu, daughter of Fujiwara Tametoki,
bom.
980. Prince Yasuhito (afterwards the Mikado Ichijo) bora.
988. Akiko, Michinaga's first daughter, bom.
990. Sadako, daughter of Michinaga's eldest brother Michi-
taka, comes to the Court, and later becomes Queen to
Mikado Ichijo.
991. Sei-Sh5nagon comes to Court as one of Queen Sadako's
ladies.
994. Prince Atsumichi comes of age and marries the third
daughter of Michitaka.
995. Izumi Shikibu marries Tachibana Michisada.
Prince Atsumichi divorces his first wife.
996. Prince Atsumichi marries again.
997. Murasaki Shikibu goes to Echizen with her father who
has been made Governor of the Province.
Akiko joins the Court.
Izumi Shikibu's first daughter born.
998. Murasaki Shikibu retums to KiSto.
999. Murasaki Shikibu marries Fujiwara Nobutaka.
1000. Akiko made second queen.
Murasaki Shikibu's daughter bom.
lOOi. Pestilence.
Murasaki Shikibu's husband dies.
Conflagration of the Palace.
1002. Murasaki Shikibu probably began the writing of the
"Genji Monogatari.**
Sei-Sh5nagon probably began the "Makura-no-Soshi.'*
200
Appendix
In June, Prince Tametaka (Izumi Shiklbu's lover; her
husband, from whom she was divorced, had died ear-
lier) dies.
Izumi Shikibu begins a liaison with Prince Atsumichi.
1003. Izumi Shikibu goes to live at the South Palace.
1004. Izumi Shikibu leaves Prince Atsumichi's palace, and
marries Fujiwara Yasumasa.
ICX)5. Murasaki Shikibu joins the Court.
Conflagration of the Palace.
Izumi Shikibu goes to the Province of Tango, her hus-
band having been appointed Governor.
1007. Akiko (second queen) gives birth to Prince Atsusada.
Murasaki Shikibu begins to keep her diary.
1008. Izumi Shikibu returns to become lady-in-waiting at the
Court.
I(X)9. Fujiwara Takasue's daughter (author of Sarashina
Diary) born.
1017. Fujiwara Takasue appointed Province Governor, goes
to his province with his daughter.
102 1. Takasue's daughter returns to Ki5to. Sarashina Diary
begun.
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