Lady Rinshi of the Takatsukasadono celebrated her seventh birthday.[1] Retired Empress Shōshi and Empress Ishi came in the customary fashion. Her Eminence left at dawn for the festivities, and Her Majesty left the palace in the afternoon. Such imperial processions have been seen from long ago, but they were nonetheless very impressive. Having had the lattice shutters opened, the emperor watched from the Fujitsubo imperial apartment in the Seiryōden as the empress climbed into the palanquin that had been summoned to the Fujitsubo. Nobles high and low crowded into the narrow rooms of both the Fujitsubo, then the Kokiden. The imperial guards stood with their quivers slung behind their backs. The way the nobles proclaimed their names was most impressive.[2] The palace minister arrived, declaring, “Having received summons to escort Her Majesty, I have duly come. The Great Minister Yorimichi is overseeing preparations at the Kayanoin. Since he was busy, I am here in his place.” His appearance was dignified and dazzling. Master of the Crown Prince’s Household Yorimune, Provisional Master Yoshinobu, Provisional Major Counselor Nagaie: these brothers all came to join in the procession.
The empress had on a five-layered robe made of bombycine, colored like cherry blossoms and spring foliage, as well as a red Chinese jacket, and a train embroidered with gold and silver. Her appearance was marvelous. Her manners and thoughtfulness were also so impressive as to make one embarrassed about oneself. She was thirty-five or six, so one might assume she would appear quite mature, but in fact, she looked as though she were hardly twenty. Even among the low, attractive people never look their age, so regarding the empress, with her peerless status and beauty, one could not say that she was past her prime. Her hair reached within five or six inches of her robes, which was covered without a gap by her dense, lustrous hair.
As was custom, the female attendants waited outside the usual guardhouse.[3] Mimasaka no Sanmi put up her hair in preparation to serve the empress, and accompanied Her Majesty in her palanquin. The female attendants were attired in pairs of dark and light purple robes, over which they wore a grape-colored, longer robe. Their Chinese jackets were the color of pink plum blossoms, and made of lustrous, thick silk. Their trains were the hue of new spring foliage. Since everything was done according to custom, the riding of the horses by the palace girls (uneme) and the other various ceremonies were the same as on earlier occasions.[4]
When the empress entered the Kayanoin, flutes and drums auspiciously heralded her arrival with agitated rhythm. Such a splendid performance was rarely experienced, and even Takatsukasadono no Ue, who had seen many imperial processions, again found tears welling up from her eyes. Upon the dedication of the Golden Hall of Hōjōji, for instance, there were four simultaneous imperial processions.[5] Today’s events would not be comparable, yet it was only natural that she should be reminded of that occasion, for the protocols and the atmosphere were very much the same.
It was said that the regent’s young son, Michifusa, would be performing a dance, but the sons of various masters danced instead. Since the ceremonies of this day are not appropriate for a woman to write down, I will not record them here.[6] The attendants of the retired empress all wore light purple robes, over which they had on purple Chinese jackets. Some had taken Buddhist vows with her, so the fact that she had them wear these nun’s vestments was very moving and a splendid sight to see. At night, everyone left for their respective residences, bearing with them wonderful gifts.
Indeed, such were the wonders that the next day, the emperor had the festivities recreated at the eastern side of the Seiryōden for his viewing. His Majesty must have done so thinking that the princess of the first rank, Shōshi, must have been bored while the celebrations went on at Kayanoin, which she did not attend. The emperor observed the performances of the music, which he had recreated exactly as the day before. In the Kokiden apartment, the empress’s female attendants had opened all the lattice shutters, and sat in rows with their robes showing from under the blinds. Traversing along the eaves in front of them, the crown prince came. He was truly magnificent. The empress and the princess watched from the Two-Bay Room.[7] Her Majesty wore robes of crimson and grape in splendid fashion. Her Highness had on a well-fulled, deep crimson robe, over which she layered a pink plum-colored robe. On top of this, she wore a robe of plum bombycine, and a shorter robe in spring foliage green. The ensemble was very flowery, and she showed herself to be truly elegant, lovely beyond description. The way that the emperor lavished affection on the princess was, one could therefore say, not of the usual sort.
Beginning with the regent, all of the nobles attended. Since yesterday’s performances took place in the spacious garden of Kayanoin, His Majesty could not see them very clearly in the distance. Yet today, since they were right before him, the effect of the dances and the tones of the music seemed still superior to the day before. As the night deepened, the crown prince departed. As things wound down, everyone left, but the empress stayed the night.
There were not many days left in the year. The Buddhist Name Services[8] were held, and the days sped away.
I almost forgot to record that the celebratory screen poems for Lady Rinshi’s birthday were composed by [Ōnakatomi no] Sukechika, Akazome Emon, and Idewa no Ben. Secretary Controller Tsunetō’s mother, who was the daughter of Sukemasa, the deputy of Dazaifu, copied the poems.[9] Akazome composed the following poem for the screen depicting the regent’s Special Banquet at the start of the New Year.
With layered purple sleeves they enter with spring:
this sight is what is joyful about spring’s arrival.
紫の袖を連ねてきたるかな春たつことはこれぞうれしき[10]
For the 7th of the 7th month:[11]
Make haste across the heavenly river, oh Herdsman Star,
for the deeper the night gets, the less sleep will you two have.
天の河はやく渡りね彦星の夜さへふけなば寝るほどもあらじ
Sukechika:
First in the new spring: the guests who come then should receive
welcome like for friends not seen for three years.
新しき春のはじめに来る人は三年の友と思ふなるべし[12]
For the Day of the Rat:
The pines we pick at the start of each spring,
their accumulated years, only our Lady may be able to count.
年ごとの春のはじめに引く松のつもれる数は君ぞ数へむ
Were I to record them all, it may get tedious, so I refrained by writing down only these few poems.
So the year changed [1034], and the celebrations on New Year’s Day went on as usual. The retired empress eagerly awaited the imperial procession.[13] Even before the palanquin arrived, long rows of guards stood watch before her in the gleaming southern garden. The way the emperor entered the main hall by the covered corridors from the middle gate, at which he had his palanquin stop to let him disembark, was truly splendid. The secretary captain took the ceremonial sword and passed it to the handmaid. The emperor’s female attendants had come beforehand, and the manner in which they proceeded to serve the trays of food was according to custom. The emperor then paid his respects to the retired empress. While it was again the same as any year, observers were moved to tears in awe. Needless to say, the female attendants were attired beautifully, and remained clustered together. This time, there was no display of their garments from the beneath the blinds. The empress sponsored her New Year’s banquet. Most felicitous was how the princes and nobles paid their respects to Her Majesty.
About the 20th of the 1st Month, there was to be a palace banquet (naien).[14] The emperor was concerned about the appearance of the serving women (nyokurōdo), making certain that those chosen were endowed with good looks. Chūnagon no Suke, the wet-nurse of the Saiin [Keishi], waited upon the emperor during his meal. There were ten serving women in addition, four for the emperor, two each for the retired empress, the crown prince, and the empress. Since there were many beautiful women in the retired empress’s staff, she had thought to offer two of her women each to the emperor and the crown prince, but reporting illness, they had excused themselves, so she had to bring women of inferior mien that she had not intended.
The banquet was being readied at the Jijūden, to which the retired empress and the empress made their way, having had curtained daises prepared for them in the hall. Today, again, there was no display of the women’s garments. The attendants of Their Majesties were scattered here and there, attired beautifully. The serving women of the retired empress had on brocade robes under which were four layers of robes made of Chinese damask illustrated with patterns in gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. The serving women of the empress had on two-layered patterned robes of various colors under a single-layer garment of red, fulled silk with a pattern of grasses figured into a chain of diamonds. Their fans, ornamental train strips (kutai), and scarves (hire) showed attentiveness in their selection. One could tell there was much competition between those assigned to prepare the women. The retired empress’s group was led by Provisional Major Counselor Nagaie; the empress’s was led by Captain of the Left Gate Guards Morofusa. The upper nobles today all wore green.[15] The ceremonies, as well as the atmosphere, were extraordinarily captivating.
In the 3rd Month, the Bowmen’s Wager was held again.[16] Courtiers were divided into the front and rear teams. The front team went to the Kamo Shrine, and the other group went to the Kitano Shrine to pray for victory. The head chamberlains at the time who served as the captains of their respective teams were: Takakuni the secretary captain, who was the son of Toshikata the former Minister of Popular Affairs; and Tsunetō the controller, the grandson of Ononomiya Saneyori, though adopted by Minister of Popular Affairs Tadanobu. The two were both well-educated and upright individuals. In terms of composing Chinese verse and Japanese poetry, they had nothing to be ashamed of in comparison to the people of old.
The empress also went to see the event. As Nagaie and Morofusa took their turns with the bow, the female attendants prayed for the victory of their favorites. The empress was going to provide the prizes. The rear team’s archers consisted of Nagaie and Consultant Captain Akimoto, who was a superintendent of Princess Shōshi’s household. The front team’s archers consisted of Morofusa and Consultant Kinnari, who was a superintendent of the Saiin’s household. Thus did the attendants of the princess and the priestess [who were sisters] cheer on the team of their respective men. In the end, the front team won, and they later went to the Kamo Shrine to give thanks for their victory. On their way back, they stopped by the Saiin, where they enjoyed some music. Just as they were about to depart, a priestess’ attendant rushed over to the carriage.
As I see you leave, pulling each other along, that from those birch bows
those arrows struck, strikes me again with happiness.
ひき連れて帰るを見れば梓弓もろ矢はいとどうれしかりける
Takakuni replied:
What makes us happy is not just the “pull” of those birch bows,
but the “pull” from our Lady’s heart.
うれしきはもろ矢のみかは梓弓 君もかたひく心ありけり[17]
When Takakuni returned to the palace and was waiting in the Demon Room of the Seiryōden,[18] he received a summons from the emperor who inquired about the trip. “On our way back,” Takakuni reported, “we stopped by the Saiin, and in a wonderful hand, she wrote this poem for us.” His Majesty proceeded to ask him about his response, thinking the exchange to be quite delightful.
Toward the end of the 3rd Month, Empress Ishi sent to Takatsukasadono no Ue some wisteria, which trailed in a particularly long and lovely manner. The lady then sent the following poem:
In the Fujitsubo, the wisteria (fuji) would naturally flourish,
yet for a Minamoto, it has blossomed as well.
藤壺の花はことわり劣らじとみなもとさへも開けたるかな
The empress replied:
The blooming wisteria—dignified was it at its origins,
inferior in scent in this latter state—oh, how distressing.
藤の花神さびにけるみなもとににほひ劣れる末ぞ折りうき[19]
The empress had written the poem in such a modern, appealing fashion on Chinese paper that Lady Rinshi was wonderfully impressed, though she had many daughters, all of whom were beautiful, whether regarding their figures or their hair. In their handwriting, too, not one was lacking. Her blessings must have been the result of karma from her past life.
Also toward the end of the 3rd month, in an indescribably delightful manner, the wisteria of the Fujitsubo was blooming along the fence where the water from the stream was diverted into garden rivulets. Her Majesty decided to hold a banquet in honor of this flower. The nobles came and played music. Together, Minamoto no Sukemichi the controller, and Minamoto no Norisue the second-ranking official of the left-gate guards, played the lute and the six-stringed zither respectively. Also, Master Yorimune and Provisional Master Yoshinobu sang and composed poetry. A female attendant:
Like rising purple clouds are these wisteria—
how am I to pluck them with their indistinguishable hue?
紫の雲立ち紛ふ藤の花いかに折らまし色も分かれず
Only in the summer, this flower promises—
how would we otherwise cope with the end of spring?[20]
夏にだに契をかけぬ花ならばいかにかせまし春の暮るるを
Other attendants, as well as courtiers, composed many other poems, but I omit them.
The 4th Month hectically sped away with the Kamo Festival and the like. There was an incident in which Koichijōin’s menials threw rocks at carriages of the procession. They were censured, and the police surrounded the residence, making it difficult for people to pass through. This terrible incident caused much talk among the populace. Some days passed, and inside the grounds, the well was sealed shut, one heard.[21] People talked of other fearful things occurring inside the residence. Apparently, a menial of Koichijōin was familiar with a servant accompanying one of the carriages in the procession carrying the priestess’s attendants. He thus evidently threw the rock as a joke, and it happened to hit the carriage—so the court heard upon investigation.
Koichijōin had two sons and one daughter by the daughter of Akimitsu, the former minister of the left. The first prince, Atsusada, was the minister of central affairs. He married into the family of Minamoto no Narimasa, the governor of Harima Province. The second prince, Atsumasa, was being cared for with extreme devotion by Major Archbishop Eien of Miidera. The young prince borne by the Takamatsudono Consort Kanshi had died, but there was one daughter, Princess Kenshi 儇子. Her grandmother, Takamatsudono no Ue Meishi, never let the princess out of her sight and was raising her with the utmost care. By the daughter of Yorimune, the master of the crown prince’s household, Kochijōin also had a son and many daughters. In addition, His Eminence had fallen in love with an attendant of Kanshi, never letting her away from his side, and he housed her in the Nishi no In. She bore him many children, too. She was the daughter of the governor of Shimotsuke province, Minamoto no Masataka. People called her the Ruri consort. “Ruri” was probably her childhood name.[22] As in the past and the present, there will no doubt continue to be people who achieve this kind of happiness.[23]
A couple of days after the 10th of the 5th month, for some reason, the court dispatched the police to arrest the menial who threw the rock at the priestess’s procession. It was natural that Koichijōin should have found the world to be a depressing place.
Palace Minister Norimichi was married to Kochijōin’s sister, the Second Princess Shishi 禔子. Feeling sympathetic to his brother-in-law, he lamented the state of affairs during this incident. Norimichi had been wanting to have his daughter Seishi enter the court, so, to curry favor with the empress, he indulged her daughters, the princesses of Emperor Go-Ichijō.
Retired Empress Shōshi went on a visit to Kayanoin. There was among other things, a meeting with the lord’s wife, Takahime. As for the lord himself, Her Eminence thought, “No matter what pinnacle he may reach in beauty and thoughtfulness, I always wish to see him yet again.” Shijō Middle Counselor Sadayori arrived at the walkway over the spring, where Idewa no Ben received him.[24] The lord then came from the interior bearing a censer, from which he filled the air with scent, and seated himself by her side. She could not help becoming somewhat diffident in these circumstances, and she found it difficult to say anything. The scene was something one might find in a painting. About this time, hearing the sound of the waterfall, Iyo no Chūnagon no Kimi uttered:
From gaps in stone well forth threads of the waterfall,
turbulently do they fall—how loud the crash![25]
わきかへり岩間をわくる滝の糸の乱れて落つる音高きかな
Idewa no Ben:
Should the threads of the waterfall unravel, not in the “foamy knot”
will I always be entwined, wishing to see you.[26]
とくれども沫にもあらぬ滝の糸をつねによりても見まほしきかな
So people rambled on, enjoying the wonderful mood from dawn to dusk.
At the end of the 8th month, the nobles went on a flower-viewing excursion to Sagano. A small stalk of a maidenflower was stuck in a ripped corner of a fan sent to the Table Room of the empress’s quarters. On it was a poem by Yorimune, the provisional master of the crown prince’s household:
If only a single stalk has this beauty,
imagine the fields as a brocade.
一枝の花のにほひもあるものを野辺の錦を思ひやらなん
In response, Minamoto Lesser Captain Suketsuna broke off a stalk of pinks from the garden of the Fujitsubo, and sent it with the following:
Would the flowers of the palace be inferior to where you parted mists
to frolic in that field of brocade?
百敷の花やおとれる霧わけてたちまじるらん野辺の錦に
On the day of the Thanksgiving banquet, it rained all day, so the Minamoto Lesser Captain recited:
No sunlight to be seen, a cloudy day…[27]
日かげも見えず曇る今日かな
Gō Jijū:[28]
Even though this “Flushed-Faces banquet” honors Amaterasu, who lights the sky.[29]
天照す豊明と思へども
Emperor Ichijō’s Princess of the First Rank, Shūshi 修子, was called the novice princess of the first rank.[30] The Grand Empress Kenshi’s 姸子 daughter, Teishi 禎子, was called the princess of the first rank of the crown prince. Therefore, along with the present emperor’s daughter, Princess Shōshi, there were three princesses of the first rank. The Kamo priestess was of second rank, but she had received the rights to the income from the appointment of annual ranks and offices. As for the crown prince’s first son, Prince Chikahito, it was thought that he would definitely become the next crown prince since the emperor did not have any sons. Echigo no Ben served as his wet-nurse.
In the 3rd month, Fujiwara Minister of Popular Affairs Tadanobu passed away.[31] From the court to those below, all lamented his demise. In Tadanobu’s place, Captain of the Left-Gate Guards Morofusa became a major counselor. He then become known as the Minamoto Major Counselor.
Palace Minister Norimichi’s eldest son, Nobuie, was a middle captain of the third rank. His second son was Nobumoto, and the third, Nobunaga. The two were both attendants. The fourth son, Jōkaku, was a monk, given to Bishop Saien of Nagatani, who treated him as a precious treasure, looking after him with great care.[32]
To say that it was unfortunate that the Lord Yorimichi had no sons by his principal wife would be too cliché. He had adopted his wife’s younger brother, Morofusa, and Norimichi’s son, Middle Captain Nobuie. His only son, Michifusa, was about ten years old. Takatsukasadono no Ue, his grandmother, was raising him. He was quite adorable, plump and beautiful. His mother was the daughter of the former right military guards captain, Norisada, who was the son of the Tamehira the former princely minister of the ceremonial. Norisada had two daughters, both of whom had been serving the lord, but the elder sister married Norimasa, the governor of Tajima province.[33] After the birth of her son, the younger sister no longer came to serve the lord, fearing the wrath of Prince Tomohira’s mono no ke, which had declared its disapproval of their relationship.[34]
I had almost forgotten to record that the retired empress had built a hall on the edge of Muryōjuin.[35] An earthen wall was built around the site, and the construction was very impressive. The railings were made of precious woods such as aloeswood and sandalwood, which were lacquered and decorated with gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl, like a comb box. The paintings on the pillars were also extraordinary. Fixtures made of lapis lazuli covered the nails. Thought went into all the details.
There, in the 9th month of every year, the retired empress sponsored the Buddha Invocations. Needless to say, the female attendants wore beautiful garments, which they displayed from under the blinds. Her Eminence first distributed the monks’ vestments she had prepared as offerings. The way the young monks circumambulated around the hall was charming indeed. The nobles high and low all attended. The retired empress’s accumulation of merit on each occasion such as this was truly auspicious.
In the 5th month of Chōgen 8 (1035), Regent Yorimichi held a poetry contest after the Thirty Expositions of the Lotus Sutra.[36] He divided up the courtiers into teams. The left team consisted of: Head Chamberlain Tsunesuke, Minamoto no Narimasa, Sukenari, Assistant of the Crown Prince’s Household Yoshiyori, Captain of the Left Imperial Stables Yoshitsune, Lesser Captain Yukitsune, Secretary of the Empress’s Office Tachibana no Yoshimichi, Lesser Captain Tsunesue, Controller Minamoto no Tsunenaga, Major Counselor Minamoto no Tsunenari, Attendant Nobunaga, Taira no Norikuni, Suketō, Norifusa, Tsunehira, and Sanetsuna. The secretaries of this team were: Toshitsune, Tachibana no Suemichi, and Sadaakira. The members of the right team were: Lord Sanetsune, Assistant of the Empress’s Household Kanefusa, Controller Sukemichi, Middle Captain Toshiie, Attendant of the Fourth Rank Michimoto, Director of the Palace Storehouses Morotsune, Yukitō, Takachika, Minamoto no Tameyoshi, Kuninari, Assistant of the Right Gate Guards Yoshimune, Lesser Captain Suketsuna, Lesser Counselor Tsuneie, Assistant of the Right-Gate Guards Minamoto no Tsunesue, Governor of Mikawa Minamoto no Tsunenobu, and Governor of Shinano Sadasue. The secretaries of this team were: Tachibana no Yoshikiyo, Ietō, and Minamoto no Yoriie.
As for the topics, Yorimichi said, “Let’s compose poems on what we can see right here, instead of seeking out topics of a different nature.” So the topics were: the moon, the long rains of the 5th month, water of a lake, the sweet flag, the light of fireflies, pinks, the cuckoo, and hunting by torchlight.[37] “This last topic is the only one which would require some imagination,” Yorimichi commented. In addition, he included the topics of celebration and love. Summoning the courtiers of each team, he then handed out the topics to Tsunesuke the Head Chamberlain for the left team, and Yoshimune the Secretary and Assistant of the Right-Gate Guards for the right. (Yoshimune played this role because Tsunetō the Head Chamberlain was in mourning for his adoptive father, Tadanobu the Minister of Popular Affairs.)
Thus did they compete against each other. Similarly, in the 5th month, Yorimichi divided the children of the nobles into left and right teams. The left team included Michifusa, the lord’s own son, Yukitō’s son, Norikuni’s son, and Noritō’s son. The right team consisted of Ietsune’s son, Norinaga’s son, and Yorikuni’s son. (Norinaga’s son had danced at Rinshi’s seventieth birthday celebrations.) The right team evidently had some disagreements over the arrangements.[38] On the 12th, Yorimichi proceeded to divide the young senior nobles. On the left were Consultant Middle Captain Kaneyori, and Captain of the Left Military Guards Kinnari. On the right were Consultant Middle Captain Akimoto, and Captain of the Right Military Guards Takakuni.[39] How wonderful will this event be, one could not help wondering, full of expectations.
About four o’clock in the afternoon, the members of the left team arrived for the contest on two boats, the railings of which were wrapped with thin silk of various colors with a pattern of wild pinks imprinted with gold foil. Some were singing “The Sea of Ise,” while others were softly playing flutes as accompaniment. As they dipped their oars into the water, letting the lake guide their boats to the pavilion, one could see that they were wearing double indigo[40] jackets and trousers, under which they had on scarlet robes of fulled silk, and white unlined robes.[41] The chamberlains wore trousers made of bombycine, and the way their blue color reflected in the water was delightful. The boats were guided to temporary docks on the lake, whereupon two nobles faced each other on either end, helping people disembark. Chamberlain Toshitsune then unfurled an impressive double indigo damask cloth, the pattern of which was edged with green thread. In addition, the lyrics to the song, “The Seas of Ise,” were embroidered on the cloth in reed script.[42] On this cloth, Suemichi and Sadaakira set up the miniature landscape tray, on which the poems would be presented. A mirror represented the ocean, and silver dust, the shore. A silver, latticed box was placed on top of a silver stand with carvings. The tally stand consisted of another silver landscape tray, with stones made of aloeswood, and a mirror for the ocean. “Pines” would be “planted” to count the score. The children must be keeping score, for they rested beside these scoring trays.
Meanwhile, the members from the team on the right approached. One could hear the rumbling of the carriages and the cries of the outrunners, more clamorous than the roar of mountain rapids. In midst of the commotion, they made their entrance, intentionally no doubt, to delightful effect. But they must have been disappointed that their intentions not to be beaten did not completely go as planned.[43] Among the most prominent members of the team was Toshiie the middle captain, who had on a pink robe, displayed from under his double indigo jacket. His trousers were made of green bombycine. Michimoto, an attendant of the fourth rank, also had on a double indigo jacket with green bombycine trousers, but his robe was of fulled, dark purple silk. Lesser Captain Suketsuna had on the same combination, but his robe was unlined. The two chamberlains also wore green trousers made of bombycine.
The silver landscape presentation tray had a miniature rough-hewn fence made of aloeswood, and a patch of pinks made of silver. When one approached the stands, eager to view the poems, behold, there were, atop the pinks, ten truly lovely butterflies.[44] The scoring tray was modeled on the eastern garden of the Seiryōden, where there were stands of bamboo, from which “canes” would be pulled out to tally the score. A mirror represented water, and aloeswood stood for stones. Various grasses and swatches of fabric were used to craft the landscape. The closer one looked, the more one was enchanted with its charm. Chamberlain Yoshikiyo took it to its proper place for use as a scoring tray.
While the composition of the teams was disputed, Yorimichi’s son ended up being on the left team. The right team kept quiet, though, for there was no use getting worked up about it now. The orator for the left team, Left Middle Controller Tsunenaga, and the orator for the right, Right Middle Controller Suemichi, took their places. Sukemichi of the third rank was to pronounce the winning and losing poems. One wondered what he would find good, what bad. His authoritative visage and figure were such that one might find in a painting. So appropriate did he seem for the role that one wondered whoever else could have been fit to serve as judge.
It was getting dark, so torches were lit. For the left, Lesser Captain Yukitsune approached the stand, and opened the latticed box, in which there were fans inscribed with poems exploring the essence of the topics in various ways. The fans had carved frames, and precious metals decorated their mounted paper. Yukitsune picked out the fans one by one and brought them to the reader, Tsunenaga the controller. The emperor’s wet-nurse, Saishō no Naishi no Suke, had copied the poems. As for the right, Assistant of the Right-Gate Guards Kanefusa picked the pinks with the butterflies and brought them to Sukemichi. The team members came closer and sat nearby. The left sat to the north, the right to the south. While the poems were read out loud, the atmosphere was spell-binding. The night deepened. The moon shone clearly over the crystal lake, so fittingly for the ambiance of the poem’s topics that one was completely enchanted. The lord’s female attendants were attired in light-weight robes in color combination of wild pinks. From the sleeves one could see the layered colors of the robes starched together.
People seem to think that poems are tedious, but I am reluctant to leave them out after going on and on like this, so let me write them down here.
First Round: The Moon
The left: the winner, Lesser Captain of the Fourth Rank Yukitsune[45]
The summer night was cool indeed, for the moonlight
on the garden appeared like a white sheet of dew.
夏の夜も涼しかりけり月影は庭白妙の霜と見えつつ
The right: Akazome Emon[46]
From a shelter such as this, the moonlight shines ever clearer,
for one resides without a troubling cloud.
宿からぞ月の光も勝りけるよの曇りなくすめばなりけり[47]
Second Round: The Long Rains of the Fifth Month
The left: the winner, Sagami
During the long rains of the Fifth Month, the wild rice from the farms of Mizu—
there is no chance to cut and dry their stalks.[48]
五月雨にみづの御牧の真菰草刈りほす隙もあらじとぞ思ふ
The right: Lord Yoshitada, tutor to the crown prince[49]
During the long rains of the fifth month, leisurely gazing at the skies:
that feeling will surely continue for a thousand years.
五月雨の空をながむるのどけさは千代をかねたる心地こそすれ
Third Round: Water of a Lake
The left: Lord Sukenari, the senior assistant minister of the ceremonial
Clear for a thousand years, such water I divert
into the lake, filling it as full as it pleases.
千代を経てすむべき水をせきれつつ池の心にまかせたるかな
The right: Lesser Counselor Tsuneie[50]
At the shelter where our lord will live for many more years,
remaining ever clear through those years—the lake’s water.
年を経てすむべき君が宿なれば 池の水さへ濁らざりけり
The phrase, “I divert into the lake” (sekiruru), was said to be poorly chosen, so the right won this round.
Fourth Round: Sweet Flag
The left: [Sukechika][51]
In search of sweet flag leaves to pick, I head to where wild rice is harvested:
the deep marshes around Yodo.
あやめ草たづねてぞ引く真菰刈る淀のわたりの深き沼まで
The right:[52] Master of the Crown Prince’s Household Yorimune
From ancient times the sweet flag leaves have not run out
for they are drawn from the deep fields of Yodo.
昔よりつきせぬものをあやめ草深き淀野に引けばなりけり
Fifth Round: Pinks
The left: the winner, Shijō Major Counselor Sadayori
This garden of flowering pinks—
Chinese woven brocades even would not compare.
常夏のにほへる庭は唐国に織れる錦もしかじとぞ思ふ[53]
The right: Akazome Emon
What lies over the garden, that Chinese brocade
was in fact a bed of flowering pinks.
庭の面に唐の錦をしく物はなほ常夏の花にざりける
“In fact a bed of flowering pinks” (nao tokonatsu) was evidently a badly chosen phrase, so the right lost.
Sixth Round: The Cuckoo
The left: tie, Akazome Emon
Those nights when it cries, those nights when it does not cry, that cuckoo—
keeps me waiting, or keeps me from sleeping soundly.
鳴かぬ夜も鳴く夜もさらに郭公待つとてやすきいやは寝らるる
The right: Akazome Emon[54]
Through the night I waited for the cuckoo
who passed the night without singing again.
夜もすがら待ちつるものを郭公またとも鳴かで過ぎぬなるかな
Seventh Round: The Light of Fireflies
The left: winner, Right Imperial Stables Director Yoshitsune
In the marsh, what appeared as the sky’s stars—
turned out to be fireflies deep into the night.
沢水に空なる星のうつるかと見ゆるは夜半の蛍なりけり
The right: Akazome Emon
That famous rainy dimness of the fifth month did not exist
in the light of the swarming fireflies by the marsh.
名に立てる五月(さつき)の闇もなかりけり沢の蛍のまがふ光に
Eighth Round: Hunting by Torchlight
The left: the winner, Junior Assistant Ceremonial Minister Ōe no Kimisuke
In the fifth month’s darkness, when not even the stars could be seen in the night,
the hunting torches alone could be seen in the mountain.
五月闇天つ星だに見えぬ夜にともしのみこそ山に見えけれ
The right: Akazome Emon
In the fifth month’s darkness, the fires of the hunting torches in their stands—
with unease must the deer be looking.
五月闇火(ほ)串(ぐし)にかかるともし火のうしろめたくや鹿は見るらん
The right team’s poem is better, thought Sukechika, being drawn to that poem, but the members of the left team protested, “‘Tomoshibi’ is what one says for lighting (tomosu) a fire at a regular person’s house. It’s completely different from ‘hunting by torchlight’ (tomoshi).” The right argued back, “In ancient poems, ‘tomosubi’ can be found. Besides, ‘in their stands’ makes it impossible for the poem to be referring to a ‘lit fire.’” Sukechika then said, “The poem has style, and is very interesting, but since it has received this criticism, however trivial….” He pronounced the poem from the right as losing this round.
Ninth Round: Celebration
The left: Monk Nōin
Long live our lord, until the cloud-covered Tsukubane,
those undulating peaks turn into boundless seas!
君が世は白雲かかる筑波嶺の峰のつづきの海となるまで
The right: the winner, Minor Captain Sukefusa[55]
Think of it! From eighty-fold vassals for one lord,
a prayer prayed with a single mind.
思ひやれ八十氏人の君がため一つ心に祈る祈りを
“The poem from the Left refers to mountains turning into seas, and seas turning into mountains. This seems strange. A sea should be a sea; mountains should be mountains,” Sukechika declared.
Tenth Round: Love
The left: Monk Nōin
When I had black hair, my love remained likewise unchanging,
but because of a cold-hearted person, I have grown old.
黒髪の色も変らぬ恋すとてつらなき人にわれぞ老いぬる
The right: the winner, Crown Prince’s Household Master Yorimune
At least until we meet again, so one cherishes life,
making love the true object of human prayers.
あふまでとせめて命のをしければ恋こそ人の祈りなりけれ
It was getting very late. The moon shone with a cool radiance, as people continued to fuss leisurely about various things. Would there be such a wonderful poetry contest in the past or in the future, one was wondering, when someone began singing and the party turned to music for entertainment. The night grew even deeper with the tones of the bamboo flutes. As the winner of the contest, the left team sponsored a banquet with food passed out in about twenty containers made of aloeswood and sandalwood, decorated with mother-of-pearl, and fitted with a mirror to represent the brook in the garden. For Sukechika, one set of garments was given. Next, when it came time for the senior nobles to leave, the palace minister and the three major counselors each received a horse. Though this was a normal practice, since tonight was such a splendid affair that surpassed the ordinary, one wished that the festivities would continue for a thousand years. Nonetheless, the night sky began to lighten, much to one’s boundless regret.
Turning eleven years of age, the lord’s son, Michifusa, celebrated his Coming-of-Age ceremony.[56] His full figure was very appealing, and overall, he was very handsome. Soon he would become a lesser captain, and serve as a dancer in the Kamo Special Festival.[57] The palace minister’s third son, Nobunaga, an assistant of the military guards, also danced with Michifusa. They were both very attractive.
Master of the Crown Prince’s Household Yorimune had many sons. His eldest was Kaneyori, a consultant middle captain. His second son was Toshiie, a middle captain, and his third, Yoshinaga, was an attendant. There were many others borne from various other wives.[58] Among them, Motosada became the governor of Tajima province when he was sixteen.[59]
A new year began [1036]. Michifusa served as the Kasuga messenger. The nobles all came to show off, wearing indescribably gorgeous hunting attire, not to be outdone by one another. As his son made his way in a splendid fashion, the lord thought he could not be any more endearing. The nobles also thought him handsome and offered words of praise and congratulations. The Takatsukasadono no Ue, too, declared her grandson to be most charming. She often went to visit her daughter the empress. Although she was past seventy, her hair was still luxuriously full and soft, an impressive crop of hair indeed.
At the palace, the emperor pressed forward on his plans for Princess Shōshi’s Putting On of the Train.[60] He directed Chamberlain Yoshikiyo that the furnishings should surpass the ordinary. Painters were summoned from the Office of Painting and His Majesty had marvelous screen paintings done both in the Japanese and Chinese styles. Responsibility for the trains, Chinese jackets, and outer robes of the female attendants, as well as the wardrobe of the attending girls, were divided among various people. His Majesty instructed that the garments for the thirty women and six girls for the three days of celebrations should be made of varying styles and should not be commonplace. Upon dawn, he would head straight to the Fujitsubo, having furnishings brought in for inspection, and otherwise giving instructions for everything. Despite his exalted status, the path of a parent and its limitless emotions were very much shared by His Majesty.
Tsunetō the controller became a consultant, and Toshiie the middle captain became a head chamberlain.
In his heart, the emperor was thinking of soon abdicating and yielding his highest status to the crown prince, and having Princess Shōshi enter the palace as the new emperor’s consort. People were saying that His Majesty would give her to Prince Chikahito, but for some reason, he had settled on Chikahito’s father, Crown Prince Atsunaga [Emperor Go-Suzaku]. However, this was not to say that he thought lightly of Princess Teishi, Atsunaga’s current spouse. “I only want to see her a little more settled while I am still reigning,” he thought, secretly sending letters to the crown prince. Despite these developments, Norimichi still evidently wished to introduce his own daughter, Mikushigedono Seishi, to the crown prince—what could be going on?
His Majesty has been drinking a lot of water, and looked rather gaunt, people seemed to be saying.[61] What might become of himself, he was lamenting, when the end of the 3rd Month drew near only for his condition to worsen. Worried, the empress went to the inner palace and stayed there at the Fujitsubo apartment. The Putting On of the Train for the princess was thus delayed, much to the emperor’s disappointment.[62] Those naturally concerned quietly wondered amongst themselves what was going to become of the emperor. The retired empress also came to the palace.
When the 4th month came, the emperor’s suffering got even worse, so many esoteric rites were commissioned. Offerings were made for as many prayers as possible.[63] The ministers all stayed at the palace, watching over His Majesty. Transferred to a medium, malevolent spirits appeared, making dreadful noises. One was the spirit of Horikawa minister of the left, Akimitsu, who accompanied the spirit of his daughter, Consort Enshi. Others also emerged, declaring their identities. Apart from his agony, the emperor was upset over the delay of the princess’s Putting On of the Train. On the 7th, when the ceremony was supposed to have taken place, he lamented in distress, “I had never expected to be in such state today.” He must have been thinking of how much we would have liked on that day to be tying the sash of her trousers. His Majesty was twenty-nine that year, still in his prime, making his illness truly regrettable. The retired empress and the empress anxiously wondered what was going to happen. The lord, the palace minister and various other ministers never left his side. Prayers for his recovery shook the world, as one nervously wondered how he was going to fare. It was indeed a fearful time.
[1] According to Nihon kiryaku, Yorimichi sponsored the celebrations at the Kayanoin, which occurred on 28th of the 11th Month, Chōgen 6 (1033). This chapter thus runs more or less consecutively with the previous one. Rinshi was Michinaga’s principal wife and the mother of Shōshi and Ishi.
[2] In serving in an imperial procession, nobles introduced themselves in a practice called nadaimen.
[3] The nyōbo could not alight from their vehicles within the palace precincts, so they waited outside the guardhouse (jin), which in this case refers to the Sakuheimon.
[4] The uneme were girls chosen by the provincial government to serve in the inner palace. According to the ritsuryō codes they worked in the Moitori no tsukasa 水司 and the Kashiwade no tsukasa 膳司, which were responsible, among other things, for the meals at the palace. At this point in the eleventh century, however, they only appear at banquets, or at imperial processions, in which they, on horseback, accompanied the empress.
[5] For the dedication of the Kondō in 1022 (described in Book 17, “Ongaku”), Senior Grand Empress Shōshi, Grand Empress Kenshi, Empress Ishi and Consort Kishi of the crown prince, made their way to Hōjōji. Here, the narrator draws a comparison between an event that happened during Michinaga’s lifetime and one after his death.
[6] A curious statement since there is no obvious explanation why a woman should not be recording these events, but it could have been a variation of the conventional expression of female modesty.
[7] The Futama was a “two-mat” room south of the Kokiden in the Seiryōden. The crown prince was probably seated in the outer eaves, east of the Two-Bay Room. For a map of the Seiryōden, see FF 842.
[8] The Butsumyōe occurred on the 19th, 20th, and the 21st of the 12th Month (for more on the rite, see FF 148, note 57).
[9] Tsunetō was the son of Yasuhira. He was later adopted by Tadanobu. Sukemasa and Yasuhira were both grandsons of Saneyori. In Ōkagami, Sukemasa is described as a talented calligrapher (The Great Mirror, 107).
[10] This poem is also found in Akazome Emon shū, Shūishū, and Imakagami.
[11] Known as the Kikōden of the Tanabata Festival, the date celebrated the annual meeting of the Kengyū (Hikoboshi in the subsequent poem) and the Orihime stars across the Milky Way. The festivities were closely associated with the literary arts (FF 227, note 28).
[12] This poem is again referring to the screen depicting the Regent’s Special New Year’s Banquet. “The friends of three years” is an allusion to the “Chicken and Millet” (keisho 鶏黍) passage in the Analects, which tells of the warm reception of guests, as though they were friends not seen for three years (EMZ 6:288).
[13] She is waiting for the traditional New Year’s morning greeting from the emperor to his mother (chōkin 朝覲). Jōtōmon’in is living at Kayanoin at this point.
[14] The naien were private, New Year’s banquets sponsored by the emperor. Literati were often invited, and the entertainment consisted of Chinese poetry for the most part. After the reign of Emperor Ichijō, in which these banquets occurred regularly, the naien disappeared from the annual calendar. It was only in 1158 that the court again saw another naien after this one in 1034. This record then may have had a particular significance.
[15] According to Hokuzanshō, the actual color was a somber green, the color of unripe acorns.
[16] The noriyumi was a part of annual ritual calendar, taking place usually on the 18th of the 1st Month. The occasion described here is a special event for the purpose of entertainment. Some differences between the event as held in the 1st Month and this occasion in the 3rd Month can be seen in the status of the team members and the post-game visit to the Kamo Shrine (see FF 385).
[17] Azusa yumi (birch bow) is a pillow word that leads to related words such as “to pull,” “arrow,” or “to strike.” Obviously the two poems are woven around this imagery related to the archery contest. The first poem is in the voice of Keishi the Saiin, but the attendant may have been the actual poet.
[18] The Oni no ma, a miscellaneous room with some privacy, was so called because of a painting of a Chinese hero slaying a demon (FF 843).
[19] Both poems obviously play with the connection between the Fujiwara (literally “wisteria fields”) and the wisteria. Ishi’s poem describes the Minamoto as “revered” (kogōshii) because of their imperial blood. In contrast, she portrays herself, metonymically represented by the wisteria, as at the “end” (sue), whereas the Rinshi is the “origin” (minamoto).
[20] Purple clouds are auspicious signs, suitable imagery for the palace. The wisteria blooms at the end of spring, or in early summer.
[21] The sealing of the well was presumably a form of punishment, and an attempt to ferret out the culprit, whether directly (he might have been hiding in the well) or indirectly (forcing people to talk).
[22] In Genji monogatari, Tamakazura’s childhood name is Rurigimi.
[23] The narrator is here presumably referring to women, not quite of the first class, who bore many children to important men, achieving a measure of security and happiness.
[24] At this time, Idewa no Ben was serving Empress Ishi, but she may have been called to Kayanoin by Yorimichi on this occasion to specifically serve Shōshi, since she had served the retired empress before.
[25] The poem can be interpreted as alluding to the poet’s turbulent emotions regarding Sadayori, who may have been her lover.
[26] Awa refers to awao, a hollow knot that is easily unraveled. The verb yoru refers to twining string, as well as to draw to someone’s side.
[27] Hikage not only refers to the sun, but to the hikage no kazura (cord pendants) that the Gosechi dancers wore. These dancers were formally presented at the “Flushed-Faces banquet.”
[28] Akazome Emon’s daughter.
[29] For more on the Niinamesae (the First Fruits service – a harvest thanksgiving ritual) and the Toyonoakari no sechie (Flushed-Faces banquet), see FF 378. The “flushed faces” refers to the presentation of wine made from the new rice crop.
[30] Princess Shūshi was the daughter of Emperor Ichijō and Empress Teishi. She had taken Buddhist vows in 1024.
[31] Tadanobu died on the 23rd of the 3rd month in Chōgen 8 (1035).
[32] Saien was a son of Kintō, who lived in Nagatani after taking religious vows.
[33] Michifusa was thus born to a concubine. After the death of their parents, Takahime takes Norisada’s daughters under her wing (Norisada was her cousin), at which point Yorimichi enters into a relationship with Michifusa’s mother, despite Takahime’s displeasure. The affair and the birth of Michifusa is detailed in Book 24 (FF 644-5).
[34] Prince Tomohira was the father of Takahime, Yorimichi’s principal wife. His possession of Yorimichi is detailed in Book 12.
[35] According to Shōyūki and Nihon kiryaku, the completion of the Amidadō in the northeast corner of Hōjōji was celebrated in Chōgen 3 (1030), 8th month, 21st day.
[36] According to Sakeiki, the Thirty Expositions of the Lotus Sutra was held at the Kayanoin from the 30th of the 4th month to the 18th of the 5th month. The poetry contest happened on the 16th. The narrator might thus mean that the contest occurred after the day’s lecture, not after the series of lectures had ended. This event is thought to have been modeled on Michinaga’s poetry contest held in conjunction with the Sanjikkō on the 15th of the 5th month, 1003.
[37] Tomoshi was a method of hunting by which hunters located deer by the torch light reflected in the animals’ eyes.
[38] According to Sakeiki, the teams protested over on which team Michifusa should be placed (5th month, 4th day). On the 9th, an imperial edict decreed that he be on the left team.
[39] Akimoto and Takakuni were the first and second-born sons respectively of Minamoto no Toshikata.
[40] Futaai refers to a varying blends of red and indigo to produce a range of hues from pale lavender to dark purple. See Nihon no iro jiten, 112–13.
[41] Their destination was the water pavilion of Kayanoin. The residence itself was on a island, and the water pavilion was on a smaller island either north or south of the main hall. For a map of the residence, see Eiga monogatari zenshū, 5:16.
[42] Ashide, a playful type of calligraphic script, in which letters were incorporated into the illustration.
[43] There is some confusion about this statement. It may refer to the fact that the noise of the carriages were too noisy, causing the senior nobles to order them to be stopped, according to the kana nikki account preserved in Kayanoin suikaku uta awase.
[44] The poems were written on their wings, according to Sakeiki and Jukkanbon uta awase shū.
[45] In Goshūishū, the poem is attributed to Nagaie (SNKBT 76). In Sakeiki, an interlinear note records: “Yukitsune wrote it, but in fact it is the Major Counselor’s” (5th Month, 16th day).
[46] In Kin’yōshū, the poet is listed as unknown. This is the last recorded event in which Akazome Emon appears.
[47] The poem plays with a series of puns: “yo” stands for “the vulgar world” and “night,” “sume” (“sumu”) stands “to be clear” and “to reside.”
[48] “Mizu” 美豆 is a place name in Yamashiro province (present-day Fushimi), but it is a homonym for “water.”
[49] The teihon attributes the poem to Shigetada, but the tutor (tōgū gakushi) at this time was Yoshitada. The Nijikkanbon uta awase shū has Yorimune as the poet. In singing the persistence of the fifth-month rains and the human response, the poet celebrates the Yorimichi and his family’s perpetuation.
[50] Jikkanbon uta awase shū, Sakeiki, Sadayori shū attributes the poem to Saneyori. Nijikkanbon uta awase shū, and Fukuro zōshi attributes the poem to Kintō. The Shōgakukan editors speculate that it is Saneyori’s surrogate poem for Tsuneie.
[51] Eiga does not list a poet, but the Jikkanbon uta awase shū lists Sukechika.
[52] This round resulted in a tie (Jikkanbon uta awase shū, Sakeiki).
[53] Also in Goshūishū (SNKBT 76).
[54] The composition of the round with two poems both by Akazome is strange. The Nijikkanbon attributes the left poem to Yoshitsune. Another possibility is that Kintō, who selected the poems before the actual event, may have purposefully chosen the two to illustrate some point (Eiga monogatari zenchūshaku 6:334–35). Both poems are attributed to Akazome in Goshūishū (SNKBT 68).
[55] In Goshūishū, the poem is attributed to the daughter of Fujiwara no Tamemori (poem 451). The Nijikkanbon uta awase shū attributes it to Fujiwara no Kanefusa.
[56] The ceremony happened on the 13th of the 7th Month, Chōgen 8 (1035).
[57] Corroborated in Nihon kiryaku, 11th Month, 29th day, Chōgen 8 (1035).
[58] Yorimune’s principal wife was a daughter of Korechika. Other sons were Motosada (borne by Minamoto no Takamasa’s daughter), Nobusue (Fujiwara no Chikatoki’s daughter), and Yorichika (unknown mother).
[59] This appointment is unconfirmed elsewhere.
[60] The mogi ceremony was usually held when a girl was twelve to fourteen, but Princess Shōshi would be eleven years old in 1036. Emperor Go-Ichijō was probably hurrying because of his intent to abdicate.
[61] The emperor’s thirst might indicate he was suffering from diabetes.
[62] Because of Emperor Go-Ichijō’s illness and death, this ceremony would be delayed until the 13th of the 12th Month in Chōreki 1 (1037).
[63] On the 13th of the 4th month, offerings were sent to the Ise Shrines, as well as eleven other major shrines. On the 16th, horses were sent to those shrines, and on the 17th, Jōtōmon’in sent a horse to Sumiyoshi Shrine, and offerings to the Iwashimizu and Kamo Shrines (Nihon kiryaku).