The Tale Of Genji

The title of Chapter 4 is taken from the name of a flowering vine, yugao (“evening face”). These flowers are mentioned in a series of messages exchanged between Genji and a young woman who lives near his former nurse. As with several female characters, the young woman is then referred to by the distinguishing feature of her plot line: in this case, this particular young woman is called “Yugao” because of the subject of her letters with Genji.

Chapter 4 opens as Genji is still 17 and visiting his former nurse, who has become a nun. In the same area he is also secretly courting a woman called the Rokujo Haven (named after the Rokujo, “Sixth Avenue,” where she lives). Genji tells his former nurse how much he appreciates her care for him after his mother died. He thenasks after the young woman who lives in a house near the nunnery, and who is later called Yugao.

The nurse’s son, Koremitsu, who is also Genji’s foster brother, is with him during his visit. As they are preparing to leave, Genji notices a fan he has been sent is also inscribed with a poem from whomever lives in the house to the west of the nunnery. Genji asks Koremitsu if he knows anything about the resident, which Koremitsu takes as Genji looking for another romantic interest, even though he is married to Aoi and also is currently having an affair with the Rokujo Haven: “Here he goes again! thought Koremitsu, but he kept his peace…” (58).

After asking about, they determine a young woman lives next door, whose sister is also visiting. Genji begins a correspondence with her, but cannot seem to get close to her physically, though now Koremitsu is encouraging Genji to “take some liberties” with her, partially because he cannot do it himself (59).

Eventually autumn comes, and Genji finds he is no longer interested in his affair with the Rokujo Haven. He realizes part of what attracted him initially was how she pushed him away, and now the challenge for him is over.

As his correspondence with Yugao continues, he and Yugao hurriedly leave with Ukon to a mansion some distance away to have their affair. Meanwhile, while there, Genji dreams of a jealous woman resembling Lady Rokujo, and in his dream the woman silently shakes Yugao. To his horror, upon waking he sees Yugao is gravely ill, and after much confusion with Ukon and calling for Korimitsu, Genji cannot believe that it seems Yugao was attacked by a spirit. Shortly after, Yugao dies.

Koremitsu orders Genji to return to the palace at Nijo, while he takes Yugao’s body to an Eastern Hills nunnery. Terrified and devastated, Genji becomes ill riding his horse back home, and falls off his horse. Genji recovers and takes Ukon under his service. Finally, Ukon reveals Yugao’s true identity, and informs Genji she had a child. Genji then insists Yugao’s daughter, who becomes Tamakazura, be raised by him, especially since he suspects the father is his own brother-in-law, To no Chujo.

He has taken Yugao’s servant, Ukon, into his own service. He questions her and asks her to finally tell him who she was and Ukon does so. She reveals she had a child and Genji immediately insists on Ukon bringing her to him to raise as his own child.

As the chapter chronicles both love affairs and also Genji’s potential role in the spiritual attack on Yugao, the narrative voice intervenes to end the chapter. Speaking directly to the reader, the narrator reminds the audience:

I had passed over Genji’s trials and tribulations […] out of respect for his determined efforts […] I have written of them now only because certain lords and ladies criticized my story for resembling fiction, wishing to know why even those who knew Genji best should have thought him perfect […] No doubt I must now beg everyone’s indulgence for my effrontery in painting so wicked a portrait of him (86).