Part IV (Chapters 29 to 40) of “The

Tale of Genji.”

BLUE TROUSERS

BEING THE FOURTH PART OF “THE TALE OF GENJI”

BY

LADY MURASAKI

Translated from the Japanese by

ARTHUR WALEY

BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 1928

_All rights reserved_

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY UNWIN BROTHERS, LTD., WOKING

TO

R. C. TREVELYAN

CONTENTS

PAGE

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS 9

SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF VOLUME IV 11

CHAPTER

I. THE ROYAL VISIT 13

II. BLUE TROUSERS 40

III. MAKIBASHIRA 48

IV. THE SPRAY OF PLUM-BLOSSOM 90

V. FUJI NO URABA 105

VI. WAKANA, PART I 128

VII. WAKANA, PART II 182

VIII. KASHIWAGI 230

IX. THE FLUTE 252

X. YŪGIRI 267

XI. THE LAW 309

XII. MIRAGE 321

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS

Akashi, Lady of Brought back by Genji from his place of exile.

Akashi, Princess Daughter of the above.

Akikonomu Daughter of Rokujō. Consort of the Emperor Ryōzen.

Aoi Genji’s first wife. Her death is recorded at the end of Vol. I.

Asagao, Princess Courted by Genji.

Chūjō, Lady Daughter of Tō no Chūjō. Concubine of the Emperor Ryōzen.

Chūjō no Omoto Maid in service of Higekuro.

Crown Prince, The Son of Suzaku. Afterward ascends the Throne. ‘The New Emperor’.

Emperor, The New See _Crown Prince_.

Falling Flowers A mild and patient lady, entrusted with Lady from the Village of. Yūgiri’s upbringing.

Fujitsubo Genji’s stepmother. Secretly loved by him.

Genji The hero.

Higekuro Husband to Makibashira, who goes mad. Subsequently marries Tamakatsura.

Hyōbukyō, Prince Murasaki’s father.

Jōkyōden, Princess Consort of Suzaku.

Kaoru Son of Nyosan and Kashiwagi. Supposed by the world to be Genji’s son.

Kashiwagi Son of Tō no Chūjō. In love with Nyosan.

Kōbai Kashiwagi’s brother.

Kojijū Maid to Nyosan.

Koremitsu Genji’s favourite retainer.

Koremitsu’s Daughter ‘The Gosechi dancer.’ Yūgiri takes a fancy to her at the time when he cannot get access to Kumoi.

Kumoi Tō no Chūjō’s daughter. Yūgiri’s wife;

Makibashira Higekuro’s mad wife.

Moku no Kimi Maid in service of Higekuro.

Murasaki Genji’s wife. The low rank of her mother prevented her ever being installed as _kita no kata_ or ‘legitimate spouse.’

Niou Son of the New Emperor and the Akashi Princess. Genji’s grandson.

Nishi no Miya Murasaki’s eldest sister.

Nyosan Favourite daughter of the ex-Emperor Suzaku. Accepted by Genji as his _kita no kata_, in deference to Suzaku’s wishes. Loved by Kashiwagi.

Oborozuki Consort of Suzaku. Formerly loved by Genji.

Ochiba Daughter of Suzaku. Married to Kashiwagi; after his death, loved by Yūgiri.

Omi, Lady from Illegitimate daughter of Tō no Chūjō.

Omiya, Princess Tō no Chūjō’s mother. Yūgiri’s maternal grandmother.

Rokujō, Lady Loved by Genji in his early days. Violently jealous of his other attendants.

Ryōzen, Emperor Thought by the world to be the son of the Old Emperor (Genji’s father); but in reality son of Genji and the Old Emperor’s consort, Lady Fujitsubo.

Saishō Maid to Tamakatsura.

Sochi, Prince Genji’s half-brother.

Suzaku, Ex-Emperor Genji’s half-brother. Father of Nyosan and Ochiba.

Tamakatsura Daughter of Tō no Chūjō and Yūgao. Adopted by Genji.

Tō no Chūjō Genji’s great friend. Brother of Genji’s first wife, Aoi.

Yamato, Governor of Nephew of Ochiba’s mother.

Yūgao Loved by Genji in his youth. Withered by Rokujō’s jealousy. Dies in the deserted mansion (_see_ vol. i, chap. iv).

Yūgiri Genji’s son by Aoi.

SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF