List of chapters
A Summary of The Tale of Genji, The Tale of the Shining Genji
Part One
Genji is the Second Prince of the Kiritsubo Emperor, and his mother, the Kiritsubo Intimate, enjoys the highest favor of the Emperor. But the intimate is so hounded by the other ladies out of jealousy, especially the Kokiden Consort, who is the daughter of the Minister of the Right, that she dies in the end. After much deliberation, the Emperor decides to give this Second Prince a commoner’s surname, Genji (Minamoto).
Chapter 1, The Paulownia Pavilion
At the age of twelve, Genji marries Aoi, the daughter of the Minister of the Left, at his coming-of-age ceremony. However, he finds himself drawn to the Fujitsubo Princess, who is said to resemble his mother. Fujitsubo is part of the court of the Kiritsubo Emperor, a daughter of a former Emperor.
Chapter 2, The Broom Tree
Genji becomes Captain in the Palace Guards at the age of seventeen. On a rainy night, a discussion with Tō no Chūjō and other young men as to women of various ranks piques Genji’s interest in middle-ranking noblewomen. Thus during his stay at the Kii Governor’s house in order to avoid a blocked direction, he sneaks into the room where Utsusemi, the Iyo Deputy’s young second wife, is sleeping. He forces a relationship without being noticed.
Chapter 3, The Cicada Shell
Since then Genji has been waiting for another chance to meet Utsusemi. However, Utsusemi turns him away. One day Genji slips into Utsusemi’s sleeping chamber at night, but sleeps with the Kii Governor’s younger sister (Nokiba no Ogi) instead by mistake.
Chapter 4, The Twilight Beauty
On a visit to his nurse living at Gojō, who is now seriously ill, a vine of white flowers clambering over the fence from the nearby house attracts Genji’s attention. He then becomes infatuated with a woman living there (known as Yūgao) and develops a secret relationship with her. On the great full moon night of the year, Genji takes Yūgao away to a deserted dwelling, where a spirit possesses and kills her. She is the woman that Tō no Chūjō has talked about before.
Chapter 5, Young Murasaki
The next year, Genji, now eighteen, goes into the hills north of Kyoto to seek relief from his illness. There he discovers a little girl who resembles Fujitsubo. The girl is Fujitsubo’s niece, later known as Murasaki. In summer, as Fujitsubo goes home from the palace, Genji seizes his chance to make love to her there. The affair results in her getting pregnant. In winter Genji spirits the young Murasaki away into his own house at Nijō to bring her up himself.
Chapter 6, The Safflower
While lamenting the death of Yūgao, Genji develops an interest in Suetsumuhana, the daughter of the late Hitachi Prince. Genji finally manages to sleep with her, however, only to find out that she is an unattractive lady with a red nose tip.
Chapter 7, Beneath the Autumn Leaves
As Genji turns nineteen, Fujitsubo gives birth to Genji’s secret son, a prince (the future Emperor Reizei) who bears a striking resemblance to Genji. Fujitsubo then becomes Empress. Meanwhile Genji is involved in a triangle relationship with Tō no Chūjō and an amorous old woman serving as Dame of Staff (Gen Naishi).
Chapter 8, Under the Cherry Blossom
The next year on a spring night, Genji encounters an attractive young lady in the aisle of the Kokiden and spends the night with her. She is the sixth daughter of the Minister of the Right, Oborozukiyo, who has been promised to the Crown Prince (later known as Emperor Suzaku).
Chapter 9, Heart-to-Heart
Before long the Kiritsubo Emperor abdicates, and Suzaku succeeds him. Fujitsubo’s prince becomes Heir Apparent. Genji is now twenty-two. At the Aoi festival of that year, the Rokujō Haven, Genji’s secret lover, is humiliated by Aoi’s retinue in the carriage quarrel. Rokujō’s bitterness over this incident drives her spirit out of the body to possess Aoi. Aoi therefore dies just after giving birth to her son Yūgiri. Genji then for the first time makes love to the young Murasaki, who has now grown up a little and becomes even more beautiful.
Chapter 10, Green Branch
The Rokujō Haven eventually gives up her relationship with Genji, who is now twenty-three. She then follows her daughter, who is appointed High Priestess (later known as Akikonomu, the Empress), to leave the capital for Ise. In winter, the retired Kiritsubo Emperor passes away.
The next year, power begins to shift into the hands of the Minister of the Right. Genji remains involved with Oborozukiyo, who is now Mistress of Staff and exceptionally favored by Emperor Suzaku. In the meantime Genji’s constant advances towards Fujitsubo cause her great anguish, which leads to her decision to renounce the secular world and become a nun.
In the summer of his twenty-fifth year, Genji is discovered when secretly meeting Oborozukiyo at her home by her father, the Minister of the Right. The Empress Mother Kokiden, in a rage at their liaison, begins plotting Genji’s downfall.
Chapter 11, Falling Flowers
Genji visits the residence of the Reikeiden Consort of the late Kiritsubo Emperor and her younger sister Hanachirusato, in order to distract himself from his consuming sorrow.
Chapter 12, Suma
Deprived of his rank and post, the twenty-six-year-old Genji determines to exile himself to Suma. He leaves the capital as the calendar passes the twentieth of the third month, and spends a dreary autumn and winter at Suma. In the third month of the next year, when Genji with his retainers orders rites of purification on the shore, there suddenly comes a severe storm.
Chapter 13, Akashi
Following the storm, a bolt of lightning strikes Genji’s house and burns part of it. At night the late retired Kiritsubo Emperor appears in Genji’s dream, and instructs him to follow the guidance by the Sumiyoshi deity and leave the shore. Then the Akashi Novice comes by boat to take Genji away at dawn.
Having moved from Suma to Akashi, Genji starts to exchange letters with the Novice’s daughter (the Akashi lady). They sleep together for the first time in the eighth month of the year. Meanwhile in the capital Emperor Suzaku has been suffering from an eye complaint.
In the seventh month of Genji’s twenty-seventh year, finally Emperor Suzaku issues an imperial order to call Genji back. He parts with the pregnant Akashi lady to return to the capital, and is promoted to Acting Grand Counselor.
Chapter 14, The Pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi
Genji holds a memorial service for the late Kiritsubo Emperor. The next year, Emperor Suzaku steps down and Reizei becomes Emperor. Genji, now twenty-nine, is appointed Palace Minister. On the other hand, the Akashi lady gives birth to a girl (the Akashi Princess) in Akashi. Meantime the Rokujō Haven returns to the capital from Ise. She dies after entrusting her daughter (later known as Akikonomu, the empress) to Genji’s care.
Chapter 15, A Waste of Weeds
The neglected Suetsumuhana, daughter of the late Hitachi Prince, has been enduring a destitute life. Genji at last visits her place after a long interval and offers help.
Chapter 16, At the Pass
On the other hand, Utsusemi, who has accompanied her husband, the previous Iyo Deputy, to Hitachi Province, now returns to the capital as his term of office ends. On her way back, at the Ōsaka barrier, Utsusemi comes across Genji and his entourage on their pilgrimage to Ishiyama. Soon her husband dies, and her stepson, the Governor of Kawachi (previously of Kii) begins making advances to her. Without a word Utsusemi takes the step to renounce the world.
Chapter 17, The Picture Contest
In Genji’s thirty-third year, the daughter of the Rokujō Haven adopted by Genji enters Emperor Reizei’s court as the Umetsubo Consort (who later becomes the Empress). But the Kokiden Consort, a daughter of Tō no Chūjō (now the Acting Counselor), has also been competing for the Emperor’s favor. With Genji’s support, the Umetsubo Consort wins the two picture contests.
Chapter 18, Wind in the Pines
Genji’s east pavilion at Nijō is now finished, and he wants to install the Akashi lady there. Hesitantly, the lady moves together with her mother the Nun to a mountain villa in Ōi, which is closer to the capital. Genji visits her there and talks to Murasaki about his plan to take in the Akashi Princess to Nijō.
Chapter 19, Wisp of Clouds
Eventually Genji separates the Akashi Princess from her mother the Akashi lady. The girl is ceded to Murasaki and moves to Nijō.
The next year, following the death of the Chancellor (the former Minister of the Left), Fujitsubo dies. A series of natural disasters come up, which suggests grave disorder of the reign. Having observed this, an old monk on night duty one day tells Reizei the secret of his birth. Such knowledge puts Reizei in distress over the guilt of not giving his father Genji due recognition.
In autumn, Genji has a discussion with the Umetsubo Consort, comparing between the seasons of spring and autumn.
Chapter 20, The Bluebell
In mourning for her father, Asagao resigns as Kamo Priestess. Genji had once felt deeply about her, and now begins his pursuit of her again. Despite Asagao’s refusal, gossip about their relationship weighs on Murasaki. One day Genji talks to Murasaki about the women he has had relations with. That night he has a dream of Fujitsubo, who is now a spirit burdened with suffering.
Chapter 21, Maidens
In Genji’s thirty-third year, his son Yūgiri turns twelve and comes of age. Yūgiri is raised by his maternal grandmother Ōmiya, but Genji decides that he should enter the Academy. In autumn, the Umetsubo Consort, with the backing of Genji, becomes Empress. She is also known as Akikonomu. At the same time, Genji is named Chancellor, and Tō no Chūjō is promoted from Commander of the Right to Palace Minister.
Yūgiri falls in love with his maternal cousin Kumoi no Kari, Tō no Chūjō’s daughter. But Tō no Chūjō objects and separates them. The following autumn Yūgiri is awarded Junior Fifth Rank and appointed Adviser.
The next year in autumn, at the age of thirty-five, Genji finishes his Rokujō estate and moves in with his principle ladies.
Chapter 22, The Tendril Wreath
Still unable to forget Yūgao who died eighteen years ago, Genji keeps in mind that she has a daughter (known as Tamakazura) left behind, whose father is Tō no Chūjō. The girl is raised by Yūgao’s nurse (the one who used to live in the west of the capital). After Yūgao dies, the nurse takes Tamakazura with her down to Tsukushi, where her husband receives an appointment. Tamakazura is now around twenty and has grown up into a beautiful lady. A local strongman in Higo Province, the Audit Commissioner, persistently proposes marriage to her, but she manages to escape. The nurse then takes Tamakazura up to the capital.
On her pilgrimage to Hasedera Ukon comes across Tamakazura and her retinue at last. Ukon is Yūgao’s foster sister, now in service at the Rokujō estate. With the help of Ukon as the connection, Tamakazura is adopted by Genji and taken into Rokujō.
Chapter 23, The Warbler’s First Song
In the first month of Genji’s thirty-sixth year, he visits each of his ladies, following the order of the seasons in their respective quarters: Murasaki and the Akashi Princess in the Spring Quarter, Hanachirusato and Tamakazura in the Summer Quarter, and the Akashi lady in the Winter Quarter. He also calls on Suetsumuhana, who now lives in the east pavilion at Nijō. He visits Utsusemi as well.
Chapter 24, Butterflies
A boating party with music is held at Rokujō in late spring. Prince Hotaru and many other young noblemen drawn to Tamakazura attend the feast. As the summer begins, Tamakazura receives many letters of love. While Genji instructs her how to respond, he himself is attracted to Tamakazura as well and cannot help confessing his feelings.
Chapter 25, The Fireflies
Genji’s confession deeply confounds Tamakazura. On a rainy night of the fifth month, Hotaru comes to visit, and sees Tamakazura silhouetted against the light of the fireflies released by Genji, who intends to inflame Hotaru’s passion.
To pass time over the long rains, the ladies at Rokujō become absorbed in tales. Genji discusses the value of tales with Tamakazura as well as Murasaki.
Chapter 26, The Pink
Tō no Chūjō discovers his long-lost daughter, Ōmi no Kimi, and brings her back from the provinces. However, her lacking in the necessary court graces makes her the talk of all, which puts Tō no Chūjō at a loss of what to do with the daughter. On the other hand, Genji, who becomes increasingly drawn to Tamakazura, feels conflicted while planning for her future.
Chapter 27, The Cressets
The rumor of the unrefined Ōmi no Kimi reaches Genji. Feeling sorry for her, Genji gives a cynical remark upon Tō no Chūjō’s treatment of his daughter. Hearing that, Tamakazura realizes that she is lucky to be adopted by Genji rather than to be found by Tō no Chūjō. She comes to appreciate Genji’s care and devotion despite his amorous motive.
Chapter 28, The Typhoon
An autumn typhoon causes great damage to the Rokujō estate. On his visit to Rokujō, Yūgiri catches a glimpse of Murasaki for the first time and is stunned by her beauty. He then follows Genji to visit the other ladies at Rokujō, and is taken aback by a peek of the unusual intimacy between Genji and Tamakazura.
Chapter 29, The Imperial Progress
In the twelfth month, on the occasion of the imperial progress to Ōharano, Tamakazura sees her biological father Tō no Chūjō, her suitor Higekuro, and Emperor Reizei. Genji is making plans of sending Tamakazura to palace service of Emperor Reizei as Mistress of Staff. He finally reveals the secret of Tamakazura’s birth to Tō no Chūjō and arranges a meeting for the father and the daughter.
Chapter 30, Thoroughwort Flowers
While Tamakazura is now promised the appointment as Mistress of Staff to enter the court, her suitors become even more passionate.
Chapter 31, The Handsome Pillar
One of Tamakazura’s suitors, Higekuro, forces himself upon her and marries her, which disappoints Genji (now thirty-seven). In light of this, Higekuro’s original wife moves out with her daughter Makibashira back to the residence of her father His Highness of Ceremonial. The next year, after making her entrance to the court as Mistress of Staff, Tamakazura withdraws from the palace back to Higekuro’s house.
Chapter 32, The Plum Tree Branch
The following spring, while preparing to present the Akashi Princess at court, Genji holds an incense contest at Rokujō. Her donning of the train follows immediately. However, Genji decides to put off her entrance to the palace. In addition to the already elaborate preparations, Genji makes a collection of the finest calligraphy models of famous masters for his daughter.
Chapter 33, New Wisteria Leaves
Yūgiri is invited to a wisteria blossom party at Tō no Chūjō’s residence and eventually marries Kumoi no Kari. The Akashi Princess enters the court. In autumn, Genji, at the age of thirty-nine, is granted the rank of Honorary Retired Emperor. There follows an imperial progress to Rokujō in the tenth month by Emperor Reizei and Retired Emperor Suzaku joining the grand celebration. Genji is at the summit of glory.
Part Two
Suzaku’s failing health prompts him to consider entering religion. But his beloved daughter, the Third Princess’ future still concerns him greatly. Suzaku finally decides to marry his daughter to Genji in order to secure backing for her. The Third Princess moves into the Rokujō estate the next year. However, her lack of maturity and sophistication disappoints Genji. Murasaki feigns composure about their union. Nevertheless, it clearly undermines the relationship between Genji and Murasaki
Genji has a total of four celebrations of his fortieth birthday this year.
Chapter 34, Spring Shoots I
The following spring, the Akashi Princess bears the Crown Prince his first son, who is appointed as the next Heir Apparent. Kashiwagi, longing for the Third Princess, happens to steal a glimpse of her during a kickball game held at Rokujō.
Chapter 35, Spring Shoots II
Kashiwagi’s obsession with the Third Princess develops to the extent that he secures her cat for himself to lavish his affection on.
Since then a few years has passed. In Genji’s forty-sixth year, Emperor Reizei retires, and the First Prince of the Akashi Princess (now Consort) becomes Heir Apparent.
The next year, Suzaku becomes fifty, and Genji forty-seven. Genji teaches the Third Princess the kin in order to prepare her to perform on Suzaku’s birthday celebration. Prior to that, Genji holds a women’s concert at his Rokujō estate. However, after the musical gathering, Murasaki suddenly collapses. She therefore moves back to Nijō, together with Genji attending to her. Kashiwagi seizes the chance to sneak into Rokujō and sleep with the Third Princess, but Genji soon finds out their liaison. Genji’s glare terrifies Kashiwagi, who realizes that Genji now knows the truth. Kashiwagi falls ill thereafter.
Chapter 36, The Oak Tree
The new year has come. However, Kashiwagi shows no sign of recovery. The Third Princess gives birth to her son (Kaoru), but insistently renounces the world and becomes a nun after that. When his best friend Yūgiri comes to visit, Kashiwagi vaguely confesses what has happened to Yūgiri and asks Yūgiri to look after his own wife Princess Ochiba.
Chapter 37, The Flute
Genji organizes a memorial service for Kashiwagi for the first anniversary of his death. One autumn evening, Yūgiri visits Ochiba and receives a gift of the flute that Kashiwagi had treasured. The same night he dreams of Kashiwagi, who demands that the flute should go to someone else. Yūgiri therefore gives the flute to Genji.
Chapter 38, The Bell Cricket
The following summer, Genji has the Third Princess’ sacred images made and dedicated. That autumn he holds a banquet at the Rokujō estate, for which he releases crickets that sing prettily in autumn. At night, Genji visits Retired Emperor Reizei, and talks to Akikonomu before he leaves the next morning.
Chapter 39, Evening Mist
Princess Ochiba moves with her mother the Ichijō Haven to their mountain villa in Ono, seeking a cure to the Haven’s illness. Yūgiri visits Ochiba one night to declare his love for her but is rebuffed. The Haven, unaware of what has happened over the night, sends Yūgiri a letter to ask, but never gets a reply. In her anxious waiting the Haven loses heart at Yūgiri’s indifference and passes away before long. Ochiba then returns to her residence at Ichijō. Despite her repeated refusals, Yūgiri finally has his way with her.
Chapter 40, The Law
Murasaki has steadily weakened. She keeps asking Genji to let her take vows and become a nun, but he refuses. Her condition worsens in summer. With Genji and the Akashi Princess attending to Murasaki on her deathbed, she passes away in autumn.
Chapter 41, The Seer
The next year Genji turns fifty-two, but his grief remains unassuaged. He never stops mourning Murasaki, together with the women in her service. Preparing to take religious vows and leave the world, Genji begins putting his affairs in order and decluttering his life.
A Summary of The Tale of Genji, The Tale after Genji’s Death
Part Three
Chapter 42, The Perfumed Prince
There is no one who can even match Genji’s radiance after his death. But there are now two prominent figures widely esteemed: Niou, Genji’s grandson as well as the current Third Prince, and Kaoru, son of the Third Princess. Kaoru was born with an extraordinary fragrance of his own. Suspicious of his parentage, Kaoru develops a detached view of the world. On the other hand, in order to compete with Kaoru’s natural fragrance, Niou devotes himself to perfuming.
Chapter 43, Red Plum Blossoms
The retired Chancellor, Tō no Chūjō, has passed away, with the household entrusted to his son the Inspector Grand Counselor, known as Kōbai. Kōbai has two daughters with his deceased wife. Now he is married to Makibashira, who was the wife of the late Prince Hotaru. Kōbai sends his older daughter to the court of the Crown Prince, and plans to marry the younger daughter to Niou. However, Niou finds himself drawn to Makibashira’s daughter.
Chapter 44, Bamboo River
After Higekuro’s death, Tamakazura is left with her three sons and two daughters, and has been contemplating the marriage prospects for the two girls. As requested by Retired Emperor Reizei, the elder daughter is sent to serve him. She conceives two sons for Reizei, but the jealousy of other women around obliges her often to withdraw in misery to her home. The younger sister enters the palace as Mistress of Staff to serve the Emperor. But Takamazura’s sons, on the other hand, have a hard time getting promotions. Things do not turn out as Tamakazura wishes.
Ten Uji Chapters
Chapter 45, The Maiden of the Bridge
The Eighth Prince of the Kiritsubo Emperor has two daughters, the older sister Ōigimi and the younger Naka no Kimi. After the death of his wife and a fire that burned his house in the capital, the Eighth Prince retreats to the mountains of Uji and devotes himself to Buddhist studies. Kaoru admires the man for his religious learning and visits him in Uji frequently.
Three years later, Kaoru (now twenty-two) happens to steal a glimpse of the Eighth Prince’s daughters. On the other hand, he also learns that his biological father is Kashiwagi, from an old gentlewoman named Ben in the Eighth Prince’s service. Ben is the daughter of Kashiwagi’s nurse.
Chapter 46, Beneath the Oak
The following spring, Niou, returning from a pilgrimage to Hatsuse, makes a stop at Uji and exchanges poems with Naka no Kimi. In autumn, the Eighth Prince entrusts her daughters to Kaoru and then passes away in a mountain temple. At the end of the year, Kaoru presses Ōigimi to marry Naka no Kimi to Niou and confesses his love for Ōigimi. The next year in summer, Kaoru comes to Uji again, and through a hole on a sliding panel he sees Ōigimi and Naka no Kimi still dressed in mourning grey.
Chapter 47, Trefoil Knots
As autumn comes, Kaoru continues courting Ōigimi, while Ōigimi would rather have Naka no Kimi married to him. But Kaoru succeeds in scheming to get Niou involved and married with Naka no Kimi. However, Niou fails to continue to visit his new wife, which agonizes Ōigimi intensely. The distraught Ōigimi wastes away and dies in the presence of Kaoru in the end.
Chapter 48, Bracken Shoots
The following year, Niou takes in Naka no Kimi to his house at Nijō. Kaoru visits often and becomes increasingly considerate toward her.
Chapter 49, The Ivy
Niou marries the sixth daughter of Yūgiri, which deeply unsettles Naka no Kimi. Kaoru’s sympathy for Naka no Kimi makes his longing for her grow. Naka no Kimi then tells him of her half-sister Ukifune, who looks much like Ōigimi. The next year, Kaoru marries the Second Princess as the Emperor requests, but later he happens to see Ukifune when he visits Uji.
Chapter 50, The Eastern Cottage
Ukifune’s mother was a gentlewoman serving the Eighth Prince. After giving birth to Ukifune, she becomes the second wife of the Governor of Hitachi. She arranges a marriage between Ukifune and a Lieutenant of the Left Palace Guards, but the Lieutenant breaks off their engagement. Therefore she sends Ukifune to Naka no Kimi at Nijō in the capital. However, as Niou makes approaches to Ukifune, Naka no Kimi has Ukifune transferred to a modest dwelling at Sanjō. Kaoru talks Ben into acting as a go-between to bring him where Ukifune hides and whisks her away to Uji.
Chapter 51, A Drifting Boat
In the new year Niou learns that Kaoru has secretly kept Ukifune in Uji. He impersonates Kaoru and sleeps with her there. Ukifune is also fascinated by his passionate pursuit. She thus maintains relationships with both Kaoru and Niou. Both men send messengers to her at times, until one day their messengers come across each other. Kaoru therefore knows about her affair with Niou. Torn between the two, the fraught Ukifune decides to end it all by suicide.
Chapter 52, The Mayfly
Everyone is shocked to find that Ukifune has disappeared. Ukon, a gentlewoman serving Ukifune, senses that she must have drowned herself, and talks to her mother about the matter. Soon her women organize a burial service without the body. Niou laments over her death so deeply that he falls ill. The news reaches Kaoru as well when he ends the self-confinement at the Ishiyama temple. Kaoru then orders a grand memorial service after forty-nine days of Ukifune’s death.
Later when he attends the scripture reading held by Akashi the Empress, Kaoru catches a glimpse of the First Princess and feels drawn to her.
Chapter 53, Writing Practice
The Prelate of Yokawa, his mother an old nun, and his younger sister, also a nun, on their way back from a pilgrimage to Hatsuse, find a young woman lying unconscious near the Uji River. It is Ukifune who attempted suicide. The prelate’s sister brings Ukifune back to Ono and takes care of her attentively. A captain becomes attracted to her, but Ukifune pleads the prelate to make her a nun.
The following spring, Kaoru hears of Ukifune’s whereabouts.
Chapter 54, The Floating Bridge of Dreams
Having learned from the Prelate of Yokawa that Ukifune is still alive, Kaoru sends her younger half-brother Kogimi as his messenger to Ono. However, Ukifune refuses either to see her brother or to accept Kaoru’s letter. From Kogimi’s report Kaoru suspects that Ukifune is hidden by someone else.