meward

The Maiden and the Dog

Love is All

Husband and Wife

He Comes Not

He and She

The Pearls

A Damsel Crossing a Bridge

Secret Love

The Omen

A Maiden's Lament

Rain and Snow

Mount Mikash

Evening

ELEGIES--

On the Death of the Mikado Tenji

On the Death of the Poet's Mistress

Elegy on the Poet's Wife

On the Death of Prince Hinami

On the Death of the Nun Riguwan

On the Poet's Son, Furubi

Short Stanza on the Same Occasion

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS--

View from Mount Kago

The Mikado's Bow

Spring and Autumn

Spring

Recollections of My Children

The Brook of Hatsuse

Lines to a Friend

A Very Ancient Ode

The Bridge to Heaven

Ode to the Cuckoo

The Ascent of Mount Tsukuba

Couplet

SHORT STANZAS

THE DRAMA OF JAPAN

Nakamitsu

Abstraction

* * * * *

GENJI MONOGATARI

BY

MURASAKI SHIKIB

[_Translated into English by Suyematz Kenchio_]

INTRODUCTION

BY THE TRANSLATOR

Genji Monogatari,[1] the original of this translation, is one of the
standard works of Japanese literature. It has been regarded for
centuries as a national treasure. The title of the work is by no means
unknown to those Europeans who take an interest in Japanese matters,
for it is mentioned or alluded to in almost every European work
relating to our country. It was written by a lady, who, from her
writings, is considered one of the most talented women that Japan has
ever produced.

She was the daughter of Fujiwara Tametoki, a petty Court noble,
remotely connected with the great family of Fujiwara, in the tenth
century after Christ, and was generally called Murasaki Shikib. About
these names a few remarks are necessary. The word "Shikib" means
"ceremonies," and is more properly a name adopted, with the addition
of certain suffixes, to designate special Court offices. Thus the term
"Shikib-Kio" is synonymous with "master of the ceremonies," and
"Shikib-no-Jio" with "secretary to the master of the ceremonies."
Hence it might at first sight appear rather peculiar if such an
appellation should happen to be used as the name of a woman. It was,
however, a custom of the period for noble ladies and their attendants
to be often called after such offices, generally with the suffix
"No-Kata," indicating the female sex, and somewhat corresponding to
the word "madam