Chapter VII: Young Love, Old Traditions

Now back to Genji.

On the plane I re-read Chapter One, known as "Kiritsubo." This chapter is one of the longest in the book, and covers more time than any other: Genji's first twelve years. It is called "Kiritsubo" because that refers to the section of the house where Genji's mother lived -- the last room at the far end of the palace.

By age twelve, Genji has already gained the attention of the Heian court, and, against his young wishes, has been married to his first wife, Aoi, which means "blue" in Japanese.

In this chapter, Murasaki Shikibu reamarks on the history of Genji's father, who, like Genji, is in a social situation that expects him to have many wives and concubines. Due to the same social position, however, he is not permitted to be with his true love, Genji's mother, as she comes from a much lower rank in society. (Thus being forced to live at the end of the hall.)

To think that almost 600 years prior to Shakespeare writting "Romeo and Juliet," an author like Shikibu was already trying to expose the pain people experience from not being able to be with the people they love. For me, this is quiet remarkable.

It makes you wonder if things like that still happen today.

YOUR TASK:

1) Regarding marriage, think about the world around you. How is it different from Genji's situation? How is it the same?

2) What do you predict will happen between Genji and his new wife? Do you agree or disagree with arranged marriages? Why do you think in many Asian societies this form of marriage is still practiced today? Why do you think it was considered important for Genji to marry at such a young age?

3) The woman in the image above is Kiritsubo, Genji's mother. Notice how she has her back turned to us. Why do you think the illustrator chose to depict her like this? What feelings could be going through her heart and mind?

Chapter VI: A Journey to Remember

Arms stretched, the plane waits
to carry us above the
hot, gray summer skys
While others stand on hurried
lines, clutching vivid passports

Russell Wasden
In-flight over the Pacific Ocean

So I arrived, and, thinking back to my own beloved NYC, immediately began to marvel at the beauty of Tokyo: clean streets, speedy subways, and of course, some of the kindest, most generous people on earth. For example, getting to Tokyo was easy; I managed to get from my house in Manhattan without incident. However, once here, I was unsure of how to get to my hotel. A patient but determined taxi driver spent 30 minutes with me, dodging hot ramen delivery bikes and speeding down one crooked, neon filled alleyway after the next, until we had found our destination. Once there, he charged me for only one zone -- the same, basically, as travelling down one street block. I argued with him, but he refused to take more, saying he should have known this arguably obscure address from the beginning.

Something tells me that the world would be a better place if more people were like him.

Chapter V: In Exactly Twelve Hours

I'll be on JAL Flight 5, leaving from JFK. With any luck, I'll find comfort, rest and peace on the 14-hour flight.

. . . or at least a good movie!

May those who find themselves in trackless,

fearful wilderness –-

the children, the aged,

the unprotected –-

be guarded by beneficial celestials.

A Buddhist Prayer for Peace

Chapter IV: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Tale of Genji begins with the birth of the main character, Genji. Even at birth, everyone around the child remarked on his beauty. It was not until his seventh birthday that he was finally given a name. (Genji refers to the high post he would eventually hold in the court: prince.) The personal name that was finally bestowed upon him by a visiting Korean diplomat was Hikaru（光る） which means "to shine" or "to glow."

For centuries, this 'shining prince' would define beauty in Japan.

But what is beauty? And is it the same in all places at all times, or do people's perception of beauty differ depending on their setting?

Is beauty gender specific? In other words, is it only possible for a man or a woman to be "beautiful?" If so, why?

YOUR TASK:

1) Look at the images of Hikaru Genji posted above. The first photo is a popular boy-band from the late 90's in Japan, who adopted the name "Hikari Genji" after the main character of the famous novel. The second picture is a doll that was created after the images of Genji found in woodblock prints.

2) What do you find interesting about these pictures?

3) Judging by these images, what do you think defines "beauty/handsomeness" for young men in Japan? Would you say these characteristics the same for young men in your culture?

4) Thinking of both young men and women, what defines beauty in your culture? Why are those characteristics valued over others? Do you agree or disagree with your culture's definition of "beauty"?

5) Using Hikaru Genji as an example, write a short essay in which you interpret the phrase: "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder."

Chapter III: Revisiting Things Past

Returning to a

place twenty years later, I

discovered it marks

history,

not in years but

in millennia

Russell Wasden

New York

To fully understand most Japanese poetry, it is best to have an idea of the context under which the poem was written. The tanka above is similar. Twenty years ago, I went to Japan for the first time. I was still a teenager then, unsure of many things. Japan helped me broaden my perspective of the world.

Twenty years later, this special place continues to help me see things differently, especially when I stop to think that Japan is currently celebrating the one thousandth anniversary of a national treasure. How many countries in the world could do such a thing?

Revisiting the past with a new perspective is very important, something that each of us should do as much as possible. For example, the Japan I experienced twenty years ago will not be the same as Japan I will experience this summer. Moreover, the person I saw in the mirror twenty years ago is not the same person I see in the mirror today.

Time gives us opportunities to learn and grow; therefore, as time passes, we learn more about ourselves and the world. Reflecting on the past is an important way to understand what we have learned over time.

As Japan reflects over the past 1,000 years of Genji, one wonders what is the same about this country, and what is different. Has it changed over time? Maybe I will find small answers to big questions like these on my trip, which officially begins tomorrow!

Your Task:

Pick a time in your life when you "revisited" something from your past. What was the same about it, and what was different? How did those changes make you feel?

OR

Look at the two images from Genji that are posted above. Where do you think they come from? Why would Japan want to immortalize Genji in these ways?

Chapter II: The Purpose of this Blog

One thousand years ago, a young woman of the court composed a narrative about a stunning boy who would grow up to be a great Japanese leader. Along the way, he would encounter dozens of different women, each with her own personality and physical characteristics.

Known as Genji Monogatari, or the Tale of Genji, this literary work is considered by many to be the world's first novel. Even today, many believe it to be one of the finest examples of romantic, introspective literature on earth.

With this blog, you will interact with Genji as I interact with it -- during the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of this beloved treasure in Japan.

As Genji has 54 chapters, so will this blog. With it will be 54 "assignments," similar to the one posted in Entry #1. Some tasks will be longer than others, but each is designed to allow you to push your thinking and lead our discussion over the course of studying this remarkable piece of literature.

I hope you enjoy your journey as much as I hope to enjoy mine!

Your Task:

You quickly identified the poem in Chapter One as a haiku. Funny enough, there aren't any haikus, per se, in Genji. There is, however, another form of Japanese poetry that is used extensively in Genji. This type of poem follows a 5 - 7 - 5 - 7 - 7 pattern.

What is the name of this type of poetry? Can you come up with your own poem following the conventions of this type of poetry?

In the next entry, I'm going to give it a try.

Chapter I: Gearing Up to Leave

Gearing up to leave,

I form a new blog to find

calm amid chaos

Russell Wasden

New York

Do you recognize the style of poetry represented above?

Hint: poetry experts say that in this type of poetry there are three things: season, emotion, and insight.

Your Task:

1) What season (time) can you identify in the poem?

2) What emotions and/or insights might be there?

3) Now look at the picture. This is an image of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari). How might she be feeling as she sits in front of her scroll? What might be her emotions? Have you ever felt similar emotions as you begin to write?