The Illustrated World of Hikaru Genji’s Many Love Affairs
ROYAL GALLERY
“Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls”
A pair of six-panel folding screens, “Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls” consists of, from the top right, “Kiritsubo,” “Kocho,” “Sakaki,” “Yadorigi,” “Wakamurasaki,” “Aoi,” “Hatsune,” “Utsusemi,” “Hanachirusato,” “Momijinoga,” “Miotsukushi,” and “Eawase,” with each scene unfolding a vibrant tale of Hikaru Genji.
The main lounge of the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka is adorned with myriad traditional Japanese beauty, including The Shiun Chandelier, The Gold Maki-e Pillars, and The Water Corridor inspired by Kyokusui-no-en. Another beauty that embellishes the elegant and splendid space is the “Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls.”
“Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls” refers to scrolls that were created based on “The Tale of Genji,” a classic novel written by Murasaki Shikibu, by renowned painters and calligraphers following the publication of the novel. This pair of six-panel folding screens displayed in the hotel’s main lounge was crafted by a Tosa School artist from the mid-Edo period and depicts 12 of the 54 chapters of The Tale of Genji in vibrant colors on a gold background.
One of its remarkable features, “Hikime Kagibana,” an illustration style distinguished by thinly drawn, single-line eyes and a hooked nose, is believed to pique the viewer’s imagination by omitting the individuality of the faces. Furthermore, the technique known as “Fukinuki Yatai” depicts rooms from a diagonally upward viewpoint with just pillars, beams, and sliding doors, creating a striking emphasis on the figures within the scene. Other notable highlights of the work include the graceful patterns and colors of the twelve-layered kimono, as well as the exquisite depiction of the furnishings and bamboo blinds.
Let us explore some famous scenes from “The Tale of Genji” as illustrated on the scrolls.
“Wakamurasaki”
A fateful encounter with Murasaki no Ue
In this scene, Hikaru Genji is tormented by his yearning for Lady Fujitsubo, a concubine of his father, Emperor Kiritsubo, who bears a striking resemblance to his late mother, Kiritsubo-no-Koi. One day, Genji visits a temple in Kitayama to pray after falling ill. There, he sees a lovely princess reprimanding a maid’s child for letting her favorite bird fly away. The resemblance between this princess and his beloved Lady Fujitsubo immediately captivates Genji. From this moment on, the destinies of Genji and the young princess are elegantly intertwined. The serene Kitayama landscape and the fateful encounter between Genji and the young Murasaki no Ue, who would later become his wife, are beautifully illustrated.
“Utsusemi”
A woman who vanished, leaving behind a thin robe
Genji, in this scene, finds himself enamored with a lady named Utsusemi and seeks the assistance of her younger brother, Kogimi, to lead him to her room. Having just concluded a delightful game of Go, Utsusemi and her stepdaughter Nokiba no Ogi were suddenly stirred by an unexpected sound when they were resting in the bedroom. Being afraid, Utsusemi hides, leaving behind her thin robe and Nokiba no Ogi. Genji, thinking it was Utsusemi, spends the night with Nokiba no Ogi. The next morning, Genji takes with him the robe Utsusemi had left behind. The screen showcases the two women playing Go, Genji peeking in on them, and Kogimi leading Genji to their room.
“Momijinoga”
Entrusting his mad love for Fujitsubo to the dance
For the 50th birthday celebration of Emperor Kiritsubo, held at Suzaku-in around the time of the autumn leaves in October, Genji and his rival from his youth, To-no-Chujo, perform a gagaku dance called Seigaiha. The audience was deeply moved by Genji’s noble demeanor and breathtakingly stunning dance; however, Genji’s mind was occupied with the presence of Lady Fujitsubo behind the bamboo blinds, who was pregnant through their secret affair. The dilemma of the passionate and unforgivable love between Genji and Lady Fujitsubo makes this scene sorrowful yet splendid.
“Miotsukushi”
Akashi no Kimi. a woman with whom Genji shares a profound history
On an autumn day, Genji, who had returned to Kyoto after his exile to Suma, was appointed to the position of palace minister and set out on a pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi, accompanied by a magnificent procession. By chance, a boat carrying Akashi no Kimi and her company, who had traveled from Suma to Kyoto, passed by. However, Akashi no Kimi, who had a daughter with Genji, found herself taken aback by his splendid presence and quietly departed without saying a word. The scroll depicts Genji’s party, Akashi no Kimi’s boat on the sea, and the Torii Gate and Taiko Bridge of Sumiyoshi nestled among the green pine trees.
To find out more about each chapter of “The Tale of Genji” shown in the “Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls,” please visit the “Tale of Genji Museum, Uji,” where the story is brought to life through various exhibitions and videos. (“Tale of Genji Museum, Uji,” is introduced in “Visit Uji, Kyoto, the place associated with “The Tale of Genji” in “TRAVEL”.)
Text by Kori Mae
RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka
Phone: +81 (0) 6-6441-0956 (direct)
5-3-68 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Main Lounge
