190 An excerpt from Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji), chapter 1 “Kiritsubo" (The Paulownia Pavilion); opening word, "...achieve the Sovereign's supreme eminence" (Teiō no ue naki; 帝王の上なき)
Item
Title
190 An excerpt from Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji), chapter 1 “Kiritsubo" (The Paulownia Pavilion); opening word, "...achieve the Sovereign's supreme eminence" (Teiō no ue naki; 帝王の上なき)
Calligrapher
Attributed to Karasumaru Mitsuhiro (1579-1638)
Style/period
Edo (1615–1868)
Date
Beginning of Edo
Material
Shikishi (poem card); ink on green paper with underdrawing in ink and gold
Measurements
35.7 x 5.5 cm
Identifier
Z42_4j3_082b_190
Item Locator
Z42.4 J3
Transcription
[御後見だちて仕うまつる右大弁の子のやうに思はせて率てたてまつるに、相人おどろきて、あまたたび傾きあやしぶ。「国の親となりて、]帝王の上なき位にほる／へき相おはします人のそなた／にて見れはみたれうれふる／ことやあらむおほやけのかためと／成りて天下たすくへきかた／にてみれは又そのさふた／かふへし
Transliteration
Genji Monogatari I
[onushiro midachite tsukau matsuru udaiben no ko no yō ni, sōnin odorokite, amata tabi katabuki ayashibu. 「kuni no oya ni narite,]
teiō no kami naki kurai ni noboru beki so owashimasu hito no sonata nite mireba midare ureuru koto yame aramu ōyake no katame tonarite ame no shita wo tasukuru kata nite mireba mata sono sōchigau beshi」
[to iu.]
[onushiro midachite tsukau matsuru udaiben no ko no yō ni, sōnin odorokite, amata tabi katabuki ayashibu. 「kuni no oya ni narite,]
teiō no kami naki kurai ni noboru beki so owashimasu hito no sonata nite mireba midare ureuru koto yame aramu ōyake no katame tonarite ame no shita wo tasukuru kata nite mireba mata sono sōchigau beshi」
[to iu.]
Translation
Genji Monogatari I Kiritsubo: The Lady of the Paulownia-Courtyard Chambers.
The Emperor secretly sends young Genji to see a diviner visiting from Koryō: [The Major Controller of the Right assumed the role of guardian and accompanied the boy to the mission under the pretense that he was the father of the child. The diviner was both puzzled and astounded. He tilted his head back and forth, unable to believe that this child could really be the Major Controller’s son. “The young man’s features tell me he is destined to be ruler of this country,” the diviner declared,] “and will perhaps even attain the supreme position of Emperor. Yet if that is what fate has in store for him, I foresee chaos and great sorrow for the court. On the other hand, if his destiny is to ascend to a position such as Chancellor and act as a guardian of imperial rule, then it appears he will be a great benefactor to the state. Still, I must say that judging by his features alone, the path leading to the Chancellorship seems less likely.” (Washburn 2011, p. 15)
Genji, Chapter 1 “Kiritsubo: The Paulownia Pavilion” [The Right Grand Controller, charged with taking him [Genji] there, presented him as his own. The astonished physiognomist nodded his head again and again in perplexity. “He has the signs of one destined to become the father of his people and to achieve the Sovereign's supreme eminence,” he said,] “and yet when I see him so, I fear disorder and suffering. But when I see him as the future pillar of the court and the support of all the realm, there again appears to be a mismatch.” (Tyler 2001, p. 13)
The Emperor secretly sends young Genji to see a diviner visiting from Koryō: [The Major Controller of the Right assumed the role of guardian and accompanied the boy to the mission under the pretense that he was the father of the child. The diviner was both puzzled and astounded. He tilted his head back and forth, unable to believe that this child could really be the Major Controller’s son. “The young man’s features tell me he is destined to be ruler of this country,” the diviner declared,] “and will perhaps even attain the supreme position of Emperor. Yet if that is what fate has in store for him, I foresee chaos and great sorrow for the court. On the other hand, if his destiny is to ascend to a position such as Chancellor and act as a guardian of imperial rule, then it appears he will be a great benefactor to the state. Still, I must say that judging by his features alone, the path leading to the Chancellorship seems less likely.” (Washburn 2011, p. 15)
Genji, Chapter 1 “Kiritsubo: The Paulownia Pavilion” [The Right Grand Controller, charged with taking him [Genji] there, presented him as his own. The astonished physiognomist nodded his head again and again in perplexity. “He has the signs of one destined to become the father of his people and to achieve the Sovereign's supreme eminence,” he said,] “and yet when I see him so, I fear disorder and suffering. But when I see him as the future pillar of the court and the support of all the realm, there again appears to be a mismatch.” (Tyler 2001, p. 13)
Description
Information on kiwame fuda (Identification/Authentication slip): 烏丸光廣卿 帝王の上なき
（極印）琴山
（筆跡）古筆了栄（二代）か？
（極印）琴山
（筆跡）古筆了栄（二代）か？
Attributed to Karasumaru Mitsuhiro-kyō; Authentication Seal: Kinzan; Authenticator: Kohitsu Ryōei (Second generation head of the Kohitsu main lineage) (?)
Source
源氏物語（１）桐壺 pp. 39-40御後見だちて仕うまつる右大弁の子のやうに思はせて率てたてまつるに、相人おどろきて、あまたたび傾きあやしぶ。「国の親となりて、帝王の上なき位にのぼるべき相おはします人の、そなたにて見れば、乱れ憂ふることやあらむ。朝廷のかためとなりて、天の下を輔くる方にて見れば、またその相違ふべし」と言ふ。
Gertrude Bass Warner Memorial Library
Repository
University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Institution
University of Oregon
Type
Image
Format
image/jpeg
Rights
No Copyright - United States
Rights Holder
University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives