The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

At an indeterminate time in Japan's history, an unnamed emperor is in love with a lady of lesser rank much to the chagrin of the grand ladies at court. Although this unnamed lady is very beautiful and is a member of the upper classes, she is not fully highborn and is something of a dirty little secret for the emperor. However, the secret is not well-kept, and everyone at court knows that this lady is the emperor's favorite. This frustrates the other royal wives, who are of higher social station, so they routinely speak against this upstart woman who holds the emperor's affections.

As time goes on and the lady frequently spends her evenings with the emperor, she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son she names Genji. Just like the mother, Genji becomes the emperor's favorite, more favored than the crown prince. Of course, this creates even more jealousy in the court, especially in the mother of the crown prince, and causes the other ladies to speak against the new favorite even more.

Eventually Genji's mother grows weary of the constant rumors and stress that come with her position as the emperor's beloved, and she falls ill and dies. The emperor, badly shaken by this, gives her a lavish funeral and posthumously promotes her to a higher rank. Unfortunately, none of these actions relieve the emperor's deep longing for his lost beloved and he continues to mourn for her. Longing for a piece of this lady, he brings the boy, Genji, into his home so that he can be raised well.

The years pass and Genji grows into a boy of remarkable beauty. In fact, he is so impressive and attractive that even the women who speak against him are awed at his beauty. Furthermore, a Korean physiognomist examines him and says that he should be put into the highest station possible. The emperor wishes to name Genji as the crown prince, but knows this is probably a bad idea. After all, Genji does not have any influential relatives and naming him the heir to the throne may only cause Genji trouble that he does not need. The emperor decides to keep his eldest son as the heir and, to protect his favorite son, he gives Genji the status of a commoner.

The years pass and the emperor still cannot forget Genji's mother, leaving him in a state of eternal mourning for his lost love. Though the emperor tries to sate himself with other women, none of them match up to Genji's mother until he meets Fujitsubo, a woman who closely resembles Genji's mother. Seeing this beautiful, graceful woman before him, the emperor is immediately pleased. However, Genji is also taken by this new woman who so resembles his mother and he is constantly trying to catch glimpses of her. Though he cannot remember his mother's face, he hears about the resemblance from others and, as a result, he is constantly trying to stay by her side.

Though Genji is quite in love with this new woman at the court, the Minister of the Left has other plans. He wishes to marry his only daughter Aoi to Genji, though neither Genji nor Aoi have any particular desire to marry the other. However, the marriage is arranged and, upon Genji's coming of age, they are wed. Unfortuntely, the marriage does not change Genji's longing for Fujitsubo, who ends up marrying the emperor, and he continually thinks about this woman whom he cannot have.