Reading Old Books in a Modern World

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A man sees women, all manner of them, who seem beyond reproach, said the guards officer, but when it comes to picking the wife who must be everything, matters are not simple. The emperor has trouble, after all, finding the minister who has all the qualifications. A man may be very wise, but no man can govern by himself. Superior is helped by subordinate, subordinate defers to superior, and so affairs proceed by agreement and concession. But when it comes to choosing the woman who is to be in charge of your house, the qualifications are altogether too many. A merit is balanced by a defect, there is this good point and that bad point, and even women who though not perfect can be made to do are not easy to find. I would not like to have you think me a profligate who has to try them all. But it is a question of the woman who must be everything, and it seems best, other things being equal, to find someone who does not require shaping and training, someone who has most of the qualifications from the start. The man who begins his search with all this in mind must be reconciled to searching for a very long time. (The Broom Tree, Page 36)

This passage, which is spoken by a guards officer, reveals something about the way women and marriage were seen in the Japanese society of this period. Finding a suitable wife is compared to finding the right person to fill a political office. “The emperor has trouble, after all, finding the minister who has all the qualifications.” According to the speaker, finding the right woman is even more difficult because “the qualifications are altogether too many.” He also says that it’s better to find a woman who has the right qualifications from the start and “does not require shaping and training.” This reveals the practical view of marriage that was popular in this time and place. The main role of the woman was to “be in charge of your house,” so she was to be chosen in a way similar to an employee.

What are the main “qualifications” that a woman should have according to the guards officer and others who share his opinion?

The shining Genji: it was almost too grand a name. Yet he did not escape criticism for numerous little adventures. It seemed indeed that his indiscretions might give him a name for frivolity, and he did what he could to hide them. But his most secret affairs (such is the malicious work of the gossips) became common talk. If, on the other hand, he were to go through life concerned only for his name and avoid all these interesting and amusing little affairs, then he would be laughed to shame by the likes of the lieutenant of Katano. The Broom Tree: Page 34)

This passage explains something essential about The Tale of Genji and how people respond to the protagonist and the kind of reputation he is trying to uphold. The name Genji is known by, Hikaru, which means “shining,” is indicative of his unusual qualities. Because of his handsome appearance and uncommon charisma, people are naturally drawn to him and women are strongly attracted to him. His name, while fitting, also causes certain difficulties. “…it was almost too grand a name” suggests someone destined for great things. This puts a certain pressure on Genji to live up to his name. It also leaves him open to criticism when he engages in “numerous little adventures,” referring to his affairs with various women.

This passage also reveals that Genji’s many affairs were common knowledge. Even affairs he wants to keep secret are exposed because of “the malicious work of the gossips.” This phrase seems intent on making the reader sympathetic go Genji, as it doesn’t criticize him for his actions but the people who gossip about him. There is also the fact that Genji actually wants to maintain his reputation as a lover in certain circles. He clearly does not want to be seen as a cautious individual “concerned only for his name.” This is made obvious by the quote that if he were to “avoid all these interesting and amusing little affairs, then he would be laughed to shame by the likes of the lieutenant of Katano.”

Genji is a complicated character who is trying to accomplish at least two different things, which are in some ways contradictory. On the one hand, he tries to be discrete about some of his affairs as “his indiscretions might give him a name for frivolity, and he did what he could to hide them.” Yet, since he also wants to be respected by reckless men such as the lieutenant of Katano. So, while Genji wants to   have the public image of someone who is noble and “shining,” he also likes to be considered a kind of rogue in certain circles. How he wants to be perceived depends on the company he is keeping at the moment.

Since Genji has ambitions to improve his station in life, he wants to be taken seriously. At the same time, he enjoys having fun and pursuing women, and he doesn’t want to ignore this side of his nature. This passage reflects his attempts to find a balance between these two sides of his personality.

“As long as a girl has looks and youth enough, she avoids anything that might soil her name.  Even when composing a letter, she takes her time to choose her words and writes in ink faint enough to leave you bemused and longing for something clear;then, when at last you get near enough to catch her faint voice, she speaks under her breath, says next to nothing, and proves to be an expert at keeping herself hidden away.  Take this for sweetly feminine wiles, and passion will lure you into playing up to her, at which point she turns coy.  This, I think, is the worst flaw a girl can have.” – Chief Equerry, p 24

This quote is taken from a dialogue between Genji, the Chief, and To no Chujo.  The conversation is basically the other two parading Genji with stories and personal ideas of how women should be.  The excerpt is an objectification of women in which the Chief is saying the best kind of woman is young, pretty, and soft spoken.  When he says “[she] proves to be an expert at keeping herself hidden away”, he literally means for the woman to be hidden away, as if to keep herself away in shame.  In his last line, he says women’s worst flaw is to seduce men into doing what they want by pretending to be shy.

How would someone of the modern century react to such an individual’s ideas and beliefs?