The Tale Of Genji

The title of Chapter 4 is taken from the name of a flowering vine, yugao (“evening face”). These flowers are mentioned in a series of messages exchanged between Genji and a young woman who lives near his former nurse. As with several female characters, the young woman is then referred to by the distinguishing feature of her plot line: in this case, this particular young woman is called “Yugao” because of the subject of her letters with Genji.

Chapter 4 opens as Genji is still 17 and visiting his former nurse, who has become a nun. In the same area he is also secretly courting a woman called the Rokujo Haven (named after the Rokujo, “Sixth Avenue,” where she lives). Genji tells his former nurse how much he appreciates her care for him after his mother died. He thenasks after the young woman who lives in a house near the nunnery, and who is later called Yugao.

The nurse’s son, Koremitsu, who is also Genji’s foster brother, is with him during his visit. As they are preparing to leave, Genji notices a fan he has been sent is also inscribed with a poem from whomever lives in the house to the west of the nunnery.