4. Yugao / Evening Faces(夕顔)
Passage
“I think I need not ask whose face it is, So bright, this evening face, in the shining dew.”
A poem sent by Yugao to Genji.translated by Seidensticker.
They don't know each other yet because they are sending letters through messengers. However, Yugao has begun to notice him. This poem means "Aren't you a famous "shining" Genji?".Yugao means evening Face. they are curious about each other's face.
Summary
Genji is dating Lady Rokujo. But it isn't going well. because her pride is too big.
When Genji visits his nanny's house, he meets a woman who lives next door (Yugao). He became obsessed with Yugao.
Genji stays at the Abandoned Mansion with Yugao. When he sleeps there, Genji sees a woman (Lady Rokujo?) in a dream. The two wake up in the night.They encountering strange happenings, Yugao loses her life.
Comment
Shining Yugao, approaching shadow…. This is a chapter with strong contrasts.
Were the appearance of the ghost sudden? But if you read carefully, You'll notice Rokujo's shadow all over the chapter. Genji lean towards Yugao from Rokujo. It upsets Rokujo's mental balance, and story's balance, and pushes it toward catastrophe.
