A Tale of False Fortunes Read Online Free Page B
Author: Fumiko Enchi
Lord (Michinaga). Also known as Jòtòmon’in, Shòshi was the mother of Emperors Go-Ichijò and Go-Suzaku.
This account is, of course, not found in A Tale of Flowering Fortunes, a history of the court from early Heian times focus-ing on the Fujiwara family.
I do not recall the extent to which abbreviated text from Flowering Fortunes was used in the succeeding sections, but I am certain that the narrative began from the time when the Higashisanjò chancellor, Kaneie, was still alive and his eldest son, the palace minister Michitaka, had his eldest daughter Teishi installed in court as junior consort to the still-youthful emperor. I, too, shall interpolate descriptions of what I remember from False Fortunes as I give a free rendition of portions of 16 c A Tale of False Fortunes the earlier work. This kind of writing amounts to a sort of cut-and-paste work, rather irritating to one like me who is used to writing fiction, but there is no other way to reconstruct A Tale of False Fortunes in a manner that would be a credit to the story—a story that remains nowhere but in my memory.
On the fifth day of the first month of Shòryaku 1 (990), the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was performed for the emperor (Ichijò). He was still a youth of eleven years, and there were those who lamented, remarking that his childhood and the charm of his boyish attire were now things of the past. Even with his hair bound up and a man’s cap set on his head, however, he looked very trim and splendid in spite of his small stature.
In the second month, the palace minister Michitaka presented his eldest daughter in court, and both the palace and the minister’s own household were bustling with preparations for the ceremonies. Michitaka’s wife, Kishi, was well versed in the ways of the court, having served there under the name Kò no Naishi. She much preferred a modish and resplendent style over solemn, esoteric matters, and her tastes were reflected in her arrange-ments for her daughter’s presentation at court. The young woman had just turned sixteen, five years older than the emperor. That same evening after the ceremonies, she assumed the position of junior consort.
Shortly thereafter, Kaneie fell ill. Michitaka, the emperor’s mother (Kaneie’s daughter Senshi), and others among the nobles were distraught with worry. Incantations and prayers on behalf of the chancellor were performed everywhere throughout the land, but he showed no sign of recovery. His residence, Nijòin, was infested with the evil spirits that had always haunted the family of Lord Kujò (Morosuke). To these were added the vengeful spirits of both the living and the dead who bore resentment toward Kaneie. Taking advantage of his weakened state, these malevolent spirits contrived to obstruct prayers offered on his behalf. Even the spiritual powers of famous priests like the chief abbot of Hieizan availed nothing against the evil spirits. The women called in as mediums looked like Chapter One c 17
specters themselves, their faces ghastly pallid, their eyes twitching, and their hair disheveled. The priests performing the exorcisms whipped the women with rosaries, attempting to prostrate them, but they rolled about and jumped up in defiance. The mediums were both laughing and weeping, and the resulting confusion was like a scene from hell itself. An especially dreadful one among them was possessed by the vengeful ghost of Emperor Murakami’s daughter, the third princess, of whom Kaneie had been enamored in his youth. He had soon tired of her and left her, for which cause she was made the object of much gossip and was despised at court. She became despondent and grieved herself to death.
The medium, known as Ayame of Miwa, was the daughter of the priestess of Miwa. Although ordinarily a timid, inarticulate young woman, while possessed she assumed the lofty mien of the princess herself and denounced Kaneie’s coldness and cru-elty. The intrepid Kaneie, who appeared not to have
This account is, of course, not found in A Tale of Flowering Fortunes, a history of the court from early Heian times focus-ing on the Fujiwara family.
I do not recall the extent to which abbreviated text from Flowering Fortunes was used in the succeeding sections, but I am certain that the narrative began from the time when the Higashisanjò chancellor, Kaneie, was still alive and his eldest son, the palace minister Michitaka, had his eldest daughter Teishi installed in court as junior consort to the still-youthful emperor. I, too, shall interpolate descriptions of what I remember from False Fortunes as I give a free rendition of portions of 16 c A Tale of False Fortunes the earlier work. This kind of writing amounts to a sort of cut-and-paste work, rather irritating to one like me who is used to writing fiction, but there is no other way to reconstruct A Tale of False Fortunes in a manner that would be a credit to the story—a story that remains nowhere but in my memory.
On the fifth day of the first month of Shòryaku 1 (990), the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was performed for the emperor (Ichijò). He was still a youth of eleven years, and there were those who lamented, remarking that his childhood and the charm of his boyish attire were now things of the past. Even with his hair bound up and a man’s cap set on his head, however, he looked very trim and splendid in spite of his small stature.
In the second month, the palace minister Michitaka presented his eldest daughter in court, and both the palace and the minister’s own household were bustling with preparations for the ceremonies. Michitaka’s wife, Kishi, was well versed in the ways of the court, having served there under the name Kò no Naishi. She much preferred a modish and resplendent style over solemn, esoteric matters, and her tastes were reflected in her arrange-ments for her daughter’s presentation at court. The young woman had just turned sixteen, five years older than the emperor. That same evening after the ceremonies, she assumed the position of junior consort.
Shortly thereafter, Kaneie fell ill. Michitaka, the emperor’s mother (Kaneie’s daughter Senshi), and others among the nobles were distraught with worry. Incantations and prayers on behalf of the chancellor were performed everywhere throughout the land, but he showed no sign of recovery. His residence, Nijòin, was infested with the evil spirits that had always haunted the family of Lord Kujò (Morosuke). To these were added the vengeful spirits of both the living and the dead who bore resentment toward Kaneie. Taking advantage of his weakened state, these malevolent spirits contrived to obstruct prayers offered on his behalf. Even the spiritual powers of famous priests like the chief abbot of Hieizan availed nothing against the evil spirits. The women called in as mediums looked like Chapter One c 17
specters themselves, their faces ghastly pallid, their eyes twitching, and their hair disheveled. The priests performing the exorcisms whipped the women with rosaries, attempting to prostrate them, but they rolled about and jumped up in defiance. The mediums were both laughing and weeping, and the resulting confusion was like a scene from hell itself. An especially dreadful one among them was possessed by the vengeful ghost of Emperor Murakami’s daughter, the third princess, of whom Kaneie had been enamored in his youth. He had soon tired of her and left her, for which cause she was made the object of much gossip and was despised at court. She became despondent and grieved herself to death.
The medium, known as Ayame of Miwa, was the daughter of the priestess of Miwa. Although ordinarily a timid, inarticulate young woman, while possessed she assumed the lofty mien of the princess herself and denounced Kaneie’s coldness and cru-elty. The intrepid Kaneie, who appeared not to have
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