Keywords
Art History
Painting
A pictorial subject taken from "The Broom Tree," Hahakigi, Chapter 2 of Genji Monogatari 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji). While on night-duty one rainy night in the fifth month, Genji and his friend, Tō no Chūjō 頭中将, and others have a discussion about women, using anecdotes to illuminate their points. The following day Genji stays at the mansion of the Governor of Kii, Kii no Kami 紀伊守, where he becomes involved with his host's young step-mother *Utsusemi, 空蝉, the Lady of the Locust Shell. "The rainy night discussion," Amayo no shinasadame 雨夜の品定め, is the most frequently illustrated episode, but anecdotes from the discussion and Genji's parting from Utsusemi at dawn are also depicted.
