The Tale of Genji

by Murasaki Shikibu

favored. On the Left, the scrolls’ rosewood boxes, covered by grape-colored Chinese silk, rested on sappanwood stands placed on purple Chinese brocade. Six page girls wore cherry blossom dress gowns over red, and wisteria layerings over scarlet. 689 They looked marvelous and seemed beautifully trained. The Right’s scrolls, in aloeswood boxes, rested on stands of fragrant wood set out on green Koma brocade; the design of the stands as well as the cords with which the brocade was secured to their legs was wonderfully stylish. The page girls were in dress gowns of willow and of kerria rose over green.690 They all went to place their stands and boxes before His Majesty. His Majesty’s gentlewomen were divided into two sets, front and rear, each dressed accordingly.691

A description of paintings in a contest