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Chapter 10 (part 7) - He sent his lady a branch of mountain maple leaves with a small note concealed in amongst its leaves. She replied stiffly to let him know that she felt it inappropriate and that she was not interested. Genji and his lady exchanged letters on the anniversary of the retired Emperor’s death.

Chapter 10 (part 6) - Genji goes into the country to visit his uncle who is a master priest. He spends his time reading the sutras. Genji feels a twinge of envy for the priests. Genji studied the 60 scared scrolls that were the basis of the scriptures. He decides that he must depart. He makes a donation to the temple and then leaves. The peasants watch him leave and think his beauty unrivaled in the world.

Chapter 10 (part 5) - Genji decides to leave and no longer write to her. He thinks that perhaps he has been too long in the world and considers taking religious vows. He remembers his young new wife and realizing that she would be lost without him, he changes his mind. She tells him she has decided to cut her hair and become a nun. She longs to see what he might have looked like if he had been a girl.

Chapter 10 (part 4) - She had prayers given to make Genji lose interest in her. She did everything she could avoid him. He somehow found a way to see her. Genji was no longer in control of himself. Her ladies in waiting forced him into a closet to hide him. Genji sneaks out of the closet and watches her secretly. She skillfully put him off, parrying his advances until dawn.

Chapter 10 (part 3) - The retired Emperor dies unexpectedly. The court is unsettled since the former Emperor had been the power behind the throne since his retirement. Genji wept into his damp sleeves and composes a poem to express his feelings. Genji locks himself away despite the fact that it is New Year’s.

Chapter 10 (part 2) - Genji wants to go to the palace to witness the ceremony of departing, but decides against it since he would look pathetic looking after a woman who had rejected him. She was now 30 and Genji found it intriguing that he would find a woman of her age alluring. He writes a poem asking if her sleeves are drenched with tears. She replies but does not reveal the state of her sleeves.

Chapter 10 (part 1) - A sprig of sacred evergreen. Genji’s lover moves away to a location he can’t easily visit. He travels to the location with his 10 guards who disguise their identity. Genji makes no effort to hide his identity. Genji speaks to his lady. Genji presents her with a branch of the scared evergreen. Her resolve to make a clean break with him wavers. Genji departs. His sleeves wet with tears.

Chapter 9 (part 7) - Genji finally takes his young ward (the granddaughter of his old nurse) as his wife. The ladies of the court are upset that they were not informed in advance. They only learn that they have slept together when they discover that Genji has followed the proper protocol and had the third day dishes delivered to their room on sliver platters, in silver bowls and with silver chopsticks.

Chapter 9 (part 6) - A cold rain started as if the sky understood Genji’s feelings. 47 days of morning wasn’t enough. His tears gave off an aura of beautiful elegance. Nothing had changed at his house and yet it felt as empty as a molted cicadas shell. The minister, Genji’s father-in-law, wonders how he will be able to go on without Genji’s radiance.

Genji thinks that women who are difficult or cold to him are especially elegant.

Genji’s brother-in-law thinks, “If I were a woman who died and left such a man behind, my spirit would surely choose to stay with him rather than moving on to the next world.”

Genji thinks of his son as a memento of his deceased wife.

“To part the dew drenched path to her quarters.”

Chapter 9 (part 5) - Funeral for Genji’s wife. His father-in-law is distraught over the loss of his daughter. Genji dons his light gray morning robes. Funeral services are held every 7 days for the 49 days after the death. Genji experiences melancholy and is only able to send letters to his other lovers.

Chapter 9 (part 4) - Genji’s wife is sick. Genji and her parents are worried for her. Genji’s wife went into labor. A malignant spirit speaks to the priests through Genji’s wife. She appears near death. Genji looks in on his wife. He is deeply touched by her tears. He reminds her that husbands and wives are destined to meet in the next world. She gives birth to a boy. Genji’s wife stops breathing and dies.

Chapter 9 (part 3) - Genji summons a scholars from the school of divination to learn if it was an auspicious day for cutting his lovers hair. He is told it was and he offers to cut it for her himself. He cuts her hair and comments on how lustrous it is.

Chapter 9 (part 2) - In a rare move, Genji’s wife leaves their home to view the procession for the purification ritual with her household people. Genji’s wife parks her carriage in front of Genji’s lover’s carriage and blocks her view as he passes in the procession. All the women, old, young, married or nun, viewing the procession are taken by Genji’s beauty as he passes.

Chapter 9 (part 1) - Leaves of Wild Ginger. The Emperor has stepped down and the Crown Prince, Genji’s half brother, has become the new Emperor. The retired Emperor asked Genji to watch over his youngest son. This request was awkward for Genji since the boy was actually his own son.

Genji’s “Superpowers”

1 - He is very beautiful to look upon.
2 - He is a master of the 13-string Koto.
3 - He dances extremely well.
4 - He is able to compose exceptional poems.
5 - He plays the flute very well.
6 - He is irresistible to all women.

Chapter 8 - A Banquet Celebrating Cherry Blossoms. Genji draws the Chinese character for spring. Genji uses the selected Chinese character in a poem. The poem is read aloud to the audience. Even the scholars were impressed by his poem. Genji plays the 13-string koto for his father, the Emperor. While he plays, Genji has his spy’s keep an eye open for the woman he slept with the night before.