University of Virginia Library

Genji Monogatari (Romance of Genji), chap. iii., Hakubunkwan Edition, p. 87.

only seventeen have been translated] By Baron Suyematsu in 1881.

witch of Teruhi] A miko or witch called Teruhi is the subject of the play Sanka Takusen.

I drove out of the Burning House. . .] Rokujō has left the "Burning House," i. e. her material body. The "Three Coaches" are those of the famous "Burning House" parable in the Hokkekyō. Some children were in a burning house. Intent on their play, they could not be induced to leave the building; till their father lured them out by the promise that they would find those little toy coaches awaiting them. So Buddha, by partial truth, lures men from the "burning house" of their material lives. Owing to the episode at the Kamo Festival, Rokujō is obsessed by the idea of "carriages," "wheels" and the like.

the broken coach / That stands at Yūgao's door] One day Rokujō saw a coach from which all badges and distinctive decorations had been purposely stripped (hence, in a sense, a "broken coach") standing before Yūgao's door. She found out that it was Genji's. For Yūgao, see p. 142.

I have come secretly] Rokujō went secretly to the Kamo Festival in a closed carriage.

Though she should stand. . .] Words from an old dance-song or "saibara."

that am not in the flesh] "That am a ghost," but also "that have lost my beauty."

one who seems to be a new wife] Alluding to Aoi's pregnancy.

Sahā World] A Sanskrit name for the "world of appearances."

at flower-feasts among the clouds] I. e. at the Palace.

lay wait and strike as peasant women do] It was the custom for wives who had been put away to ambush the new wife and strike her "to clear their hate."

"The flame of anger consumes itself only] From the Sutrālankära Shāstra (Cat. No. 1182).

Her] Rokujō's.

Our lady] Aoi.

live in the world again] I. e. recover.

Little Saint of Yokawa] The hero of the "Finding of Ukifune," a later episode in the Genji Monogatari.

En no Gyōja] Founder of the sect of the ascetics called Yamabushi Mountaineers.

the Peak of the Two Spheres] Mount ōmine, near Yoshino, ritual ascents of which were made by Yamabushi.

Namaku Samanda Basarada] Known as the Lesser Spell of Fudō. The longer one which follows is the Middle Spell. They consist of corrupt Sanskrit mixed with meaningless magic syllables.

"They that hear. . . shall attain to Buddhahood] From the Buddhist Sūtra known in Japan as the Hannya Kyō. It was supposed to have a particular influence over female demons, who are also called "Hannyas."