M

DECEMBER, 1920

The Imperial Palace was a marvel of refined beauty. The rooms were like jewels, decorated according to the perfect taste of China, then all-powerful in Japan. The screens that closed one august apartment from the other were each a gateway into the land of romance, painted by artists whose re- ligion as well as joy it was to beautify the dwelling of the Son of Heaven. In the palace everything was sym- bolic; for art was a symbol to which the educated held the key. The great pines of longevity stretched snow- laden arms across the slid- ing walls and spoke of cour- age and honored old age. The very gardens were Chinese poems that the initiated could read, with strange perspective of rock and tree and slender, high- arched bridges above the pools where the six-tailed goldfish crowded for the crumbs that the little hands of the ladies let fall.

Here is a picture of it all from the hand of Sei Sho- nagon. I give it in Mr. As- ton’s beautiful translation.

“On the northern side of the Emperor’s pavilion, where he is wont to take his exercise, the sliding doors have fearful pictures paint- ed on them. These hideous monsters, all arms and legs, may be seen from the upper windows of the ladies’ quar- ters when the pavilion doors are open. It chanced one day that, while sitting on the veranda and talking of these dreadful creatures, the Dainagon, the brother of the Empress, came to- wards our room. He had on a cherry-colored outer gar- ment, just old enough to have lost its stiffness and fit him easily. Loose trou- sers of thickest purple silk and white silk undercloth- ing showing at the neck completed his att re. As the Empress was engaged with

the Emperor at the time, he sat himself on the narrow Veranda outside their door, and talked with the Emperor. We saw them plainly through the half-transparent cur-

“B51/Korm m .. Hara iolleictionfl LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE LADY MURASAKI RETIRED FROM THE

COURT TO DEVOTE HER LIFE TO LITERATURE AND RELIGION IN THE TEMPLE OF‘ ISHIYAMA

1042

tains which were hung 2.1‘. round the room. What pretty picture it was, and how lively! The gay dress- es of the waiting-worn- en adorned with wistaria. the yellow kerria ar_i flowers of other kinds; the sound of the attendaris bringing the Emperor‘s midday meal and the of- cials calling to them i: make less noise, and, last ”:’ all, the Chamberlain hint- self coming to announce dinner served and then re- tiring to his own apex- ments. The Dainagon LC’ companied the Empe*:: to his dining-room 2:: then, returning to our quat- ters, stood beneath a h‘ blue porcelain vase in vvlc were placed some branc‘ of the wild cherry, full feet long and loaded viii: blossom. The Empress seeing him, emerged fro: behind the curtain, 2:; gave him greeting, to whi 1' he courteously replied Ti: descanting on the beau‘; of the palace, the finer. of the day and the good tie- portment of the servarxs alluding in conclusio: ' the verse which says:

‘The days and months ro7' : But the Mount of .112//.~." remains eternal.’

;(.

The whole scene impress me deeply and I wish»:-i might continue forever.

It seems, indeed, tic:-. may be immortal, s'r.~:e has already lived for ‘”f-'~ ly a thousand years 1:: it - minds of men!

The Lady Sei remes. — "' little but grace and j=: "‘ the exquisite kindlizz manners that still st... . in the Land of the I“ ‘ fly. One gains the it sion of soft laughter delicate humor ‘ ' record, rather than deep feeling or thougi‘

Here (translated '::j’ Sansom) is an a:' _ with the Empress ladies. Poetry was A

ionable amusement; every educated person VVE: less of a poet—or pretended to be (which did nct ;. . answer the purpose so well).

And this traditi: "