The Diary of
Murasaki Shikibu
[Murasaki Shikibu Nikki]
The diary of Murasaki Shikibu (978?-1015?) is the chief source of information we have about the author of “The Tale of Genji.” However, it is not merely for its autobiographical data that the work is prized; it is a vivid and delightful portrayal of life at the court when Heian culture was at its height. If this life falls far short of that described by Murasaki in “The Tale of Genji,” it is nevertheless one of great charm, and it is fortunate that Murasaki recorded it in her inimitable style.
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Tenth day of the long-moon month:
When day began to dawn the decorations[1] of the Queen’s chamber were changed and she removed to a white bed. The Prime Minister, his sons, and other noblemen made haste to change the curtains of the screens, the bedcover, and other things. All day long she lay ill at ease. Men cried at the top of their voices to scare away evil spirits. There assembled not only the priests who had been summoned here for these months, but also itinerant monks who were brought from every mountain and temple. Their prayers would reach to the Buddhas of the Three Worlds. All the soothsayers in the world were summoned. Eight million gods seemed to be listening with ears erect for their Shinto prayers. Messengers ran off to order Sutra-reciting at various temples; thus the night was passed. On the east side of the screen [placed around the Queen’s bed] there assembled the ladies of the court. On the west side there were lying the Queen’s substitutes possessed with [or who were enticing] the evil spirits.<ref>Which would otherwise have attacked the Queen. Some of the ladies-in-waiting undertook this duty. Each was ly-
- ↑ Hangings, screens, and clothes of attendants were all white at the time of a birth.
