Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/567

‘There were several more rolls to be exhibited, and the rival protestations on both sides became very warm, so that one roll occasioned considerable discussion.

‘While this was going on, Genji arrived on the scene. He suggested to them that if there was any competition at all it should be decided on a specially appointed day, in a more solemn manner, in the presence of the Emperor. This suggestion having been adopted, the discussion came to an end.

‘The day for this purpose was fixed. The ex-Emperor, who had been informed of this, presented several pictures to the lady of the Plum chamber. They were mostly illustrations of Court festivals, on which there were explanatory remarks written by the Emperor Yengi. Besides these, there was one which had been expressly executed at his own order by Kimmochi. This was an illustration of the ceremony which took place at his palace on the departure of the lady for Ishé some time back, when she had gone there as the Saigu. It was also probable that some of his pictures came into the possession of her rival, the Lady Kokiden, through his mother (as the mother of the former was a sister of the latter).

‘When the day arrived every arrangement was made in the large saloon at the rear of the Palace, where the Imperial seat was placed at the top. The Court ladies of both parties—those of the lady of the Plum chamber and those of the Lady of Kokiden—were ranged respectively left and right: the left, or those of the lady of the Plum chamber, facing southwards, and those of the right northwards. All the courtiers also took the places allotted to them. Here the pictures were brought. The box containing those of the left was of purple sandalwood. The stand on which the box was placed was of saffron, and over this was thrown a cover of Chinese brocade, with a mauve ground. The seat underneath was of Chinese coloured silk. Six young girls brought all this in, and arranged it all in order. Their kazami (outer dress) was of red and cherry colour, with tunics of wistaria lining (light purple outside and light green within).

‘The box which contained the pictures of the right was of “Jin” wood, the stand of light-coloured “Jin,” the cover of Corean silk, with a green ground. The legs of the stand, which were trellised round with a silken cord, showed modern and artistic taste. The kazami of the young girls was of willow lining (white outside and green within), and their tunics were of Kerria japonica lining (or yellow outside and light red within). Both Genji and Gon-Chiunagon were present, by the Emperor’s special invitation, as also the Prince, Lord-Lieutenant of Chikushi, who loved pictures above all things, and he was, consequently, chosen umpire for this day’s