Sexual politics (chapters 1–12)

The tale begins with that original example of unreasoning love that we have already discussed. The Emperor falls for Kiritsubo, and she gives birth to a child who is immediately marked as exceptional in every way. But Kiritsubo is so hounded by the other ladies that she is forced to withdraw from court and dies at home in the humid heat of summer. Of particular prominence among the ladies who have been at her throat is Lady Kokiden, the Emperor's chief wife and a Fujiwara with powerful connections. A Korean soothsayer, who arrives with an embassy and is introduced to the boy, pronounces that, although he has the mark of emperorhood upon him and will rise to high office, he will not become a minister in any ordinary sense of the word. Eventually the Emperor decides that, since the boy has no backing but his own, it will be wiser to give him a surname, Genji, thereby cutting him off from the imperial succession and saving him from the enmity of the Kokiden faction.

The Emperor meanwhile, prostrate with grief at losing his love, is introduced to Fujitsubo, who turns out to be a more than satisfactory substitute. Genji, who misses his mother, now hears that Fujitsubo is almost her double and is irresistibly drawn to her.