Chapter 7: Momiji no Ga

Chapter 7: Momiji no Ga
Beneath the Autumn Leaves

Facts:

• The word “momiji” is believed to be from “momizu”, which means in old Japanese, to change colour. It turns red or yellow. Momiji has 5 lobes.
• We should not get mixed up with “kaede” which is a maple leaf that has 3 lobes.
• Momiji are favoured for their asymmetrical lines and the unique shape of its leaves.
• Also they are favoured for the bright orange, yellow, or red colour they turn in autumn, which relates to the “wabi sabi” concept of impermanence.
• To this day Maple Leaf Viewing is very popular only second to Sakura Viewing.

Leaves of Chinese sweetgum “kaede” (left) and American sweetgum “Momiji” (right)
(http://www.inh.co.jp/~hayasida/E-repo1.html)

In relation to Genji:

1. Leaves are plain and can be easily outshined by other things. “[L]eaves were gone from Genji’s Headdress, leaving it shamed by the brilliance of his face […]” (137), this quote shows that even the main attraction of the chapter can be easily outshined by Genji’s beauty.
2. Dame of Staff is a much older lady and would be considered to be a lady in her autumn years (however, a very western point-of-view). She should be “dissolute even in her declining years” (145). Despite her age she still acts very youthfully by exchanging poems and banter with Genji. Dame of Staff is similar to a maple leaf in that they both have matured and changed. They are appreciated in their own way.
3. A flower versus a leaf would have different factors in its favour. Dame of Staff is a leaf that is not fully appreciated because she is not taken seriously by her two lovers, Genji and To no Chujo. Genji even thought the idea of a woman in her forties caught between two young lovers was “absolutely absurd” (148).
4. Leaves fall on the ground as a natural part of their life. This is related to Genji because the Dame of Staff in many ways has fallen out of Genji’s life due to her age. Leaves only fall to the ground in a certain time in their life, autumn.