A summary of Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, volume 54: Yume no Ukihashi. What is the mysterious ending of The Tale of Genji? A lover who was thought to be dead turns out to be alive. Will the two lovers end up together?
//Summary - Level-B2//
In the final chapter of The Tale of Genji, Yume no Ukihashi, Ukifune is thought to have died but is secretly alive, living as a nun after being rescued. Kaoru, her former lover, finds out and sends a letter asking to meet her. However, Ukifune refuses, wanting to leave her painful past behind. The story ends with Kaoru confused and heartbroken, unsure if someone is hiding her. The tale ends mysteriously, without a precise closure, leaving readers to wonder if the two lovers will ever reunite.
1)
Do you know what The Tale of Genji is about? Although it is often mentioned in textbooks, it is not as stiff and challenging as it is usually thought to be; it is a love story for adults.
How will this story, which depicts the human drama of pure love, jealousy, and betrayal between elegant men and women, end?
We have summarised each chapter briefly so that you can understand the content. This time, we will introduce the final chapter, Chapter 54, 'Yume no Ukihashi'.
2)
Introduction to The Tale of Genji: Yume no Ukihashi:
The Tale of Genji is a full-length novel by Murasaki Shikibu, written over 1,000 years ago. Its enduring appeal lies in the many romances of Hikaru Genji.
The story unfolds in a way that is sometimes sad and sometimes sexy. Genji has various romantic partners, including a stepmother close to his age, a married woman, and a girl who resembles the person he loves.
However, it is not just a love story; it also explores the characters' inner conflicts, karma, and the transience of life. The fact that these themes are interwoven in such beautiful prose is probably why The Tale of Genji has transcended time and continues to be read worldwide.
3)
The climax of the 'Uji Juyoshu' and the final chapter of 'The Tale of Genji', 'Yume no Ukihashi', ends with Kaoru finding Ukifune, but being unable to meet her and becoming suspicious that someone is keeping her.
The story ends abruptly, leaving you wondering what happened to Kaoru and Ukifune's relationship. Is Kaoru's rival Niou no Miya no longer interested in Ukifune?
4)
The same was true of people in the past, and it seems that a sequel has been written by an author other than Murasaki Shikibu. How would you end The Tale of Genji? It would be interesting to imagine someone reading 'The Tale of Genji Episode 2' 1,000 years from now, so why not write your sequel?
5)
Synopsis so far:
Ukifune, hiding in Kaoru's (Genji's son) Uji mansion, has disappeared. She was attracted to Nioumiya, with whom she had a secret relationship, but she could not shake off his sincere love. Caught between a rock and a hard place, she threw herself into the Uji River in anguish.
Ukifune's funeral was held without her body. Kaoru and Nioumiya were shocked and saddened by the news, but they also suspected each other of being responsible for her disappearance.
6)
Meanwhile, Ukifune, who was believed to have drowned in the Uji River, was rescued by the Sozu of Yokokawa and survived. Even after her health recovered under the care of the Sozu's sister, she never revealed her identity or past to anyone and spent her days lamenting her inability to die.
A man began to approach her in the meantime, but Ukifune, disgusted by the secular world, begged the monk to let her become a nun.
Her wish was granted, and she spent her time praying to Buddha and practising calligraphy. When Kaoru heard that Ukifune was still alive, he sent the monk to find out the truth.
7)
Main characters in The Tale of Genji: Yume no Ukihashi:
Kaoru: 28 years old. Son of Genji. He takes Ukifune, who resembles his late love Okimi, as his lover.
Nioumiya: 29 years old. The son of the current emperor and the Empress of Akashi. He secretly visits Ukifune, who is hiding in Uji.
Ukifune is 23 years old. Half-sister of Okimi and Naka no Kimi. Her father is the late Hachi no Miya, Genji's half-brother.
8)
Synopsis of The Tale of Genji: Yume no Ukihashi:
Kaoru visits the monk Yokokawa on Mount Hiei and discovers that Ukifune has become a nun under his care. The monk is upset that he has made Kaoru's lover a nun, but it isn't easy to keep it a secret, so he reveals how he convinced Ukifune to become a nun.
9)
As he dreams, Kaoru asks the monk to guide him to his sister's house, where Ukifune lives.
However, the monk is evasive, claiming it would interfere with Ukifune's Buddhist training now that she has become a nun. Kaoru sends Ukifune's younger brother, Okimi, whom he has brought with him, to deliver a letter to her.
10)
The next day, Okimi visits Ukifune in Ono. Seeing Okimi through the screen, who wants to deliver a letter from Kaoru, Ukifune remembers when the two siblings lived together.
Tears well up as he misses his mother. Kaoru's letter had the same scent and writing style as before. He wrote that he had forgiven Ukifune for her mistakes and wanted to talk.
11)
Despite becoming a nun to escape her past, Ukifune is overwhelmed with emotion and refuses to reply, let alone meet Kaoru. Her younger sister, also a nun, had to message Okimi.
Okimi, who had hoped as a child that she would be able to meet her sister Ukifune, returned home feeling disappointed. Waiting for Okimi's return, Kaoru became upset and imagined that someone was keeping Ukifune from her.
Summary of Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji, Volume 54, Yume no Ukihashi". What is the mysterious ending of The Tale of Genji? A lover who was thought to be dead is alive. Will the two end up together?
https://ddnavi.com/article/1266079/a/
