The Tale of Genji: Suma Summary & Analysis

Genji feels as though his life is an endless stream of unhappiness. He deliberates about removing himself from court life to the Suma coast, and his indecision drives his servers mad. He knows that the time apart would hurt Murasaki, but he understands that taking her would be inappropriate. Genji also worries about the Lady of the Orange Blossoms; he doesn't visit her often, but he is her only visitor. Fujitsubo also begins to write him, worried about rumors. Finally, at the end of March, Genji decides to leave the city.

Genji visits the Minister of the Left. All the women of the house gather with Yugiri to look at Genji. The Minister of the Left expresses displeasure about the rumors concerning Genji, but Genji accepts responsibility for what happened, insisting that exile is the only way to fix things. The two men reminisce and cry as Yugiri plays among them. Genji and Tō no Chūjō drink until late and then, Genji spends the night with one of Aoi's former serving women. In the morning, Genji makes a note of the cherry blossoms past their prime and receives a message from Princess Omiya. She apologizes for not saying goodbye in person. The women all assemble to say goodbye to Genji before he returns briefly to his mansion.

The women at the mansion are all awake and crying. Genji looks around and realizes that all of the beauty of the mansion will crumble in his absence. He goes to visit Murasaki and explains why he spent the night away from her. She's upset; Prince Hyōbu and his wife have fallen into line with the current regime, so she long ago decided to cut contact with them. Murasaki is even more upset when Genji insists that he cannot take her with him into exile. As Genji dresses, he looks in the mirror and comforts Murasaki with a poem, promising her that his reflection will remain in the mirror with her while he's gone.

Because Genji keeps getting notes from Reikeiden and the Lady of the Orange Blossoms, he decides to spend one final night with the ladies. The narrator notes that the two women are entirely dependent on Genji's attention, and Genji realizes how sad they'll be when he's gone. After visiting with Reikeiden, he talks with the Lady of the Orange Blossoms until dawn. Genji assures her that he'll be back and encourages her to not dwell on the bad times.

After this, Genji heads home and delegates the household affairs to trusted men, packs a few things he'll need, and assigns all the women to Murasaki's wing of the house. He sends parting notes and gifts to his lovers, including Oborozukiyo, who writes back that she's crying about all of this as well.

The night before Genji leaves, he visits the Emperor's grave and but stops in first to see Fujitsubo. They discuss their worries about Reizei and Genji refrains from bringing up old complaints. The nighttime ride to the grave is subdued, and Genji notices that the path to the grave is overgrown. He thinks he sees the Emperor standing there. At daybreak, Genji sends a farewell message with a cherry branch to Reizei. The prince asks Omyōbu to send back a note that he'll be very sad that his father is gone. Omyōbu feels as though the prince, Fujitsubo, and Genji should've lived tranquil lives, and she feels responsible for messing it all up. With Reizei's note, she includes one of her own assuring Genji that he'll return to a "city of flowers."

Genji spends the day with Murasaki and at nightfall, he asks her to see him off. He feigns pleasantness as they say goodbye and thinks she looks extremely beautiful in her sadness and the moonlight. He thinks of her all the way to Suma. Genji feels utterly lost when he sees the ruins and the desolation at Suma. His attendant Yoshikiyo oversees the remodel of Genji’s house in the. mountains, however, and soon it feels like a home. The only reason Genji remembers he's in exile is because he has nobody to talk to.

As the seasons pass, Genji thinks often of Murasaki, Reizei, and Yugiri. He sends letters to Murasaki, Fujitsubo, and Oborozukiyo. In her grief and loneliness, Murasaki takes to her bed, making her serving women fear that she might die. She does send supplies to Suma and thinks often of Genji. Fujitsubo spends her time worrying about Reizei and wondering if she effectively kept the gossips from discovering the relationship between her and Genji. Believing she was successful, she thinks fondly of Genji and sends affectionate replies to his letters. Oborozukiyo sends notes that tell Genji of her intense sadness, and Murasaki's poems are also extremely sad. Genji again thinks about bringing her to Suma, but turns to fasting, prayer, and meditation instead.

Genji even resumes correspondence with the Rokujō Lady. He's entranced by her calligraphy and her five-page letter, and thinks he was wrong to get so upset with her about Aoi's death. Genji laments to her that he didn't just go with her to Ise. He also receives comforting letters from the Lady of the Orange Blossoms and Reikeiden, and he sends friends in the city to make repairs to their house and garden.

Oborozukiyo spends her days feeling upset. The Minister of the Right attempts to help her and the Suzaku Emperor forgives her for her offense in sleeping with Genji. They begin to see each other romantically, though Suzaku is annoyed that she seems caught up in pining for Genji. One evening, he fears he's gone against the Emperor's wishes to be good to Genji and will pay for it. He suggests he'd like to die and then expresses sadness that he and Oborozukiyo don't have children. Suzaku says he'd like to adopt Reizei, but fears doing so because of guaranteed objections from those in power.

When autumn arrives, Genji feels as though the ocean is right outside his window. One night, he weeps and plays the koto, but the music only makes him sadder. This wakes up his attendants, who all begin to cry with him. Genji realizes he has a responsibility to make this time easier for his attendants. He arranges games and activities during the day and paints for their amusement. Some of his paintings are exceptional. Genji's attendants feel as though they could never leave his service.

One evening, Genji admires the flowers in the garden and the coast in the distance. He recites a Buddhist sutra, and his men feel as though they've never heard a finer voice. They listen to fishermen singing and geese honking overhead. The geese inspire poems from Genji, Koremitsu, and Yoshikiyo about the power of friendship. They stare at the moon and Genji cries for Fujitsubo and the friendship he shared with Suzaku. He realizes he holds no ill will towards his half-brother.

As the days go by, an assistant viceroy passes Suma by boat with his daughters. He has the Gosechi dancer with him, one of Genji's former lovers. The viceroy and Genji exchange letters and poems and Genji and the Gosechi dancer also write to each other about their love. She wishes she could stay in Suma.

Back in the city, everyone grieves Genji's exile. The Suzaku Emperor and Genji continue to exchange poems, which sends Kokiden into a fit of rage. After this, the letters stop. Murasaki remains unhappy, though serving women who once thought her simple decide that she's absolutely worthy of Genji's affections. Genji continues to think about bringing her to Suma but decides that "plebian life" is too dirty for her. Genji spends his winter playing music with Koremitsu and Yoshikiyo and thinks of Chinese literature telling of situations similar to his. He spends his nights in prayer, which impresses his men.

Yoshikiyo remembers the Akashi lady, the daughter of the former governor, and writes to her. Her father replies and invites Yoshikiyo to visit. He refuses. The former governor, upon learning that Genji is in Suma, tells his wife that they must offer Genji the Akashi lady instead of marrying her to the "upstart" current governor. His wife thinks this is silly, especially given their daughter's country upbringing and the fact that Genji is in exile for a crime, but the former governor insists that Genji's only crime is being talented and the son of a woman who was disliked. The narrator notes that the Akashi Lady herself is no beauty but is sensitive, and she's decided to throw herself into the sea or become a nun if she has to marry someone of her class.

As spring arrives in Suma, Genji looks at the blossoms on the cherry tree he planted and thinks of the festivals going on in the city. In the city, Tō no Chūjō has achieved the rank of counselor and is doing well, but he spends most of his time lamenting Genji's fate. Finally, he decides to visit. He finds Genji's house charming and thinks that Genji himself looks extremely handsome in his rustic robes. Tō no Chūjō chats with fishermen about their work and brings clothes and gifts. He and Genji laugh, cry, and compose poetry all night. As Tō no Chūjō leaves, he expresses hope that Genji will return to the city.

In March, Genji decides to go down and look at the shore. He asks a soothsayer to perform prayers and cast a ceremonial doll out to sea. Genji is magnificent next to the sea and asks the gods to help him, as he's innocent of his crimes. Suddenly, a storm comes up out of nowhere. Everyone on the beach carefully makes their way back to the house. Genji calmly sits and recites prayers and eventually, the storm subsides. Genji falls asleep near dawn. The king of the sea comes to Genji in a dream and tells him the court is summoning him. Upon waking, Genji decides he can't stay at Suma any longer.