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46-471: Fujiwara no Shōshi ( 藤原彰子 , 988 – October 25, 1074) , also known as Jōtōmon-in ( 上東門院 ) , the eldest daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga , was Empress of Japan from c. 1000 to c. 1011. Her father sent her to live in the Emperor Ichijō 's harem at age 12. Because of his power, influence and political machinations she quickly achieved the status of second empress ( 中宮 , Chūgū ) . As empress she

92-440: A difficult birth; to appease evil spirits she underwent a ritual head shaving , although only a lock of hair was cut. This ritual was considered to have been a minor ordination, or jukai into Buddhism, for the purpose of receiving divine protection when her life, and that of her unborn infant, was at risk. Ritual ceremonies were followed on specific days after the births. As was customary, Michinaga's first visit to Shōshi took

138-590: A general audience. He chose not to be a specialist but to translate a wide and personal range of classical literature. Starting in the 1910s and continuing steadily almost until his death in 1966, these translations started with poetry, such as A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918) and Japanese Poetry: The Uta (1919), then an equally wide range of novels, such as The Tale of Genji (1925–26), an 11th-century Japanese work, and Monkey , from 16th-century China. Waley also presented and translated Chinese philosophy, wrote biographies of literary figures, and maintained

184-489: A lifelong interest in both Asian and Western paintings. A 2004 profile by fellow sinologist E. Bruce Books called Waley "the great transmitter of the high literary cultures of China and Japan to the English-reading general public; the ambassador from East to West in the first half of the 20th century", and went on to say that he was "self-taught, but reached remarkable levels of fluency, even erudition, in both languages. It

230-484: A passage from Murasaki who wrote in her diary: "As the years go by Her Majesty is beginning to acquire more experience of life, and no longer judges others by the same rigid standards as before; but meanwhile her Court has gained a reputation for extreme dullness, and is shunned by all who can manage to avoid it". Moreover, Murasaki describes advice Shōshi gave to her ladies-in-waiting to avoid appearing too flirtatious: Her Majesty does indeed still constantly warn us that it

276-429: A salon to rival that of Teishi and Seishi (daughter of Emperor Murakami ). Michinaga invited Murasaki Shikibu , author of The Tale of Genji , to Shōshi's court, where she joined Izumi Shikibu and Akazome Emon . Later Ise no Taifu, a talented poet and musician also joined. At Teishi's court as lady-in-waiting was writer Sei Shōnagon , author of The Pillow Book . The women at the two empresses' courts wrote some of

322-868: Is a great mistake to go too far, 'for a single slip may bring very unpleasant consequences,' and so on, in the old style; but she now also begs us not to reject advances in such a way as to hurt people's feelings. Unfortunately, habits of long standing are not so easily changed; moreover, now that the Empress's exceedingly stylish brothers bring so many of their young courtier-friends to amuse themselves at her house, we have in self-defence been obliged to become more virtuous than ever'. Shōshi gave Ichijō two sons, in 1008 and 1009. The births are described in detail in Murasaki's The Diary of Lady Murasaki . The boys were born at their grandfather's Tsuchimikado mansion, with Buddhist priests in attendance. With her first son Atsuhira, Shōshi had

368-411: Is buried in an unmarked grave (plot no. 51178) on the western side of Highgate Cemetery in front of the grave of the sculptor Joseph Edwards . The writer Sacheverell Sitwell , who considered Waley "the greatest scholar and the person with most understanding of all human arts" that he had known in his lifetime, later recalled Waley's last days, when he lay dying from a broken back and from cancer of

414-755: Is greater than his, and there are perhaps a few who can handle both languages as well. But they are not poets, and those who are better poets than Waley do not know Chinese or Japanese. Also the shock will never be repeated, for most of the works that Waley chose to translate were largely unknown in the West, and their impact was thus all the more extraordinary. His many translations include A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918), Japanese Poetry: The Uta (1919), The No Plays of Japan (1921), The Tale of Genji (published in 6 volumes from 1921 to 1933), The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon (1928), The Kutune Shirka (1951), Monkey (1942, an abridged version of Journey to

460-669: The Eiga Monogatari , was studied and emulated by imperial women who were to follow her as Imperial Ladies. She died in 1074 aged 86. Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE  / AD   individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor Shōshi served briefly as honorary empress for her younger brother Emperor Go-Daigo Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE  / AD   individuals that were given

506-734: The Oxford Book of Modern Verse 1892–1935 , The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse and the Penguin Book of Contemporary Verse (1918–1960) under Waley's name. Many of his original translations and commentaries have been re-published as Penguin Classics and Wordsworth Classics , reaching a wide readership. Despite translating many Chinese and Japanese classical texts into English, Waley never travelled to either country, or anywhere else in East Asia. In his preface to The Secret History of

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552-642: The Dharma name Gyōkan (行観), which was later changed to Gyōkaku (行覚). On 3 January 1028, Michinaga died at the age of sixty-two. He is said to have called out to Amida on his deathbed, asking for entry to Paradise. He left a diary , the Midō Kanpakuki, which is about the Heian court at the height of Fujiwara power. In the Tale of Genji , the eponymous Genji is believed to be in part based on Michinaga as well as Korechika. He

598-582: The Lake Biwa region, most likely accompanied by Murasaki. In 1016 when Michinaga had Emperor Sanjō —married to Shōshi's younger sister Kenshi —removed from the throne, Go-Ichijō became emperor. Shōshi's second son, Go-Suzaku , became crown prince in 1017. With an emperor and a crown prince as sons, Shōshi's position was secure and she became a powerful influence at court. For many years Shōshi's power extended to selecting friends and relatives to fill court positions and to approving consorts—decisions that affected

644-572: The Seiwa Genji ); his wives were both Minamoto. Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Minamoto no Yorinobu were his two principal commanders. Michinaga never formally took the title of Kampaku . In 1011, he was granted the privilege of travelling to and from the court by ox-drawn cart. In the same year, Ichijo's second son, Atsunari, was proclaimed Crown Prince. During Sanjō's reign as Emperor, he and Michinaga often came into conflict. Consequently, Michinaga attempted to pressure Sanjō into retirement. In 1016, he

690-949: The British Museum in 1929 to devote himself fully to writing and translation, and never held a full-time job again, except for a four-year stint in the Ministry of Information during the Second World War . In September 1939, he had been recruited to run the Japanese Censorship Section at the Ministry of Information. Assisted by Captain Oswald Tuck RN, he was responsible for checking the dispatches of Japanese journalists in London, private mail in Japanese and intercepted diplomatic signals from

736-573: The Japanese Embassy in London. Waley lived in Bloomsbury and had a number of friends among the Bloomsbury Group , many of whom he had met when he was an undergraduate. He was one of the earliest to recognise Ronald Firbank as an accomplished author and, together with the writer Osbert Sitwell , provided an introduction to the first edition of Firbank's collected works. The poet Ezra Pound

782-815: The West ), The Poetry and Career of Li Po (1959) and The Secret History of the Mongols and Other Pieces (1964). Waley received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his translation of Monkey . His translations of the classics, the Analects of Confucius and The Way and Its Power ( Tao Te Ching ), are still in print, as is his interpretive presentation of classical Chinese philosophy, Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China (1939). Waley's translations of verse are widely regarded as poems in their own right, and have been included in many anthologies such as

828-494: The best ones, and to get him to remove some of the botched places. (He is stubborn as a donkey, or a scholar .)" In his introduction to his translation of The Way and its Power , Waley explains that he was careful to put meaning above style in translations where meaning would be reasonably considered of more importance to the modern Western reader. Waley married Alison Grant Robinson in May 1966, one month before his death on 27 June. He

874-464: The best-known and enduring Heian era literature. Although she lived in the Imperial palace, Shōshi's main residence for was in one or another of her father's many mansions, particularly after the Imperial palace burned down in 1005. Shōshi was about 16 when Murasaki joined her court, probably to teach her Chinese. Japanese literature scholar Arthur Waley describes Shōshi as a serious young lady based on

920-472: The event that she probably attended. Michinaga's influence meant that Shōshi's two sons had a better chance of ascending the throne than Teishi's children—particularly after Teishi's death in 1001. When Ichijō abdicated in 1011 and died soon after, Shōshi's eldest son, the future Emperor Go-Ichijō , was named crown prince. At that time Shōshi retired from the Imperial Palace to live in a Fujiwara mansion in

966-450: The form of a lavish ritual 16 days after she gave birth. In her diary, Murasaki described the clothing of one woman in attendance, "Her mantle had five cuffs of white lined with dark red, and her crimson gown was of beaten silk". On the 50th day after the birth a ceremony was held in which the infant was offered a piece of mochi ; Michinaga performed the ritual offering of the rice cake to his grandson Atsuhira. In her diary Murasaki described

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1012-414: The imperial court. The consorts she selected were her father's direct descendants, thus she asserted control of her father's lineage for many years. It was not uncommon for Heian aristocratic women to take religious vows, become nyūdō , and yet remain in secular life. As her father and her aunt Seishi had done before her, at 39 in 1026, Shōshi underwent an ordination ceremony to become a Buddhist nun. This

1058-792: The position of Minister of the Right, or Udaijin (右大臣), on the 19th day of the 6th month of 995. Later, in 996, Michinaga became Minister of the Left, Sadaijin (左大臣), the most senior position in government apart from that of Chancellor (Daijō-daijin). During his lifetime, Michinaga was called the Mido Kampaku, a title referencing the name of his residence, Mido, and that he was Regent in all but name. Although Ichijo already had an Empress, Teishi, Michinaga made her Kogo empress and had his first daughter, Shoshi , also marry him as Chūgū empress. When Teishi died of childbirth in 1001, Michinaga's influence over Ichijo

1104-430: The regency vacant; Michinaga won a power struggle against his nephew Fujiwara no Korechika , brother to Emperor Ichijō 's wife Teishi , aided by his sister Senshi (mother to Emperor Ichijō, as Emperor En'yū 's wife). Because Teishi supported Korechika—later discredited and banished from court—her base of power disintegrated. Four years later Michinaga sent Shōshi, his eldest daughter, to Emperor Ichijō's harem when she

1150-479: The same emperor, Teishi holding the usual title of "Lustrous Heir-bearer" kōgō and Shōshi that of "Inner Palatine" ( chūgū ), a toponymically derived equivalent coined for the occasion". She went on to hold the title(s) of Empress Dowager ( Kōtaigō ) and Grand Empress Dowager ( Taikōtaigō ). To give Shōshi prestige and to make her competitive in a court that valued education and learning, Michinaga sought talented, educated and interesting ladies-in-waiting to build

1196-513: The same house during the night; Korechika presumed that Kazan had been seeing the same mistress. Consequently, he and his brother Takaie ambushed the Emperor, shooting at him. An arrow struck Kazan's sleeve. Michinaga and his supporters then pressed charges of lèse-majesté . Though the jurists examining the case found the servants of Kaneie and Takaie at fault. Korechika was accused of putting a curse on Senshi. During their struggle, Michinaga had gained

1242-456: The spine, and in very great pain, but refused to be given any drug or sedative. He had the courage to do so because he wanted to be conscious during the last hours of being alive, the gift which was ebbing and fading and could never be again. In this way during those few days he listened to string quartets by Haydn , and had his favourite poems read to him. And then he died. Waley was elected an honorary fellow of King's College, Cambridge in 1945,

1288-458: The successor he had named. The mother of Ichijo, Fujiwara no Senshi, coerced Ichijo into granting Michinaga the title of Nairan (内覧) in the fifth month of 995. Korechika's position was ruined by a scandal that took place the following year, likely arranged by Michinaga. Korechika had been seeing a mistress in one of the Fujiwara palaces. He was told that the retired Emperor Kazan had been visiting

1334-464: The title of empress dowager posthumously title removed in 896 due to a suspected affair with head priest of the Toko-ji Temple; title posthumously restored in 943 was made High Empress or de jure empress dowager during her husband's reign Years are in CE  / AD   individuals that were given the title of grand empress dowager posthumously Fujiwara no Michinaga Michinaga

1380-451: The title of imperial lady. She continued to be an influential member of the imperial family until her death at age 86. In the middle of the 9th century Fujiwara no Yoshifusa declared himself regent to Emperor Seiwa —his young grandson—the Fujiwara clan dominated court politics until the end of the 11th century, through strategic marriages of Fujiwara daughters into the imperial family and

1426-523: The use of regencies. Fujiwara no Michinaga had four daughters he arranged to marry to emperors. At this period emperors held little power, holding a nominal position for rituals, and often too young to make decisions. In their stead, the top position in the power structure was held by a regent, with power often measured by the how closely the regent was tied by family relationships to an emperor. In 995, Michinaga's two brothers Fujiwara no Michitaka and Fujiwara no Michikane died in rapid succession, leaving

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1472-609: Was a unique achievement, possible (as he himself later noted) only in that time, and unlikely to be repeated." Arthur Waley was born Arthur David Schloss on 19 August 1889 in Tunbridge Wells , Kent , England. The son of an economist, David Frederick Schloss, he was educated at Rugby School and entered King's College, Cambridge , in 1907 on a scholarship to study Classics , but left in 1910 due to eye problems that hindered his ability to study. Waley briefly worked in an export firm in an attempt to please his parents, but in 1913 he

1518-400: Was able to surround herself with a court of talented and educated ladies-in-waiting such as Murasaki Shikibu , author of The Tale of Genji . At the age of 20, Shōshi had given birth to two sons for Ichijō, both of whom went on to become emperors and secured the status of the Fujiwara line. In her late 30s she took vows as a Buddhist nun, renouncing imperial duties and titles, assuming

1564-448: Was about 12. She became Imperial Consort, nyogo of the emperor. A year after placing Shōshi in the imperial harem, in an effort to undermine Teishi's influence and increase Shōshi's standing, Michinaga had her named Empress although Teishi already held the title. As historian Donald Shively explains, "Michinaga shocked even his admirers by arranging for the unprecedented appointment of Teishi (or Sadako) and Shōshi as concurrent empresses of

1610-484: Was absolute. Kenshi , Michinaga's second daughter, married the future Emperor Sanjō . Ichijo and Shoshi had two sons, both future emperors, and it was to these that Michinaga's third and fourth daughters were married: Ichijo's eldest son, Go-Ichijō , married the third daughter, Ishi ; and Ichijo's second son, Go-Suzaku , married the fourth daughter, Kishi. Michinaga made alliances with the Minamoto (or more specifically,

1656-669: Was an English orientalist and sinologist who achieved both popular and scholarly acclaim for his translations of Chinese and Japanese poetry . Among his honours were appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1952, receiving the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1953, and being invested as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1956. Although highly learned, Waley avoided academic posts and most often wrote for

1702-585: Was appointed Assistant Keeper of Oriental Prints and Manuscripts at the British Museum . Waley's supervisor at the museum was the poet and scholar Laurence Binyon , and under his nominal tutelage, Waley taught himself to read Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese , partly to help catalogue the paintings in the museum's collection. Despite this, he never learned to speak either modern Mandarin Chinese or Japanese and never visited either China or Japan. Waley

1748-515: Was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honour in 1952, received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1953, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 1956. Jonathan Spence wrote of Waley's translations that he selected the jewels of Chinese and Japanese literature and pinned them quietly to his chest. No one ever did anything like it before, and no one will ever do it again. There are many westerners whose knowledge of Chinese or Japanese

1794-664: Was born in Kyōto , the son of Kaneie . Kaneie had become Regent in 986, holding the position until the end of his life in 990. Due to the hereditary principle of the Fujiwara Regents, Michinaga was now in line to become Regent after his brothers, Michitaka and Michikane . Michitaka was regent from 990 until 995, when he died. Michikane then succeeded him, famously ruling as Regent for only seven days before he too died of disease. With his two elder brothers dead, Michinaga then struggled with Fujiwara no Korechika , Michitaka's eldest son and

1840-421: Was cut shoulder-length, called amasogi style. At this time she assumed the name Jōtōmon-in. This, her second jukai , symbolized a transition from Empress to Imperial Lady, a change of lifestyle, and marked her as a novice nun. However, research suggests that political power was gained rather than lost when becoming Imperial Ladies, despite relinquishing imperial duties and devoting themselves to Buddhist rites. As

1886-457: Was done at a lavish ceremony, at a place decorated with gold-leafed illustrated folding screens, priceless gifts were displayed, and courtiers, dressed in sumptuous costumes, were in attendance. The ritual was performed by five priests, three representing the most senior hierarchy of the Buddhist priesthood, one of whom was Shōshi's cousin who performed the hair-cutting ceremony, in which her long hair

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1932-562: Was instrumental in getting Waley's first translations into print in The Little Review . His view of Waley's early work was mixed, however. As he wrote to Margaret Anderson , the editor of the Little Review , in a letter of 2 July 1917: "Have at last got hold of Waley's translations from Po chu I . Some of the poems are magnificent. Nearly all the translations marred by his bungling English and defective rhythm. ... I shall try to buy

1978-501: Was married to Minamoto no Rinshi, otherwise known as Michiko (源倫子), daughter of Sadaijin Minamoto no Masanobu . They had six children. He was also married to Minamoto no Meishi (源明子), daughter of Sadaijin Minamoto no Takaakira. They had six children. Michinaga had one daughter from an unknown woman. Arthur Waley Arthur David Waley CH CBE (born Arthur David Schloss , 19 August 1889 – 27 June 1966)

2024-639: Was of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. He changed his surname from Schloss in 1914, when, like many others in England with German surnames, he sought to avoid the anti-German prejudice common in Britain during the First World War . Waley entered into a lifelong relationship with the English ballet dancer, orientalist, dance critic, and dance researcher Beryl de Zoete , whom he met in 1918, but they never married. Waley left

2070-522: Was successful. The youth of Go-Ichijō meant that Michinaga ruled as Sesshō, the Regency assumed. He briefly became Chancellor in the final month of 1017 before resigning in the second month of the following year. A month after his resignation, he also resigned from the position of Sesshō in favour of Yorimichi , his eldest son. In 1019, he took the tonsure, becoming a monk at the Hōjō-ji , which he had built. He took

2116-431: Was the custom for noblewomen of her period, Shōshi took ordination rites in steps; much later in life, in yet another ritual, she received full vows and at that time underwent a full shaving of her head. The first two empresses to take title of Imperial Lady were Seishi, later followed by Shōshi. With the title came a new residence and permission to hire men for the household. Shōshi's role as Imperial Lady, as documented in

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