Finally, I have not necessarily adopted every title as it occurs in the original. It happens that a single figure is referred to on adjacent pages by two quite different titles that he or she holds simultaneously, and in such cases I have usually repeated the title that occurs first, in the interests of intelligibility. My most consistent “homogenization” of titles or honorific appellations has to do with Fujitsubo, after she ceases to be Empress, and above all with Genji himself. After his return from exile, Genji is often referred to as His Grace, an appellation I chose originally to correspond to his appointment much later as Honorary Retired Emperor. This retrospective use of it acknowledges the distinctive prestige that gathers to him immediately after his return from Akashi and serves to make him immediately identifiable throughout.
Abbot (of the Mountain) (Yama no) Zasu—The superior of the entire Mount Hiei temple complex.
Acting… Gon… —A prefix to the title of certain male officials, indicating that the appointment is in excess of the normal number of incumbents in that post.
Acting Captain Gon Chūjō.
Acting Grand Counselor Gon Dainagon.
Adept Azari, Ajari—An imperially conferred title held by a distinguished practitioner monk, one expert in healing and other rituals to avert illness and disaster and summon good fortune.
Adviser Jijū—A junior official (junior fifth rank, lower grade) under the Bureau of Central Affairs, who acted as an assistant to the Emperor. There were generally eight of them.
Adviser Consultant Jijū no Saishō—A dual appointment as Adviser and Consultant.
Aide Zō, Jō—A third-level appointee in the bureaus and in some guards units (Gate Watch, Watch), but a fourth-level officer in the Palace Guards.
Aide of Ceremonial Shikibu no Jō—A third-level post in the Bureau of Ceremonial (sixth-rank range).
Aide of the Gate Watch Yugei no Jō (junior sixth rank).
Aide of the Right Palace Guards Ukon no Zō (sixth rank, lower grade).
Aide of the Watch Hyōe no Zō (seventh rank).
Audit Commissioner Taifu no Gen—Auditor (Gen) was a post in a provincial administration, responsible for discovering and correcting various irregularities. The most senior incumbent could attain the fifth rank, lower grade, in which case “Commissioner” (Taifu) was added to the title.
Bath Nurse Mukaeyu—The “assistant” role in the bathing of a newborn child of high birth.
Bungo Deputy Bungo no Suke—In principle, Deputy Governor of Bungo (now Ōita Prefecture), a post in the sixth-rank range. However, it is unclear just what weight this title has where it occurs in the tale (“The Tendril Wreath”).
Bureau of Central Affairs Nakatsukasa Shō—The bureau that administered the palace. The senior among the eight major government bureaus, it was always headed by a Prince.
Bureau of Ceremonial Shikibu Shō—One of the eight major government bureaus, in charge of ceremonies, appointments, and awards.
Bureau of Civil Affairs Minbu ShōOne—of the eight major government bureaus, in charge of population registers, corvée, and taxation.
Bureau of the Treasury Ōkura Shō—One of the eight major government bureaus, in charge of managing the tax goods collected from the provinces.
Bureau of War Hyōbu Shō—One of the eight major government bureaus, in charge of military affairs and equipment.
Captain Chūjō—The second-level officer in the Palace Guards of Left or Right (junior fourth rank, lower grade).
Captain of the Left Palace Guards Sakon no Chūjō.
Chamberlain Kurōdo—An official of fifth or sixth rank, responsible to the Chamberlains' Office (Kurōdodokoro) and under the supervision of two Secretaries (Kurōdo no Tō) of somewhat higher rank. A Chamberlain was admitted to the privy chamber and had direct access to the Emperor; he was also allowed to wear colors and fabrics normally forbidden to a man of his rank.
Chamberlain Aide of the Left Gate Watch Kurōdo no Saemon no Jō—A dual appointment as a Chamberlain and either a third-level (Daijō) or fourth-level (Shōjō) officer in the Left Gate Watch.
Chamberlain Aide of the Right Palace Guards Ukon no Zō no Kurōdo—A dual appointment as a Chamberlain and a fourth-level officer (sixth rank, upper grade) in the Right Palace Guards.
Chamberlain Controller Kurōdo no Ben—A dual appointment as a Chamberlain and a Controller.
Chamberlain Lieutenant Kurōdo no Shōshō—A dual appointment as a Chamberlain and a Lieutenant in the Palace Guards.
Chamberlain Second of the Watch Kurodo Hyoe no Suke—A dual appointment as a Chamberlain and a Second of the Watch.
Chamberlains' Office Kurōdodokoro—An office that functioned as an imperial secretariat, serving the Emperor and carrying messages and imperial orders. It was staffed by two higher-ranking Secretaries (Kurōdo no Tō), by Chamberlains (Kurōdo) of the fifth and sixth ranks, and by a number of lesser figures. A Chamberlain moved in circles above his official rank, served the Emperor directly, and held privileges such as the right to wear colors normally not allowed a man of his rank. The Chamberlains' Office also looked after the Emperor's falcons and took care of musical instruments, books, coins (metal currency), and clothing.
Chancellor Okiotodo, Daijōdaijin—The highest possible civil post (first rank or junior first rank), one not provided for in the government's nominal table of organization. In theory it was filled only by a candidate able to serve as an example of virtue, and the incumbent was to be above actual administration.
chaplain inori no shi—The monk who regularly performed prayer rituals for great a lord or lady.
Chief Clerk Dainaiki—A functionary (sixth rank, upper grade) in the Bureau of Central Affairs, charged with composing imperial rescripts, maintaining court records, and so on.
Chief Equerry Kami—The senior officer (junior fifth rank, upper grade) in charge of the Left (Sama no Kami) or Right (Uma no Kami) Imperial Stables (Meryō, Uma no Tsukasa). The incumbent held the junior fifth rank, upper grade. In “The Broom Tree” also Chief Left Equerry.
Chief Lady in Waiting Naishi—A translation devised to suit the context in “The Pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi.” The precise nature of the office is unclear.
Cloistered Eminence—See Eminence.
Commander Taishō—The commanding officer (third rank, lower grade) of the Right (Udaishō) or Left (Sadaishō) Palace Guards.
Commissioner Taifu or Daibu—A title held by the head of some government or quasigovernment organs, such as the Office of Upkeep or the Empress's Household; and by the second-level official in others, such as the Bureau of War. The title properly carried the fifth rank, upper or lower grade.
Commissioner of Ceremonial Shikibu no Taifu—The second-ranking officer (fifth rank, lower grade) in the Bureau of Ceremonial.
Commissioner of Civil Affairs Minbu no Taifu—The second-ranking officer (fifth rank, lower grade) in the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
Commissioner of the Household Daibu (Chūgū no Daibu)—The chief administrator of the Empress's household.
Commissioner of War Hyōbu no Taifu—The second-ranking officer (fifth rank, lower grade) in the Bureau of War.
Consort Nyōgo—An imperial wife whose father was at least a Minister or a Prince. An Empress was normally chosen from among the Consorts.
Constable Udoneri—One of about a hundred men affiliated with the Bureau of Central Affairs and selected from the families of men of the fourth and fifth ranks. Assigned to guard the highest nobles, Constables could be arrogant and rough.
Consultant Sangi, Saishō—The junior post (fourth rank, lower grade) in the Council of State, below Counselor and Minister. There were normally eight.
Consultant Captain Saishō no Chūjō—A dual appointment as Consultant and as Captain in the Palace Guards.
Controller Ben—One of a body of officials under the Council of State. The Controllers were attached to the eight major government bureaus and were divided into Left and Right (four bureaus each). There were three grad
es: Grand Controller (Daiben, junior fourth rank, upper grade), Controller (Chūben, fifth rank, upper grade), and Minor Controller (Shōben, fifth rank, lower grade).
Controller Chamberlain Kurōdo no Ben—A dual appointment as a Controller and as a fifth-rank Chamberlain.
Controller Lieutenant Ben no ShōshōA dual appointment as a Controller and as a Lieutenant in the Palace Guards.
Council of State Daijōkan—Stood above the eight major bureaus as the highest organ of government. Its members were the three Ministers (Left, Right, and Palace); the Counselors (Counselor, Grand Counselor); and the Consultants. The executive office of the Council of State employed Junior Counselors and Controllers, among other lesser officials.
Counselor Chūnagon—A middle-level post (junior third rank) in the Council of State.
Court Ritualists Gishikikan—Officers of various ranks charged with conducting court ceremonials. In their formal stance they held their elbows stiffly out to either side as they held their batons.
Dame of Staff Naishi no Suke—One of four women officials (junior fourth rank, upper or lower grade) under the Mistress of Staff, in the Office of Staff.
(Dazaifu) Assistant (Dazai no) Shōni—The assistant (fifth rank, upper grade) to the (Dazaifu) Deputy.
(Dazaifu) Deputy (Dazai no) Daini—The Deputy (junior fourth rank, lower grade) who represented the court at Dazaifu, in Kyushu. His senior was the Viceroy, whose post was a sinecure; the incumbent, a Prince, did not leave the City.
Deputy Commissioner of Ceremonial Shikibu no Shō—A third-level official (junior fifth rank, lower grade) in the Bureau of Ceremonial.
Deputy (Governor) Suke—The deputy to a provincial Governor. In the case of Hitachi, Kazusa, and Shimōsa, the titular Governor was a Prince, but since the post was a sinecure, only the Deputy Governor actually went to the province. (The Governor of Hitachi who figures in “The Ivy” and succeeding chapters is actually such a Deputy.) The rank of a Deputy Governor, like that of a Governor, depended on the standing of his province, but it was in the sixth-rank range.
Director of Reckoning Kazoe no Kami—The director (junior fifth rank, upper grade) of an office within the Bureau of Civil Affairs, charged with calculating and allocating certain types of tax revenue.
Director of Upkeep Suri no Kami—The head (junior fourth rank, lower grade) of the Office of Upkeep.
Doctor Hakase—A senior scholar engaged to teach in the Academy, typically Chinese language (written), literature, history, law, and so on. The appointment was in the junior fifth-rank range. Also Doctor of Letters (Monjō Hakase).
Doctor of the Almanac Koyomi no Hakase—A calendar or almanac specialist from the Yin-Yang Office.
Eminence (His, His Cloistered, Her Cloistered)—An honorific term, devised for the purposes of translation, for a former Empress or a Retired Emperor (In). If the figure has taken the vows of a monk or a nun, he or she is also called Cloistered, although this term is omitted where possible. The only “Her Cloistered Eminence” (Nyūdō Kisai no Miya) in the tale is Fujitsubo; there is no “Her Eminence.”
Empress Chūgū, Kisaki—The Emperor's highest-ranking wife. There could be only one. She was normally appointed from among the Consorts.
Empress Mother Ōkisai no Miya, Ōkisaki—The mother of an Emperor. She had not necessarily held the title of Empress under the previous reign.
Excellency—See His Excellency.
Fourth Rank Lieutenant Shii no Shōshō—A Lieutenant (normally in the fifth-rank range) who exceptionally holds the fourth rank.
Fujiwara Aide of Ceremonial Tō Shikibu no Jō.
Fujiwara Consultant Tō Saishō.
Fujiwara Grand Counselor Tō Dainagon.
Fujiwara Lieutenant Tō Shōshō.
Gate Watch Emonfu, Yugei—The corps of guards who guarded the gates of the palace compound. They were divided into Left Gate Watch (Saemon) and Right Gate Watch (Uemon). The chief officer on each side was the Intendant (junior fourth rank, lower grade), followed by Deputy (junior fifth rank, upper grade) and Aide (junior sixth rank, upper grade).
Governor Kami—The official appointed by the Emperor to govern a province. His rank, which depended on the standing of his province (the provinces were classified as great, major, medium, or minor) could vary from junior fifth rank, upper grade, down to junior sixth rank, lower grade. The term was sometimes used not only for a Governor proper but also for a Deputy Governor, in cases where only the Deputy actually went to the province. Governors in general were also referred to as Zuryō (“Grant Holder”).
Grace—See His Grace.
Grand Counselor Dainagon—The office (third rank) below Minister in the Council of State.
Haven Miyasudokoro—In the tale an unofficial title for a woman (especially an Intimate or a Consort) who had borne a child to an Heir Apparent, an Emperor, or a Retired Emperor. The Japanese term suggests either “place (person) in whom the august affection found rest” or “place (person) in whom the august seed found rest.” Examples in the tale include Genji's mother after Genji's birth; the Rokujō Haven, whose daughter is by a deceased Heir Apparent; Genji's daughter after she bears the Heir Apparent a son; the mother of Ochiba, Emperor Suzaku's daughter, and Tamakazura's elder daughter, who bears a child to Retired Emperor Reizei.
Heir Apparent Bō, Tōgū—The formally designated successor to the reigning Emperor. He was not necessarily the Emperor's firstborn son.
Highness (His, Her)—An honorific term of address, used in translation for a Prince or Princess.
High Priestess (of Ise)—See Ise Priestess.
High Priestess of the Kamo Shrine—See Kamo Priestess.
His Eminence—See Eminence.
His Excellency Ōitono, Otodo—Refers to a Minister or a Chancellor. The use of “the Minister” rather than “His Excellency” implies a greater distance between that figure and the narrator (or the side with which her sympathies and those of her audience lie). An example is the Minister of the Right, as distinguished from His Excellency (of the Left) in the chapters leading up to Genji's exile.
His Grace—An honorific term, devised for the purposes of translation, for Genji in “The Pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi” and after, following his return from exile.
His Highness of Central Affairs Nakatsukasa no Miko—The Prince who headed the Bureau of Central Affairs.
His Highness of Ceremonial Shikibukyō no Miya—The Prince who was the titular head (fourth rank, lower grade) of the Bureau of Ceremonial.
His Highness of Kanzuke Kanzuke no Miko—The Governor of the province of Kanzuke (also Kamutsuke or Kōzuke, roughly present Gumma Prefecture), like that of Hitachi and Kazusa, was a Prince, but the post was a sinecure, and the province was actually administered by a deputy.
His Highness of War Hyōbukyō no Miya—The Prince who was the titular head (fourth rank, lower grade) of the Bureau of War.
His Reverence—See Prelate.
Honorary Deputy Governor Yōmei no Suke—A sinecure post bought from a high-ranking nobleman.
Honorary Retired Emperor Jundaijōtennō—An extraordinary title awarded Genji (in “New Wisteria Leaves”) by his secret son, Emperor Reizei.
Household Deputy Suke—The second-level officer (junior fifth rank, lower grade) in charge of the Empress's household.
Inspector Azechi—A high-level Inspector appointed to review the administration of the provinces. By Heian times the post survived only for the northernmost provinces, and it was mainly honorary.
Inspector Grand Counselor Azechi no Dainagon—A dual appointment as Inspector and Grand Counselor.
Intendant of the (Left, Right) Gate Watch Emon (Saemon, Uemon) no Kami—The senior officer of the Gate Watch (junior fourth rank, lower grade).
Intendant of the (Left, Right) Watch Hyōe (Sahyōe, Uhyōe) no Kami—The senior officer of the Watch.
Intimate Kōi—An imperial wife of lower standing than a Consort; her father was at most a Grand Counselor. The word kōi refers literally to someone
who dresses the Emperor.
Ise Consort Saikū no Nyōgo—Literally “(Ise) Priestess Consort.” Akikonomu's appellation as Consort, since she had been the High Priestess of Ise.
Ise Priestess Saikū—An unmarried Princess who represented the Emperor as the chief priestess of the Ise Shrine, where the ancestral deity of the imperial line was enshrined.
Junior Counselor Shōnagon—A junior official (junior fifth rank, upper grade) attached to the Council of State.
Kamo Priestess Saiin—The chief priestess of the Upper and Lower Kamo Shrines, just north of the City. Like the Ise Priestess, she was a Princess.
Lecturer Kōji—The officiating priest at certain major Buddhist rituals.
Left City Commissioner Sakyō no Daibu—The chief officer (junior fourth rank, lower grade) charged with population registration, tax collection, legal appeals, security, and so on in the left (east) sector of the City.
Left Controller Sachūben.
Left Gate Watch—See Gate Watch.
Left Grand Controller Sadaiben—See Controller.
Left Lieutenant Sashōshō—A Lieutenant in the Left Palace Guards (fifth rank, lower grade).
Left Palace Guards Captain Sakon no Chūjō.
Lieutenant Shōshō—A third-level officer (fifth rank, lower grade) in the Palace Guards, below Commander and Captain.
Lord of Ceremonial Shikibukyō—The head (fourth rank, lower grade) of the Bureau of Ceremonial. The holder of this title was a Prince.
Lord of Civil Affairs Minbukyō—The head (fourth rank, lower grade) of the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
Lord of the Palace Bureau Kunaikyō—The head (fourth rank, lower grade) of the one among the eight major government bureaus that was concerned with all matters affecting the Emperor's household.
The Tale of Genji: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Junichiro Breakdown of Genji) Page 174
