“A Branch of Sacred Evergreen” (Sakaki), from the Moriyasu Version, known as the Phantom Genji Scrolls (Maboroshi no Genji monogatari emaki, Moriyasu-bon)

These two fragments from the so-called Phantom Genji Scrolls illustrate scenes from Chapter 10, “A Branch of Sacred Evergreen.” Now dispersed in multiple collections, the chapter originally consisted of six scrolls with approximately thirty paintings. The first segment captures the dramatic tonsure of Genji’s stepmother, Fujitsubo, following an elaborate multiday ceremony of Eight Lectures on the Lotus Sutra (Hokke hakkō), performed in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the death of the Kiritsubo Emperor (2015.300.36a). The second painting depicts a verse-guessing contest held at Genji’s residence, during which Genji and his companions demonstrate their knowledge of Chinese poetry (2015.300.36a, b). As seen in other illustrations from the Phantom Genji Scrolls, the designers employed sophisticated architectural compositions and visual juxtapositions to emphasize themes drawn from a close reading of the tale.