*This photo is from Instagram of Hikarukimie(NHK)

Flower essences, blooming with the fragrant whispers of The Tale of Genji

 Starting from January 7, 2024, a NHK historical TV series depicting the life of Murasaki Shikibu(Lady Murasaki), the author of The Tale of Genji, began airing. Since I love The Tale of Genji, I'm very happy to watch this every week now.

 When speaking of The Tale of Genji, the exquisite elegance of the Heian aristocracy is undeniably breathtaking. What captivates me most is its profound ability to stir the depths of human emotions, unveiling the delicate intricacies of the heart and the inevitable complexities of life. This enduring allure, untouched by over a millennium of scientific advancement, resonates deeply within my soul.

I'd like to write about the princess in "The Tale of Genji" I like and flower essences and this time is about Oborozukiyo.

Who is Oborozukiyo?

Oborozukiyo" is one of the characters in "The Tale of Genji" and appears in the second chapter, "The Broom Tree". She is a beautiful woman who encounters Genji in the story. Her name, "Oborozukiyo", expresses her beautiful appearance like the moon. She deeply impresses Genji and captures his heart, but she only appears briefly in the story, and her fate is not clearly depicted. However, her beauty and mystery leave a deep impression throughout the story.
By the way, "oborozukiyo" refers to a night where the moon is obscured by clouds or mist, emitting a faint light. Such nights often have a fantastical and mysterious atmosphere, and are frequently depicted in Japanese literature and poetry.

I borrow the good explanation below from the website（1万年堂出版）.

The keywords that come to my mind when I think of Oborozukiyo are 'free spirit,' 'passionate,' and a delicate blend of purity and vulnerability as well.
 
Despite having the gentle Emperor Suzaku who loved her so much, she continued her relationship with Hikaru Genji.
Of course, being involved with two men at once may not be commendable in any era. But she acted without any ulterior motives, always remaining true to her feelings. It is this kind of sincerity, along with a certain purity and strength intertwined with a subtle vulnerability, that perhaps drew Emperor Suzaku to love Oborozukiyo who loved Hikaru Genji rather than him.
 
Let's move on to the main topic as there is no end to the discussion on this topic.

Flower essences for Oborozukiyo

If I were to create a flower essence bottle for Oborozukiyo, I would choose "Larch, California Peony, and Star Tulip."

Larch and California Peony were almost intuitively chosen as they would perfectly fit for the image of Oborozukiyo. The rich pink of Larch feels perfectly suited to Oborozukiyo's image—passionate, beautiful, living true to her feelings, and even possessing a somewhat adorable girlish charm.

 Especially during her youthful infatuation with Hikaru Genji, Oborozukiyo was passionate, free-spirited, and full of allure, yet deep down she lacked confidence in Genji's feelings towards her. She was earnest and adorable.
I believe the Larch essence gently illuminates these aspects of her personality.

Continuing, deep crimson California Peony is a powerful flower essence, and this one is from FES (Flower Essence Services).

Regarding this essence, the essence of this flower in a balanced state is quietly powerful, with charisma.
As Genji is exiled to Suma and elements of sorrow and anguish begin to shadow Oborozukiyo's life, she also passes beyond her youthful prime. I imagine Oborozukiyo during such times from California Peony essence. However, amidst her struggles, her honesty, allure, strength, free-spiritedness, and the profound beautiy glow only deepen. I believe that this deep crimson California Peony essence would gently protect her during such times.

Finally the Star Tulip. I chose this one intuitively as well, but I believe it will be a very important essence to protect her purity and vulnerability.
It would help soften rigid states of mind and regain receptivity to the subtle inner voice. While I don’t think that Oborozukiyo's heart was rigid, perhaps she sought some celestial connection and quiet dialogue with her inner self in her later years.
After Emperor Suzaku entered priesthood, finally Oborozukiyo also became a Buddhist nun and followed him without telling Genji about it .

I imagine that afterwards, she quietly looked back on her life lived passionately and honestly, engaging in heartfelt conversations with her own soul before the Buddha, forgiving and healing all her past. The gentle energy of the sacred purple star tulip might have embraced her in such moments.

Oborozukiyo is a fictional character, but perhaps people from a thousand years ago, even without flower essences, were more naturally connected to themselves through flowers, the moon, and the stars.

Thanks.

Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts or feedback.
contact: papillon.0938@gmail.com

[Reference]
Yui Ou, Flower essence dictionary