Chapter 2 - Hahakigi

"Hahakigi" (The Broom Tree) is Chapter 2 of The Tale of Genji, in which a rainy night discussion among young courtiers about the varieties of women gives way to Genji's first encounter with Utsusemi — the woman who, almost uniquely in the novel, resists his advances. The chapter's title refers to the broom tree (hahakigi), a tree that appears substantial from a distance but dissolves into nothing when approached — a metaphor for elusive perfection and the disappointment of reality. Ebina's illustration captures the intimate, rain-soaked atmosphere of the night discussion and its consequences.