Chapter 4 - Yugao

Chapter 4 of Genji Monogatari, Yugao (Evening Faces), takes its name from the white moonflower — yūgao — growing over the fence of a modest dwelling where the young Genji encounters a mysterious, gentle woman of obscured identity. The chapter ends in tragedy when the woman dies suddenly during a night together at an abandoned Rokujō mansion, her death attributed to possession by a jealous spirit. The yūgao flower itself — white, fragrant, opening at dusk — was a recognized symbol of transience in Heian poetry, and Gekko's composition almost certainly incorporates the vine-covered fence and white blossoms as the visual anchor of the scene. A woman in informal robes, possibly glimpsed partially or shown from behind, would suit the chapter's theme of concealment and brief visibility. The night setting allows for cool, dark background washes achieved through graduated bokashi, with the white flowers and pale garments providing contrast. This chapter was among the most frequently illustrated in Genji Monogatari print series due to its romantic imagery and tragic resonance.