Homosocial Mentorship and the Serviceable Female Corpse: Manhood Rituals in The Tale of Genji

"The Rites" (Minori) chapter presents a pivotal event in The Tale of Genji: the death of Genji's most beloved wife, Murasaki no Ue. In analyzing this scene, I focus on how her death magnifies melancholic attachment to strengthen ties between the bereaved male protagonists. Loss of this stunning woman lures two generations of men into a spell of deathbed fellowship. After Murasaki has died, Genji and his son, Yûgiri, together gaze at her cadaver. Such intimate viewing represents not only an instance of unchecked voyeurism but also signifies a pedagogical exercise in which beholding a dead female body fosters homosocial communion. This act stages a paternal object lesson in how to mourn and earn manhood through rituals of lurid staring. In tracing how dominative desires to look, grieve, and teach transpire in the scene, I argue that Murasaki's flawless corpse fuels patriarchal inheritance.

摘要：:

紫の上の死後、光源氏と夕霧は共に彼女の亡き骸を見つめる。本稿ではその 行為の果たす役割に注目したい。それは哀愁の儀式として機能し、紫の上の死を通 じ、遺された二人の男のホモソーシャルな絆は強まり、夕霧の男性性が醸成されるき っかけにもなる。