The phrase or notion of "mono no aware" is derived from the Japanese
word aware that in Heian Japan meant "sensitivity" or "sadness," to all
things pertaining to human existence. (Hooker, 1996) This helps a reader
understand why, despite the fact that the hero Genji behaves with frequent
insensitivity to others, particularly to women, the text still considers
him to possess a soul worthy of an entire saga.
This sense of "mono no aware" also means that although Genji does not
live a good life, sexually and morally speaking Genji still lives, in
essence, a truly Japanese and artistic life of the spirit. This is why he
possesses a sense of "mono no aware" because he understands why he behaves
as he does, understands its and his own personal imperfections, and thus
the imperfect and transient nature of human existence.
Consider Genji's relations with the Consort Fujitsubo. Genji enters
into a sexual relationship with Fujitsubo because she is said to
spiritually resemble his mother despite the fact that she is the consort of
the Emperor's. Genji acts immorally, yet does so against the emperor and
conventional codes of conduct out of an interest to know his past better,
and also because he believes that both he and the emperor's consort share
More important than strict Confucian fidelity to the emperor, for
Genji, thus is the connection between himself and the emperor's consort.
Genji has a larger understanding of fidelity that transcends mere moments
on earth, and stretches back to his connection to his mother and her
Utsusemi and Genji's eventual conquest of this woman's body may seem
like another matter entirely. At first, Utsusemi is repelled by her
initial seduction by Genji. The night after she leaves behind a gown for
Genji to find, symbolizing her casting off of him. Hence her nameâ€"which
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