《源氏物语》中《末摘花》之章与平安时期的宫廷生活（上篇）(8)

Aileen Gatten wrote an article specifically devoted to incense in the Heian period. She explains that it did not just serve a religious purpose, but was also used to create pleasant smells on clothing or in rooms. These scents were important for a similar reason mentioned above; the Heian aristocracy did not have many direct social interactions. Therefore, other aspects like the color of the fabric seen through a shutter or, as in the cases Aileen Gatten describes, the scent of a person were used to identify the individual, as well as outline their personal attributes. Incense making was also considered an artistic skill which could be used to judge the respectability of a person (Gatten, “A Wisp of Smoke”). These indirect approaches to judging and characterizing were not just used in The Tales of Genji, but served a practical and aesthetic cultural purpose as well.
Gatten has another article that uses the characters in The Tales of Genji to help identify Heian values. She writes on the aberrant women in Genji’s amorous relations: the safflower princess and an older woman known as Gen no Naishi no Suke. Naishi is seen as deviant because she is past the age of being acceptably allowed to act as promiscuously and sexually inviting as she does. This is off putting to many in the society, which is shown through the aghast treatment of her behavior by other characters. Gatten makes it clear that Murasaki shows what is good and bad behavior in Heian society through how the characters react. She explains that Murasaki “does this partially through conventional means, such as having her narrator comment favorably on a character’s actions or appearance” (Gatten, “Weird Ladies”). Therefore, when the characters react negatively towards the old woman, Murasaki is demonstrating that Naishi’s actions deviate from what would be expected of Heian society. However, it is the safflower princess that tells the most about how not to act. She is aberrant due to her extreme isolation and shyness. Although subtlety was key in the society, the safflower princess is too shy to even engage with or be a part of that society. Based on the reactions to her, her reserve is viewed as negative. The shyness is not a good quality, neither to the degree it is nor based on her circumstances. Murasaki for example writes, “’You are very inexperienced, my lady,’ she said with a smile. ‘It is all right for people in your august position to make a show of innocence when they have parents and relatives to look after them, but your rather sad circumstances make this reserve seem somehow out of place’” (Murasaki, The Tales of Genji). The conversation is between the safflower princess and her friend Tayu. As shown, Murasaki is commenting on the unusual nature of the princess; she is not a noble with parents that would be able to excuse her from responsibilities. Instead, she is on her own; her powerful father has passed on, meaning she must take care of herself in society, which she does not seem to do. Even Tayu, her friend, feels she must comment on how out of place the princess’ silence towards Genji is. This serves as a good indicator that her behavior is not socially acceptable.