10/20/2022
Continuing on with covering some of the important historical figures in the Jidai Masturi....
Abutsu Ni (阿仏尼) was a famous Japanese poet during the Kamakura period (13th century). She was a lady in waiting to Princess Kuni-Naishinnō, later Empress Ankamon-in. During her time in court Abutsu ni developed her scholarly skills, she was transcribing a commissioned copy of the Tale of Genji when she met fellow poet and later husband Fujiwara no Tameie, together they had two sons. Unfortunately Tameie died twenty years after their marriage and out of respect for her late-husband she became a buddhist nun, from then on was known as Abutsu ni (the suffix -ni means nun).
But her story does not end here.
The death of Tameie caused a dispute of inheritance between the eldest son of a previous relationship and the eldest son he had with Abutsu ni. To plead with the shogunate on behalf of her son, Abutsu ni travelled from Kyoto to Kamakura. It was this journey that inspired Abutsu ni to write many poems and letters which later became her most well-known work “izayoi nikki” (diary of the wanning moon.)
The timing was unfortunate, in 1274 and 1281 the Mongols invaded Japan twice which delayed a decision on the case to be made. Abutsu ni passed away in 1283 awaiting a verdict, and three years later the government decided against Abutsu ni’s son’s inheritance.
It is a tragic ending to a terrific life and legacy of Abutsu ni. Abutsu’s journal was thick with poetic allusion, she is highly regarded as an influential scholar in the history of female poets. For about 250 years, female poets and aristocratic women were expected to produce more flowery ‘feminine works’ whereas poems which were critical in nature were considered masculine. Abutsu ni cemented herself as a dedicated scholar in her work titled ‘yoru no tsuru,’ forgoing the limitations of gender and adopting a more male-dominated style of poetry depicting a moralistic conversation between two women.
Today her legacy is celebrated through the “festival of the ages”, a geiko is selected to represent the historical figure.
Abutsu Ni portrayed Gion Higashi geiko Hinayuu san (雛佑さん), 2019.