Another favorite means of amusement was to write and read or tell stories -- the Scheherezade of these being a beautiful lady, who often composed her own stories. The following instance is abbreviated from the Onna Dai Gaku (“Womans Great Study”): Ise no Taiyu was a daughter of Sukeichika, the mikados minister of festivals, and a highly accomplished lady. None among the ladies of the court could equal her. One day a branch of luxuriant cherry-blossoms was brought from Nara. The emperor gave it to her, and asked her to extemporize a verse. She did so, and the courtiers were all astonished at the beauty and delicate sentiment of the verse.
Sei Shonagon was the daughter of Kiyowara no Motosuke. She was one of the imperial concubines. She was well read in Japanese and Chinese literature, and composed poetry almost from infancy, having a wonderful facility of improvisation. One day, after a fall of snow, she looked out from the southern door of the palace.
The emperor, having passes round the wine-cup to his lords and ladies at the usual morning assembly of the courtiers and maids of honor, said, “How is the snow Kuraho?” No one else understood the meaning, but Sei Shonagon instantly stepped forward and drew up the curtains, revealing the mountains decked in fresh-fallen snow. The emperor was delighted, and bestowed upon her a prize. Sei Shonagon had understood his allusion to the line in an ancient poem which ran thus: “The snow of Kuraho is seen by raising the curtains.”
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
