Of Old Japan
anthemum colours. The ornament of their trains was dyed by rubbing.[1] Lady Tachibana of the Third Rank prepared the dinner. She is an old lady and wore blue[2] karaginu, and yellow chrysanthemum uchigi woven in a "floating thread" pattern. A sudare was rolled up, but a post obscured the view. The Lord Prime Minister, taking the August young Prince in his arms went before the King. His Majesty took the child himself. The Honourable Infant cried a little in a very young voice. Lady Ben-no-Saisho stood holding the Prince's sword. The Prince was taken to the Lord Prime Minister's wife, who sat on the west side of the inner door. After His Majesty had gone, Ben-no-Saisho came out and said to me: "I was exposed to brightness [i.e. the radiance of the King's presence]. I felt discomposed." Her blushing face was beautiful in every feature, and set off her dress delightfully.
When night came we had beautiful dances. The court nobles presented themselves before the King [to dance]. The names of the dances performed were:
- The Pleasures of Ten Thousand Ages.
- The Pleasures of a Peaceful Reign.
- The Happy Palace.
When they danced the "Long-Pleasing[3] Son," the
- ↑ In this curiously delicate operation the actual leaf or flower from which the colour was obtained was rubbed onto the silk to make the desired pattern.
- ↑ Light blue and some kinds of yellow are colours relegated to the elderly in Japan. Babies and young people are dressed in bright colours and showy patterns. The old wear plain stuffs and pale or dull colours.
- ↑ This dance was performed by court nobles at the coronation of the present Emperor at Kioto, 1915.
