The Clear Mirror (Masukagami)
A Chronicle of the Japanese Court during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333)

Anonymous, translated by George W. Perkins

Stanford University Press, 1998; Pages: 342

Review © 2001 Branislav L. Slantchev

As the subtitle says, this book is an account of court life during the Kamakura period. The narrative begins with the birth of Emperor Go-Toba (1180) and ends with the triumphant entry of Emperor Go-Daigo in Kyoto, the beginning of the Kemmu Restoration (1333). Unlike the hugely popular war tales, like HEIKE MONOGATARI or YOSHITSUNE, this chronicle details the minutae of aristocratic life in Kyoto, sparing no effort in naming people, citing poetry, and generally indulging with much enthusiasm in obscure events that are perhaps of no interest today.

In covering 150 years, the author (or the fictional old lady narrator) scrupulously avoids describing the fascinating relationship between the three loci of political power throughout the period: the imperial courts, the cloistered government of the retired emperors, and the Kamakura bakufu (shogunate). In a period where the real authority was in the hands of the Hojo regents, the shadow decision-makers behind the shadow rule of the shogun behind the shadow government of the cloistered emperor behind the shadow influence of the imperial regents who operated in the name of the reigning emperor. Yes, it is as confusing as it sounds but that is precisely what makes it so fascinating.

Unfortunately, the author of MASUKAGAMI perfers to dwell with gleeful abandon on the travails of aristocrats, who were preoccupied with the questions of imperial succession, especially the two-line alternation precedent, the rise and fall of nobles at poetry contests, and the current fashion in the capital. Thus, there's barely a mention of the Jokyu Disturbance except to tell of Go-Toba's exile to Oki and his death there, and the Genko Disturbance, except to tell of Go-Daigo's exile to the same island. Similarly, the monumentally important Mongol invasions --- rather, failed attempts --- are dealt with in two sentences, which is curious, especially considering the fact that it was expenses associated with defense and the inability to reward the warriors that strained the Kamakura bakufu to its breaking point. In this vein, the narrative ends abruptly with Go-Daigo's return to power but fails to mention the creation of the Ashikaga bakufu and the fast decline of imperial authority that followed immediately.

Whether it is genuine innocence of these power relationships or whether it is because the author preferred to leave these tales to others, MASUKAGAMI scarcely pays any attention to such tasteless politics but instead concentrates on the imperial family. As the translator suggests, it is useful to divide the book in three parts, the first about Go-Toba's reign and attempted challenge of the shogunate, the second about the peaceful years until Go-Daigo's accession, and the third about Go-Daigo's conflict with the shogunate, temporary loss, and eventual victory with the help of the Ashikaga family. The story is organized around public events, such as festivities, ceremonies, deaths, and some private moments, like love, infidelity, and even more piquant court gossip.

The style is quite dry and can be tedious at times. There's nothing of the refreshing grace and tempo of the Muromachi-era YOSHITSUNE, and nothing of the majestic splendor of HEIKE MONOGATARI. Despite the several brief flare-ups in the narrative when the author tells of love and lust with obvious gusto, the tone is rather officious, and detached. It is obvious that the author, doubtlessly an aristocrat, was a man of his times, for whom imperial authority, poetry, and fashion were of paramount import. The result is a shallow work, whose cursory grasp of contemporary life makes one want to get to something more substantial, something with a bit of opinionated analysis, something less concerned with form and protocol but more involved with passion.

The translation is very good and although the notes are far from copious, they are very adequate. For those not familiar with Japanese history, the introduction provides some background, but one is still best to consult a general reference about the culture and society during these centuries because certain passages will remain obfuscated. In any case, reading this book should probably be postponed until after reading some of the better classics lest one gets turned off by its stilted prose.

September 10, 2001.

---

@BOOK{perkins-98:clear
    TITLE     = {The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court
                 during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333)},
    AUTHOR    = {George W. Perkins},
    YEAR      = {1998},
    PUBLISHER = {Stanford University Press},
    ADDRESS   = {Stanford},
    ISBN      = {0-8047-2953-0},
    NOTE      = {Pp. 342, index, bibliography}
}