The Left and the Right, 2020 左大臣 (Sadaijin) and 右大臣 (Udaijin)
Sadaijin (Minister of the Left) and Udaijin (Minister of the Right) were the two most prominent non-imperial government positions in Heian era Japan. These were powerful, influential men with significant sway over the Emperor and the government of the realm. There was one more role above these two Ministers: Daijodaijin, translated as Chancellor, Chief Minister, Grand Minister of State, you get the idea. According to Royall Tyler’s notes on the various titles in the Tale of Genji, the Daijodaijin was “above actual administration” (sounds a lot like “above doing actual work” to me), intended for a person of exemplary nature, and mostly honorary instead of functional.
The Sadaijin and Udaijin tend to represent different political views or factions, creating a kind of power balance or tension. For much of the major parts of the Tale of Genji, the Left is represented by To no Chujo’s father (big fan of Genji), while the Right is the Kokiden Lady’s father (Genji haters). During the period when Genji’s favours have fallen, the Minister of the Right and the Kokiden Lady’s supporters make the court such a pain in the ass for the other side that the Minister of the Left is like “This place sucks, I’m gonna go home and stay there”. Must be nice having that kind of option. But naturally Genji surpasses all his terrible hurdles and comes back bigger and better than before... and ends up Chancellor, before graduating to Honorary Retired Emperor.
Later on in the story, Higekuro and then Yugiri serve as Minister of the Right, with a brief (possibly erroneous) stint from Kobai as well in the role. The hardworking Yugiri actually ping-pongs between both Left and Right in the final chapters of the story, though this seems to be a continuity error on the part of the writer - or writers, as various scholars believe some chapters were written by a different person.
Genjimonogatari series / Print available on INPRNT
