Reading Notes W5: Feng & Saikaku, Part A

Du Tenth Sinks The Jewel Box In Anger

• The Poem in the beginning was devoted to the praise of their dynasty's founding of the capital at Yan. (499)
• Guarded to the north by towering passes, and commands the region of central China to the south (499)
• Granddad Hongwu swept away the barbarian dust and established his reign at Jinling. This was capital Nanjing (499)
• Granddad Yongle led his troops out of Beiping and it was removed to Yan. Became Beijing. (499)
• From Granddad Yongle, the throne passed down nine generations to Granddad Wanli, the 11th Son of Heaven of their dynasty. Wise, strong, perfect in virtue and good fortune. Succeeded to the kingdom at age 10 and ruled for 40 years. Put down 3 armed uprisings during this time.(499)
• The 3 uprisings were: Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan, Bei Cheng'en of the Xixia, and Yang Yinglong of Bozhou. (499)
• Hideyosihi invaded Korea, the other two were native officials who plotted revolt. (499)
• Story picks up during the 20th year of the Wanli period, when the Japanese Prime Minister created discord by invading Korea. (500)
• Payments were temporarily accepted in exchange for positions in the imperial academy. Advantages for those who bought academy scholar status this way. Easier to study, participate in the civil service exam, easier to pass. Helped with career advancement.(500)
• Jia Li was a native of Shaoxing Prefecture in Zhejiang, he was the eldest of three sons of his father, Provincial Commissioner Li. He met a famous courtesan named Mei Du, 10th born of her generation. "Du Tenth" (500)
• Du Tenth lost her virginity when she was 13. She was 19 at the present time. (500)
• Li's "happiness exceeded all expectation" when he first ran into Du Tenth. He was afraid of his father and taking Du Tenth up on her proposal. But they did swear to each other that they would never have thoughts of another. They became more and more devoted to each other. (501).
• Tenth's madam viewed her relationship with Li as her being monopolized. Other heirs and lords couldn't have her now. Li was running out of money by spending so much on Du Tenth. His father found out that he was "passing time whoring in the pleasure district" and called him back home. (501).
• The more financial hardship Du Tenth saw Li in, the warmer she grew toward him (501).
• The madam wanted Du Tenth to send Li away, but Du Tenth ignored her. She tried to anger and provoke him with verbal attacks, but it didn't work since he was so mannerly. (501).
• The madam is furious that Li has no more money to spend. Du Tenth mentioned how much he's spent but it didn't manner how much he had spent since he can't spend anymore. She called Du Tenth a slut and said she's been having to pay for the "upkeep of this bum of yours." The madam told Du Tenth to have him buy her out so she can be replaced with a new girl. The madam says Li has 3 days to get 300 in cash or the deals off. Du Tenth got the madam to agree on 10 days instead of 3. Du Tenth has doubts of the madam sticking to her word, but the madam says she's too old to be telling lies. (502)
• Du Tenth and Li were in bed together, discussing the issue. Du Tenth explains that he has 10 days to get 300. Li says he can't since he's out of money. Du Tenth asks if he can borrow from friends or family. Li says he can't. Li says he'll go to each house tomorrow and ask to borrow money from each house and see if he can pool it all together and reach 300. (503)
• "The mention of money dissolves predestined ties." Everyone had doubts, given his current circumstances. No one would give him 20, or even 10. (503)
• Li didn't earn a thing within 3 days and didn't dare go back to Du Tenth to tell her that. After 4 days and not even coming up with a plan, he was truly embarrassed. He went to talk to his townsman, academy scholar Liu. Li explained the situation to Liu. Liu assessed the matter and told Li the madam is probably toying with him, and that he should just make a clean break away (504).
• 6 days had passed and Li still hadn't accomplished anything. Du Tenth sent a boy, Number Four, to go find Li since she was worrying. Four ran into Li and wouldn't let go of him until he came back to the quarters. Li missed Du Tenth, and went along. (504)
• When Du Tenth asked Li how it was going, he began to cry. Li said "Catching Tigers cannot be considered easy, but begging favors is what's truly hard." He tells her he's been too ashamed to see her since it's been 6 days and he hasn't a penny to show for it. (504)
• Du Tenth tells him to ignore what the madam said, and to stay the night with her. Du Tenth insists she has a plan. (505).
• Du Tenth had 150 taels in savings and gave them to Li. She hopes he can earn the remaining half. (505)
• Li told Liu about the 150 taels. Liu was convinced that she was a woman with sincere intentions and said "I will see to this on your behalf." (505)
• Liu put together 150 taels within two days and gave it to Li, not for Li's sake, but because he was moved by the sincere feeling of Du Tenth (505).
• The madam was about to consider going back on her promise on the tenth day when Li and Du Tenth revealed the 300 taels, but Du Tenth threatened to end her life and have Li keep the 300 taels. Screwing the madam out of a girl and 300 taels. The madam had nothing to counter with and told them to leave at once. She told Du Tenth not to imagine taking any of her clothes or jewelry with her. (506)
• Li and Du Tenth left, as husband and wife (506)
• They visited Tenth's sisters in the quarters to thank them for lending her traveling money. They also did her make up and gave her nicer looking clothes. They prepared a celebration (506).
• Tenth asked about their settlement plans. Li said they can't go to his father since he'll be outraged that Li married a prostitute. Tenth suggested they have friends and family calm his father first. They would reside in the scenic region of Suzhou and Hangzhou in the meantime. (507)
• Du Tenth set her messenger to say goodbye to her friend Xie Yuelang the day they were going to leave. When they were about to leave, bearers and palanquins arrived in great numbers. Xie Yuelang and Xu Susu had brought all the sisters to say goodbye. They acknowledged how little money Tenth and Li had, and "raised a meager sum among ourselves." They gave Du Tenth a gold-inlaid stationery box. It was locked up and Tenth didn't refuse it nor look inside. She thanked them and they left.(507)
• When it was time to board the boat, Li didn't have money since he spent his money on new clothes since his were no good anymore from wearing only that one outfit. Du Tenth opened the box and pulled out a red silk pouch that had 50 taels inside. She locked up the box right after without saying what else might be inside. (508)
• Li suggested they drink as much as they want and relieve their cooped-up feelings. She agreed and sang for him after he complimented her. (509).
• Sun Fu got a peek of Du Tenth and recited poetry from his boat. Li heard the poetry coming from the neighboring boat and and to peek out and see who it was. Sun Fu did this on purpose to start a conversation with him. They introduced themselves. Sun Fu claimed he wanted to drink with him ashore. Sun Fu had his boatmen bring Li over, with an umbrella to protect him from the snowstorm. (510)
• Li told Sun Fu about everything that had happened. He asked what Sun Fu thought. Sun Fu said they've only briefly started chatting and that he might offend Li with his honesty. But he pointed out the trouble that Li was going to face by not getting approval from his family and having no where to settle with her once they run out of money. (511)
• Sun Fu planted seeds of doubt in Li, saying that Du Tenth might be using Li just to meet up with another lover. Li was at a loss for words and asked what advice Sun Fu would give. (511)
• Sun Fu proposed that he would give Li 1000 taels if he were to "act decisively when opportunity presents itself." (512)
• Li was terrified of his father and told Sun Fu he needed to talk with Du Tenth. "I cannot in justice cut her off all at once" (513)
• Li went to talk to her and she tried to console him and give him wine. He refused to drink. He didn't say anything and went to bed. She became unable to sleep when he fell asleep easily without talking to her. (513).
• He woke up and she spoke to him. It's been 2 years since they've been together and she's never seen him grieve like this. Li said he undeservingly received her. He viewed it as an incomparable favor that she's done him. He explains Sun Fu's proposition to take her in for 1000 taels so that he may be able to call on his parents and she would have someone to rely on. (514)
• She felt it was a great strategy. She felt it would let him return to his family without her being a burden on his life. (514)
• The silver was accounted for and the trade was ready. Du Tenth requested for Sun Fu to give her back her makeup box briefly so that she may take out the travel documents to give them to Li. When she got the box, she had Li open the various drawers of the box. There were countless treasures worth several thousand. After more treasures were thrown out into the sea, there was no telling how much it was all worth. Li cried. Du Tenth cursed Sun Fu and declared him her sworn enemy for hatching such a cunning plot that ruined her destined life with Li. (515)
• Du Tenth told Li she didn't intend for their oath to be broken. She said there's no less than ten thousand taels in the box. She intended for Li to be able to use it all to return to his parents without shame. (515)
• She couldn't believe that he lost faith in her off of some groundless claims and betrayed her heart. (516)
• She wanted everyone to witness that she didn't betray him; he betrayed her (516).
• Li and Sun fu sailed off in different directions. Li brooded for days out of his shame. Sun Fu fell ill and saw Du Tenth beside him, cursing him. He died eventually. "Revenge exacted from the depths of the river" (516)
• One of Liu's fisherman found a box with treasures inside. He paid the fisherman a lot. He then saw Du Tenth. Du Tenth greeted him, complained about Li, explained that she meant to repay him for helping them, but couldn't foresee Li's betrayal. She presented that treasure to him as a token of heartfelt thanks. She said they won't ever meet again. Tenth had died. (516-7)

From Life of a Sensuous Woman

• A beautiful woman is an ax that cuts down a man's life. (593)
• Men who die young of overindulgence in the way of sensuous love are foolish. (593)
• On the seventh of the first month, people go to have their fortunes told. (593)
• The two men who spoke were opposites. One wanted as much sensual pleasure as he could get, the other wanted to give up love entirely. (593)
• Narrator sees an old woman who looks decent for her age. Stylish. (593-4)
• The old woman asks the two men why they keep coming. One says that the other man is being tortured by love. Speaking for himself, he claims that he gets very depressed. (594)
• They say she's experienced and they want to hear her life story so that they may understand more about the world and life (594)
• She played on her koto and sang about deep love after they drank saké. (594)
• Every one of the men who longed for her were handsome but she didn't have feelings for any of them. (595)
• For 4 or 5 days she couldn't tell if she was sleeping or awake. She was 13 at the time and people wondered if she had done that already. (595)
• She followed her desires where they went and ruined herself. She says there's no use in regretting it though. (596)
• She's never heard of more attractive women than those in Kyoto (596)
• The overseer of the inner chambers was more than 70 years old and the best he could do was tell sexy stories (597)
• He was chosen to go to Kyoto and find a mistress to chaperone all the way to Edo (597)
• The employment agency chose more than 170 women and sent them to the old retainer for interviews, but he wasn't satisfied with a single one. (598)
• "But women, you know, are very basic creatures. They just can't forget about physical love" (599)
• She's always been an unlucky woman, but her lord was tender to her and they enjoyed their lovemaking. But the lord kept losing weight and became "awful to look at"(599)
• "If you look closely at the world, you'll see that a man who's born sexually weak is a very sad thing for a woman" (599)
• She finally overcame her shame and had her hair done up like a boy and began to speak and move like one (600)
• She hired a man to carry her things and she set out with a professional jester. They found a temple known to have wealth and a sex-loving monk. They went around to temples of every persuasion suggesting they switch to the Woman-loving sect. They didn't find a monk who didn't convert. (600)
• Eventually the head priest of one temple fell in love with her and she became his temporary wife for 3 years in exchange for 25 lbs of silver. (600)
• Sleeping with the priest made her even sadder. Nothing gave her pleasure anymore and she gradually lost weight and grew weaker. If she were to die, she'd be secretly buried without proper cremation according to the priest. It was frightening at first but she got used to it. (601)
• She found herself up late at night waiting for him to come home. She hated for him to go away. She began to cherish even the smell of incense on his robe. She forgot her loneliness. (601)
• Young monks in training saw their way of living and imitated it. (601)
• "I've lived in this temple for many, many years" (602)
• She was 20 years older than the priest she was with and he told people she was his mother. They exchanged pledges, but they meant nothing to him. When she got old, he pushed her into a dark corner of the temple. He gave her nothing but old rice offerings. He's treated her terrible but she insists it isn't that bad. (602)
• She said the narrator knows nothing about her, but whenever she hears the narrator saying things to each other in bed, she can't forget sex. She decided to get rid of this longing. "I'm going to bite right into you. Tonight!" (602)
• Narrator pretended to be pregnant so that the priest would send her away. It worked. (602).

Feng Menglong. "Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger." The Norton Anthology World Literature,

edited by Martin Puchner, third Edition, vol. D, W. W. Norton, 2012, pp. 497-517.

Ihara Saikaku. "From Life of a Sensuous Woman." The Norton Anthology World Literature, edited by Martin Puchner, third Edition, vol. D, W. W. Norton, 2012, pp. 591-602.