Word: kaoru
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Dates: during 1932-1932
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...tale is of Kaoru and Niou, two princes of noble blood, and their affairs with Agemaki and Kozeri, Prince Hachi's lovely daughters. Kaoru is an exceptional youth with such a natural fragrance that even at a distance people can smell his "hundred-step scent." Niou, who carries no such natural musk, tries to emulate his friend by becoming an expert mixer of perfumes. But Niou's personal life, dedicated to endless amours, is not so savory. Kaoru. with heavenly leanings, leaves women and the court alone...
...course of his monkish aspirations Kaoru meets venerable Prince Hachi, who lives in retreat on his country estate. There they study heavenly philosophy together until the tinkling of a lute and a 13-stringed zithern behind the paper doors apprises Kaoru that there are daughters in the house. From that moment his elaborate ceremonial courtship, in which every little movement has a meaning of its own, begins. But it is only long after the death of Prince Hachi. who consigns his daughters to Kaoru's guardianship, that he even sees the girls...
...Kaoru desires Agemaki, but she wants no man. When he tries to consummate his love, she substitutes her sister in the bed. Shocked. Kaoru leaves Kozeri untouched, begins to see that he has been unfaithful to Prince Hachi's trust. He determines to befriend the girls by marrying Kozeri off to his noble friend Niou. The gallant Niou succeeds in winning her, takes her off to court. But soon, for court reasons, he has to reduce her to concubinage. With her tragic disappointment the book ends. Though Niou "vowed to cherish her in this life and all lives to come...