冷泉帝は絵を好み、梅壺女御も絵をよくするので、帝は梅壺の局にしばしば通って絵を描かせる。

Emperor Reizei loves pictures, and Lady Umetsubo paints well, so the Emperor often visits her chamber to have her paint.

源氏、絵合せのための絵を選び、紫の上に須磨の絵日記を見せる。

Genji selects pictures for a picture contest and shows Murasaki the Suma picture diary.

藤壺、絵合せを催す。女房たち、二手に分かれて、優劣を論じ合う。

Fujitsubo holds a picture contest; the ladies divide into two sides and debate superiority.

冷泉帝御前での絵合せ。 左右よりの絵を沈や紫檀の箱にいれ、人々居並ぶ。藤壺も臨席。

The picture contest before Emperor Reizei: pictures from left and right are placed in aloeswood and rosewood boxes as people line up; Fujitsubo also attends.

The after-contest feast following the picture contest.

冷泉帝の後宮で、源氏が後見する斎宮女御（梅壺女御）と、権中納言（頭中将）の娘・弘徽殿女御が寵を競う。絵画を好む帝の関心を惹こうと宮中で「絵合」が開催される。古今の名画が競われるなか、最後に源氏が須磨・明石で自ら描いた流謫の日記絵巻が出され、藤壺や冷泉帝をはじめ満座を深く感動させて梅壺方の完全勝利となる。

At the court of Emperor Reizei, a rivalry unfolds between the Umetsubo Consort, backed by Genji, and the Kokiden Consort, backed by To no Chujo. A magnificent court Picture Contest is arranged before the Emperor and Fujitsubo. After famous ancient and modern scrolls are matched, Genji produces his private illustrated journals from his Suma and Akashi exile, moving the assembly to tears and securing an overwhelming victory for Umetsubo.

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