A figure to be
put out at the shallows of
the river of rites—
who would trust in such a thing
as a shadow at her side

Meaning

A figure to be put out at the shallows of the river of purification—who would trust in such a thing as a shadow that stays at one's side?

Commentary

Part Three: Azumaya

　Naka no Kimi's reply to Kaoru's poem about the stand-in. Since such a figure is a thing to be floated away, she says, no one could rely on it as a companion for life, and so she guards against her sister being treated lightly. Kaoru's interest nevertheless went on toward Ukifune, and with Ben the nun as go-between he was to find her out. Naka no Kimi's misgiving becomes fact exactly as she states it in the chapters that follow.

　Misogigawa is the river where purification is performed, the place where such figures are set adrift. "Put out at the shallows" is to float a thing away at each shallow in turn. "A shadow that stays at one's side" is a companion for life. Taking his katashiro and nademono just as he used them, she confronts him with what the objects are actually for, and the answer is soundly reasoned.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

A figure to be put out at the shallows of the river of rites— who would trust in such a thing as a shadow at her side

A figure to be
put out at the shallows of
the river of rites—
who would trust in such a thing
as a shadow at her side