However, Genji doesn't notice the concern of Murasaki no ue and the difference in their feelings for each other gets bigger and bigger, and at the age of 37 which is considered a critical age for a woman, she falls seriously ill because of anxiety ('Wakana' (new herbs)). しかし紫の上の悩みに気づかぬ源氏と次第にすれ違いを重ね、その心労から37歳の厄年に重病にかかる(「若菜 (源氏物語)」)。 |