[28] Because a birth in a house was defilement, while a messenger to or from a god was holy.
[29] Saishi: a kind of gold ornament with five radiating points worn on the forehead and tied on around the head. (See frontispiece.)
[30] This was to frighten away evil spirits.
[31] Rice-scattering; for good luck.
[32] Here occurs an untranslatable sentence. Literally it would seem to be: It seems hair growing in good monochromatic picture. That might mean that the Queen seemed like a beauty in a picture drawn with ink and brush (see some illustrations in this book).
[33] Purple and scarlet.
[34] Karaginu: a short garment with long sleeves and worn of a different colour from the uchigi. (See frontispiece.)
[35] Uchigi: long unconfined flowing robe put on over the dress. It was made of elegant material and lined with another colour and was the distinctive and beautiful part of the court dress of that day. Under it were worn two or more other silk robes of different colours, one often intended to show through and modify the colour of the other. They were fastened in front by a belt like the present-day kimono, and over them was hung at the back the long and elaborate train of heavy white silk on which the last word of elegance in embroidery or painting was placed. In the presence of Royalty the ladies knelt in rows one behind the other, and doubtless these trains made a great display spread out before those sitting behind. (See frontispiece.)
[36] See frontispiece.
[37] Unemé: beautiful women, selected from various provinces for their beauty, especially to wait on the Royal table.