Lady Nijō

Lady Nijō (二条院) (1258 – c. 1307) was a Japanese author, poet, and concubine during the Kamakura period. She is best known for her autobiographical memoir, Towazugatari (とはずがたり, "The Confessions of Lady Nijō" or "Unrequested Tale"), a significant work of Japanese literature that provides a valuable insight into the imperial court and aristocratic life of the time.

Born into a branch of the Fujiwara clan, Nijō served as a concubine to Emperor Go-Fukakusa from the age of fourteen. Her relationship with the Emperor was complex and tumultuous, marked by both affection and political maneuvering. Towazugatari details her numerous love affairs, including relationships with members of the court and Buddhist priests, as well as her experiences within the imperial household.

The Towazugatari is structured as a series of episodes, presenting a candid and introspective account of her life, loves, losses, and spiritual journey. It is notable for its honest depiction of female desire and its critical examination of the constraints placed upon women within the Heian and Kamakura court society. The memoir covers roughly the period from 1271 to 1306.

After the death of Emperor Go-Fukakusa and subsequent strained relations with his successor, Nijō left the court in her late twenties and became a Buddhist nun. The latter part of Towazugatari describes her travels throughout Japan as a pilgrim, offering further insight into her evolving spiritual life and her observations of the wider world beyond the court.

While some details of Lady Nijō's life remain uncertain due to the nature of historical sources and the fictionalized elements inherent in autobiographical works, Towazugatari stands as a vital historical and literary document, offering a rare and intimate perspective on the experiences of a woman within the Japanese imperial court of the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Her poetry, also included in Towazugatari, reflects the themes of love, loss, and impermanence that permeate her life story.