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This is a Sokyoku piece in the Kumiuta style from the Ikuta Ryű school . This piece was composed for koto by Ikuta Kengyo .

History (from Tsuge Gen'ichi)
The title literally means 'Genji in the Four Seasons: Old Version.' (Sometimes this kumiuta is called 'Original Shiki-Genji' or Yatsuhashi's Shiki-Genji.') Composed by Yatsuhashi Kengyo, the founder of the tradition, this song cycle was treated as its 'most secret' piece. Consequently this kumiuta is thought to preserve the old invention of Yatsuhashi's style.

The text of each of the first four songs is based on a typical scene representing one of the four seasons in 'The Tale of Genji;' namely, spring from 'Butterflies' (Kochyo), summer from 'The Orange Blossoms' (Hanachirusato), autumn from 'The Typhoon' (Nowaki), and winter from 'The Morning Glory' (Asagao. The fifth songs, acts as an epilogue, and is not directly derived from 'The Genji.'

The song cycle is preceded by a short instrumental introduction (maebiki) of 8 hyoshi ('beats' or eight measures). After the second song, an interlude of 39 hyoshi is inserted.

Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
On the lake
Of the spring garden,
Colorful boats
In the Chinese fashion
Rowed in the bright spring sun.
Flowers scent our sleeves
Soaked with waterdrops
From the oars.

A koto
Harmonizes
With the breeze from
A lunar laurel tree.
Irresistible music!
Just
For the occasion
The cuckoo sings.

Morning and evening dew
Glitters
In unearthly colors,
Chimes like a
Jeweled garden.
An autumn wind
Rends the trees and
Flowers into a thousand pieces.

Snow
On the hedge of a
Neglected palace -
Like orange blossoms in full bloom,
Or white-crested waves -
No matter how often
I sweep it away,
New flurries pile up.

Through countless ages
The imperial grace
Shall never end.
Blessed with his mercy -
As great as Mt. Tsukuba,
As dense as foliose hills -
The houses of all his people
Shall be prosperous.