It was a time when Izumi Shikibu was grieving over the death of her lover, Imperial Prince Tametaka of Danjo (the Third Prince of Emperor Reizei), who had passed away in 1002, the disownment by her father, and the cold relationship between her husband TACHIBANA no Michisada.
恋人冷泉天皇第三皇子弾正宮為尊親王が前年長保4年に薨じ、また為尊親王との恋のため父親にも勘当され、さらに夫橘道貞との関係も冷めたものとなって嘆きつつ追憶の日々を過ごしていた。