Lady Nijo, adopted by her grandfather, became a courtesan to the Japanese emperor at fourteen but later fell out of favor, turning to Buddhism and spending twenty years traveling Japan. She had four children, including one with the emperor, and faced challenges in concealing her pregnancies. The document draws parallels between Lady Nijo's life and the character Hero in 'Much Ado About Nothing', showcasing her journey from obedience to independence.

1. Lady Nijo
By Alicia and Bethan

2. • Circa 1258
• She was the adopted daughter of her grandfather, the Prime Minister.
• When she was fourteen the Emperor saw her and ordered for her to be sent to him. She
became a courtesan of the Japanese Emperor (a mistress).
• She grew attached to the Emperor and was sad if he stayed away to long.
• After falling out of favour she became a Buddhist nun and walked across Japan for twenty
years.
• She had four children: one was the Emperors, who died; one was Akebono’s, a man who had
loved her since she was thirteen and was devastated when she was sent to the Emperor and
the last two were Ariake’s, the priest who fell for her after she became a nun.
• She had to hide the birth of her second child, as she was still in favour with the Emperor.
She told the Emperor she was four months pregnant when she was actually six;
telling the Emperor she was sick away to have the baby and when she came back
she told him she had had a miscarriage due to the illness.

3. • ‘I belonged to him, it is what I was brought up for
from a baby’ ~ Page 3, Top Girls
• ‘If the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know
your answer.’ ~ Page 29, Much Ado

4. • ‘Serve his majesty, be respectful, if you loose his
favour enter holy orders.’ ~ Page 3, Top Girls
• ‘Oh God defend me, how am I beset.’ ~ Page 105, Much
Ado

5. • ‘I still did what my father wanted.’ ~ Page 3, Top Girls
• ‘Well, niece, I trust you will be ruled by your father.’
~ Page 29, Much Ado

6. • Lady Nijo is strongly linked to the character of Hero in ‘Much
Ado About Nothing’. For the first part of her life, she obeys
her fathers orders. She strongly believes that she is nothing
without the Emperor. She does not have any feminist views.
• However, after she looses favour she becomes a Buddhist, and
in the scene at the restaurant, she shows herself to be more
independent.
• ‘The first half of my life was all sin the second all
repentance.’~ Top girls