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Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)

Genji Monogatari is a Japanese imperial tale written by Murasaki Shikibu during the Heian era. This fabulous story about Hikaru Genji, a royal prince, inspired many works of art.

Genji Monogatari, or ‘The Tale of Genji’, is a classic novel by Murasaki Shikibu written in the early 11th century. This 54-chapter novel presents the fabulous lives of the aristocracy during the Heian Era. The story recounts the life of Hikaru Genji, a royal prince, and the last 10 chapters, called Uiji Jujo, show the lives of his descendants after his death. He enjoys love affairs with many women, and by the end of the story attains a position of power after passing several obstacles. Hikaru Genji also experiences the darkest time of his life during his later years after he loses his dearest wife, Murasaki no Ue.

A literary critique in the Kamakura era, Mumyo Zoshi raved about the author Murasaki Shikibu saying, “Only an extraordinary person can write such a work.” The novel was not only enjoyed by the Heian nobles, but also inspired many artworks called Genji-e such as the Genji Monogatari Emaki (illustrated scrolls of the tale) and the Genji Monogatari-zu Byobu (folding screen with scenes from the tale). In modern days, many novelists and playwrights continue to retell the tale. The novel has also been translated into modern Japanese and other languages, and is highly regarded internationally.

The author of ‘The Tale of Genji', Murasaki Shikibu, was born in 975 as the daughter of Fujiwara no Tametoki, a poet and a scholar of Chinese classics. Growing up in this environment, she was also highly educated. Her older brother Nobunori, who was a poet like their father, died when he was young. Murasaki Shikibu married Fujiwara no Noritaka in 998 and they had a daughter, Kenshi, but sadly she lost her husband after only three years of marriage. Around 1005-1006, she served as a lady-in-waiting to Shoshi, a consort of the Emperor Ichijo, and she journaled about the life of the Imperial court in Murasaki Shikibu Nikki (The Diary of Lady Murasaki). She also left a collection of poems, Murasaki Shikubu Shu. It is believed that Murasaki Shikibu died around 1014.

Related People, Things and Events

Books

Ancient books

Emaki

Research books and other references

Major modern translations

Related Works

源氏の意匠

Videos

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions Holding Related Materials

  • 愛知県名古屋市に所在。「源氏物語絵巻」や『源氏物語』「初音」の意匠をあしらった婚礼調度品「初音の調度」(いずれも国宝)を所蔵している。

  • 京都府京都市に所在。重要文化財の「源氏物語絵色紙帖」のほか「源氏物語図」などを所蔵。

  • 京都府宇治市に所在。『源氏物語』に関する資料の収集・保管のほか、復元模型や映像の展示を行っている。

  • 東京都立川市に所在。『源氏物語』をはじめとする多くの古典籍を閲覧できるほか、関連サイト「古典選集本文データベース」には「絵入源氏物語データベース」もある。

  • 早稲田大学図書館九曜文庫(くようぶんこ)の「源氏物語」関係コレクション。古写本、版本、絵画資料などを閲覧できる。

References

  1. 小学館