The+Tale+of+Genji

//The Tale of Genji//, better known in Japan as //Genji Monogatari//, is classic piece of Japanese literature. It was written in the early eleventh century, and is considered as one of the first novels and psychological books ever written. It was written by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting for the Imperial court during the Heian period. There is some controversy over whether or not she really did write the novel, because of its lengthiness (almost like the controversy over whether or not Shakespeare really wrote all of his plays). The novel has fifty-four chapters, and is over 1100 pages long, depending on which English translation you are talking about. Suematsu Kencho was the first person who translated //Genji Monogatari// into English, in 1882.

//The Tale of Genji// is simply a romantic novel about Hikarue Genji, a prince, and his many love affairs. In detail, //The Tale of Genji// is about the life of Hikarue Genji, the son of Emperor Kiritsubo. Genji’s mother dies when he’s only three years old. His father later finds a woman, Lady Fujitsubo, who resembles his late wife. Genji loves his new stepmother. He loves her so much, that when he grows up, he even falls in love with her. Their “forbidden love” leads poor Genji into a world of frustration. He tries to cope with the frustration by having affairs with other women, even though he already has a wife of his own. This does nothing for him, so he goes to Kitayama, the northern part of Koyto. There, he finds a pretty-ten-year-old girl who he later kidnaps and takes her to his palace. He finds out she’s Lady Fujisubo’s niece. While he teaches her niece on how to be a lady, Genji is secretly meeting Lady Fujisubo. They have a son, which everyone besides the two, believe is Emperor Kirisubo’s son. The son is Crowned Price and Lady Fujisubo becomes Empress. Afterwards, Genji and his wife get back together and have a kid of their own. Genji is mentally thrown in a pit of sorrow, but meets a lady named Murasaki. Murasaki gives comfort to him and they get married. After that, Genji’s brother, Suzaku, takes over rule as emperor. Suzaku exploits Genji’s affairs. This causes him to become banished from the town of Suma. When he makes his new home, he meets Akashi. He has another love affair with Akashi’s daughter, and she gives birth to Genji’s only daughter. The daughter later becomes empress. Meanwhile, Suzaku is having diffuclies with his late father and the empress grows weak. Suzaku lets Genji back into Kyoto. The son Genji had with Lady Fujitsubo becomes emperor. The son knows that Genji is his real father, so he promotes him to highest rank possible. Once Genji turns forty, his happiness slowly begins to wither away. He marries another wife, a woman who his nephew pushes onto Genji. These two have child of their own. When Murasaki finds out about this, she becomes a nun. Eventually, she dies.

Today, //The Tale of Genji// is importatant because many of modern day literature’s elements come for this novel. For example, the book has many charaters, a main character, and developing characters. //The Tale of Genji// also serves as a travel guide the world of Genji.


 * Note: In text citation of wikipedia because i tried the best i could to paraphrase, but I think that some of the stuff is similar to the oraginal text.