Three late tenth century and early eleventh century women presented their views of life and romance at the Heian court in Kagerō Nikki (" The Gossamer Years ") by " the mother of Michitsuna ", Makura no Sōshi ( The Pillow Book ) by Sei Shōnagon, and Genji Monogatari ( Tale of Genji ) by Murasaki Shikibu ( herself a Fujiwara ).

Image: Ch20_asago. jpg | Genji Monogatari, by Tosa Mitsuoki ( 1617 – 1691 ), Japanese

* Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo ( 2011 )

Japan 1853 – 1864, Or, Genji Yume Monogatari.

The first partial translation of Genji Monogatari into English was by Suematsu Kenchō, published in 1882.

Scene from the 12th century illustrated handscroll Genji Monogatari Emaki kept at the Tokugawa Art Museum.

Tokugawa Art Museum ’ s Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Tokugawa Art Museum ’ s Genji Monogatari Emaki.

12th century Gotoh Museum handscroll Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Tokugawa Art Museum ’ s handscroll Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Tokugawa Art Museum ’ s Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Three late tenth century and early eleventh century women presented their views of life and romance at the Heian court in Kagerō Nikki by " the mother of Fujiwara Michitsuna ", Makura no sōshi by Sei Shōnagon and Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu.

Genji Monogatari ( early 11th century ) by a woman named Murasaki Shikibu is considered the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian fiction and an early example of a work of fiction in the form of a novel.

An anime adaptation was scheduled to air in Fuji Television's noitaminA block, starting January 2009, but the producer decided to make the anime directly from the original Tale of Genji, calling the new anime Genji Monogatari Sennenki.

ca: Genji Monogatari ( Manga )

de: Genji Monogatari ( Manga )

He is well known for his study on the Genji Monogatari.

Many of the most famous meisho derive from references in the Genji Monogatari, Heike Monogatari, and Ise Monogatari.

In Genji Monogatari ( 源氏物語, The Tale of Genji ), written in the early 11th century, men are frequently moved by the beauty of youths.

Scene from the Genji Monogatari Emaki Emaki, 12th century, Tokugawa Art Museum

" Eastern House Chapter ", another scene from the Genji Monogatari Emaki illustrated handscroll of The Tale of Genji

The oldest Yamato-e works to survive are four famous 12th century handscrolls of parts of the The Tale of Genji, three in the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya, with another from the same set in the Gotoh Museum in Tokyo ; together they are known as the Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Most figures are men, and when women are shown, as in another scene where the missing rice returns, they are shown in a very different way to the figures in the Genji Monogatari Emaki.

Facial features are shown in far more detail than in the Genji Monogatari Emaki, and a wide range of expressions are expertly depicted.

Saga's grandson, Minamoto no Tōru, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novel The Tale of Genji.

Court life, as she experienced it, is well reflected in the chapters of Genji written after she joined Shōshi.

Murasaki is depicted writing at Ishiyama-dera in this late-17th-century silk painting on the Harvard Genji Album frontispiece by Tosa Mitsuoki, housed at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum | Sackler Museum.

On the other hand, the very chamber in the temple where the Genji was written is shown — with the ink-slab which the author used, and a Buddhist Sutra in her handwriting, which, if they do not satisfy the critic, still are sufficient to carry conviction to the minds of ordinary visitors to the temple.

Writing in A Bridge of Dreams: A Poetics of " The Tale of Genji ", Shirane mentions that 1014 is generally accepted as the date of Murasaki Shikibu's death and 973 as the date of her birth, making her 41 when she died.

Murasaki is best known for her The Tale of Genji, a three-part novel spanning 1100 pages and 54 chapters, that is thought to have taken a decade to complete.

Genji follows the traditional format of monogatari — telling a tale — particularly evident in its use of a narrator, but Keene claims Murasaki developed the genre far beyond its bounds, and by doing so created a form that is utterly modern.

The story of the " shining prince " Genji is set in the late 9th to early 10th centuries, and Murasaki eliminated from it the elements of fairy tales and fantasy frequently found in earlier monogatari.

The main theme is that of the fragility of life, " the sorrow of human existence ", — she used the term over a thousand times in Genji.

He wrote in his Discursive Commentary on Genji that when " human feelings are not understood the harmony of the Five Human Relationships is lost.

The Tale of the Genji is recognized as an enduring classic.

A Genji Album, only in the 1970s dated to 1510, is housed at Harvard University.

The Tale of Genji ( early 11th century ) by Murasaki Shikibu is considered the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian fiction and an early example of a work of fiction in the form of a novel.

One remarkable feature of the Genji, and of Murasaki's skill, is its internal consistency, despite a dramatis personæ of some four hundred characters.

One complication for readers and translators of the Genji is that almost none of the characters in the original text are given explicit names.

The debate over how much of Genji was actually written by Murasaki Shikibu has gone on for centuries and is unlikely to ever be settled unless some major archival discovery is made.

Lady Murasaki is said to have written the character of Genji based on the Minister on the Left at the time she was at court.

Other translators, such as Tyler believe the character Murasaki no Ue, whom Genji marries, is based on Murasaki Shikibu herself.

For political reasons, Genji is relegated to commoner status ( by being given the surname Minamoto ) and begins a career as an imperial officer.

Genji is frustrated because of his forbidden love for the Lady Fujitsubo and is on bad terms with his wife ( Aoi no Ue ).

Genji is sorrowful, but finds consolation in Murasaki, whom he marries.