The Tale of Genji

Sometimes called "the first novel," the Tale of Genji follows the life of a young man named Genji. This story is over one thousand years old but still captivates audiences today. Its impact on Japanese literature cannot be understated, especially since a woman wrote it! The Tale of Genji offers insight into the Heian Period; let's take a closer look at this 2,000-page novel!

Author of the Tale of Genji

Lady Murasaki Shikibu is a pseudonym for the author of the Tale of Genji. Murasaki is the name of one of Genji's many love interests. We don't know Lady Murasaki's (the author) real name. To prevent confusion, we will refer to the author as Lady Murasaki and the character as simply Murasaki.

Lady Murasaki And The Tale Of Genji

What we know about this mysterious author is that she was from a family of low nobility. Her grandfather was a poet, and she wrote stories for the Emperor's court. At some point, the novelists married an elite man and then gained the favor of the Empresses. When asked to join the Empresses' court, Lady Murasaki declined. Lady Murasaki preferred the life of an author over that of a lady-in-waiting.

Fig 1: Lady Murasaki as she wrote the Tale of Genji.

The Empresses asked Lady Murasaki to write a story for her, and the novelists complied. The Tale of Genji was written in chapters. Murasaki read the newest edition of the story days before the Emperor's court in Kyoto. The court would roar with laughter as Murasaki recounted the tricky situations that Genji found himself in.

The Tale of Genji was over 2,000 pages long. It is written in prose narrative in a style called "onna-de." Onna-de was the writing style of women during the Heian Period and translated to "woman's hand." It allowed a less formal form of writing, which sets the Tale of Genji apart from other stories. Women learned to read and write as a sign of their status. This story was written during a peaceful time during the Heian Period when a new interest was found in political art.

The Tale Of Genji: Summary

The following is a summary of the Tale of Genji. The Tale of Genji is over 2,000 pages long, so this summary will not cover everything. The goal of the summary below is to introduce you to the concepts that are featured in the novel. A more in-depth analysis of the role of women and the role of Buddhism will follow the summary!

Genji was the product of a relationship between the Emperor and Kirtsubo, a commoner. Although the child was the son of the Emperor, he wasn't related to the Empress. This meant that Genji would not inherit his father's throne. Genji had an everyday life and became an officer. He married, though he frequently had relationships with women other than his wife.

Fig 2: A page from the Tale of Genji

Genji often had sexual relationships with women other than his wife. He would leave them when he was no longer interested in the women. In the end, most of these women forsook the world and became Buddhist nuns. When misfortune befell Genji, he sought advice and prayers from monks. Many nobles in this story seek the guidance and discretion of monks.

By the time Genji was 27 years old, he had adopted his wife's niece, Murasaki. Genji was exiled from the court but allowed to return when one of his illegitimate sons became emperor. Murasaki and Genji were married, but Genji remained unfaithful.

The next portion of the story follows Genji and the political advancement of his family. Eventually, Genji died, and the novel shifted its focus to his son and grandson. The remaining chapters follow the men and the situations that they find themselves in.

The final chapters are so different from the rest of the novel that many doubt Lady Murasaki penned them! Though the final chapters are a shift in tone and story, they provide insight into Heian society and culture, just as the rest of the novel did. Let's look closely at some of the themes in the Tale of Genji!

Buddhism in the Tale of Genji

Buddhist monks were always present in court during the Tale of Genji. We can tell the historical role of Buddhism during the Heian Period by referencing their roles in the Tale of Genji! Just as the monks were present in court, Buddhism was ever present within the novel. Often, it is in the background of the story.

Genji called upon the Monks to discreetly advise or assist with his ailments. Monks presided over rituals, ceremonies, and ailments. When one was sick, monks prayed until the illness went away. Monks were present when children were born. They were an important part of Heian society.

Fig 3: Scene from the Tale of Genji

Women in the Tale of Genji

The women in this tale have varying interpretations. On the surface, Genji courts them, and they fall in love with him. He is described as a very handsome man, after all. The women had sexual relationships with Genji until he grew bored with them, after which the protagonist abandoned them. The women desperately waited for Genji to return until they gave up hope of becoming nuns.

Buddhist nun and expert on the Tale of Genji, Setouchi Jakucho, provided a different interpretation. According to Setouchi, Genji didn't have consenting relationships with these women. Women of that day had little rights or ability to deny a man like Genji. Jakucho argues that Genji is a commentary on the place of women within Heian society, partially because a woman wrote it. Genji is Lady Murasaki's interpretation of a nobleman.¹

When women turned their back on society to become nuns, they did so because they had little option. In the Tale of Genji, a woman who became a nun was a woman declaring that she was independent of the world of men.¹

Early, we discussed the last few chapters of the Tale of Genji and how they differed from the rest of the novel. One key difference was when Ukifane became a nun. Previously, a line or two was dedicated to the women as they declared that they had rejected the world. Ukifane was different.

Lady Murasaki detailed the vows and ceremonies that Ukifane took to become a nun. Ukifane didn't simply declare that she rejected the world like other women, but the reader follows her transition. According to Setouchi, Ukifane's rejection of the world represented Lady Murasaki's rejection of the world.