English translations: Arthur Waley, trans., The Tale of Genji , Random House, 1935 Edward Seidensticker, trans., The

1. The Tale of Genji English translations: Arthur Waley, trans., The Tale of Genji, Random House, 1935 Edward Seidensticker, trans., The Tale of Genji, Knopf, 1976 http://www.columbia.edu/itc/eacp/asiasite/topics/index.himl?topic=Genji+subtopic=Intro The Tale of Genji: Scenes from the World’s First Novel (Kodansh International 2001 http://www.inpaku-genji.pref.kyoto.jp/story/01kiritsubo_e/01arasuji_e.htm

2. In Japan, the Heian Period(794-1185) created unprecedented high culture and superb literary works. The Tale of Genji is just like Shakespeare in Elizabethan England. • This masterpiece of Japanese literature and the oldest full novel in the world was written by Murasaki Shikibu(Lady Murasaki) in the early 11th century. The work contains fifty-four chapters and a number of poems. The story is concerned with the loves of Prince Genji(Shining Prince) and the women in his life, including such ladies as Lady Rokujo, Lady Aoi(his first wife), Lady Murasaki, Yugao. • In the age in which the story takes place it was not the custom among the upper strata of nobility to practice monogamy. The last ten chapters deal with the romantic adventures of Prince Niou, Genji’s grandson and Kaoru, the son of Third Princess and Genji(in reality Kashiwagi). Link: http://www.taleofgenji.org/

3. The work, sensitive to human emotions and the beauties of nature, represents the best and the most sophisticated court culture. At the same time, reflecting the Buddhist concepts of Karma and retribution, it deals with the vanity of this world and mono no aware, the feelings of pathos that arise from deep stirring within the heart as one senses the transience of every event. • The Tale of Genji has been a major influence on traditional Japanese paintings, literature, poetry, and drama.

4. Her diary is translated into English: Richard Bowring, trans., The Diaryof Lady Murasaki(Penguine Books, 1996)Web link: http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine9.html

5. FUJIWARA MICHINAGA(966 – 1028) • The hero of The Tale of Genji is supposed to be partially modeled on Michinaga. Michinaga was the most powerful of the Fujiwara regents. The Fujiwara dominated the Japanese court between 857 and 1160, and reached the apogee of its rule while Michinaga was in power. • Michinaga was the son of Kaneie, the head of the Fujiwara family and he succeeded t the leadership of the clan after the death of his elder brother in 995. He became the Great Minister of State in 1017. In early 11th century the emperor’s authority was still acknowledged, but the real seat of the government was transferred from the Imperial Palace to Michinaga’s administration. Michinaga was father-in-law to four separate emperors. Kyoto

6. From The Paulownia Court: Birth of the Hero • In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank, whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The grand ladies with high ambitions thought her a presumptuous upstart, and lesser ladies were still more resentful. Everything she did offended someone. Probably aware of what was happening, she fell seriously ill and came to spend more time at home than at court. • It may have been because of a bond in a former life that she bore the emperor a beautiful son, a jewel beyond compare. • (Edward Seidensticker, trans., The Tale of Genji): • Summary Link:http://www.taleofgenji.org/summary.html

7. Genji’s mother suffered the jealousy of rivals at court, became ill and died when Genji was three. • The months passed and the young prince returned to the palace. He had grown into a lad of such beauty that he hardly seemed meant for this world. At the age of seven, an embassy came from Korea. Hearing that among the emissaries was a skilled physiognomist, the emperor would have liked to summon him for consultation. • Korean cocked his head in astonishment. "It is the face of one who should ascend to The highest place and be father to the nation,“ he said quietly, as if to himself. "But to take it for such would no doubt be to predict trouble. Yet it is not the face of the minister, the deputy, who sets about ordering public affairs."

8. Fujitsubo (Wisteria): a new stepmother • After the death of Genji’s mother, the grief-stricken Emperor was incapable of dealing with affairs of state. His ministers arranged for him to take another woman as his wife – Fujitsubo, the daughter of a former sovereign and the very image of Genji’s mother. Young Genji began to transfer to her the longing that he had felt for his dead mother. • At age 12, Genji underwent his coming-of-age ceremony, and on the same day, he was betrothed to Aoi, daughter of the Minister of the Left. It was a political marriage.

9. Rainy Night Discussion • Genji was 17 years old. He spent most of the time in the court and seldom visited his bride. But with his brother-in-law, To-no-Chujo, he was on particularly good terms. • One evening when the court was in ritual seclusion in the long summer rains, Genji was pasing the time chatting about women with To-no-chujo. As the two talked To Shikibunojo, a functionary in the Ministry of Rites, happened by and volunteered love anecdotes of their own. A discussion of the merits of various types of women ensued. Genji listened to their stories with great curiosity. • After this rainy night discussion Genji met Utsusemi, the Governor of Ki’s young stepmother and Yugao, the love of To-no-Chujo.

10. From Lavender: Genji found true love • Since Genji lacked backing at court, his father made him a commoner, assigning him membership of the Genji clan. • 18-year-old Genji was suffering from malaria. He took four or five attendants along to visit a sage in the northern hills. He was a most accomplished worker of cures. Between the cures and incantations during the daytime, Genji walked a few blocks in the nearby villages. He saw a wattle fence in front of a temple, which was of better workmanship than similar fences nearby. In the evening Genji took Koremitsu and went to see the place again. Behind the fence, he could see the nun reading a text spread out on an armrest. She was in her forties and looked cultivated. Then a pretty girl of perhaps ten ran in and complained to the nun in a weeping voice that Inuki had let her baby sparrows loose. That was the first time Genji saw Lady Murasaki. Fujitsubo, my stepmother..

11. From Akashi (where Genji was exiled) • The emperor died and was succeeded by Sujaku, Genji’s half-brother. Due to court intrigues, Genji was forced to leave the capital and live in Suma and Akashi for several years, where he met Akashi Lady. He was eventually called back to the city. • In the city, on the night of a storm, the emperor Sujaku had a dream. His father stood at the stairs of the east garden of the Seiryo chamber and had a great deal to say about Genji. Perhaps because his eyes had met the angry eyes of his father, he came down with a very painful eye ailment (In the graphic, the old emperor stands in the gallery.) On the very same night, Genji also had a dream about the old emperor at Suma. He encouraged Genji and told him to leave the Suma shore.

12. Years of Glory: Rokujo PalaceGenji returned to the capital and settled down with Murasaki and other ladies at his newly-build grand palace. He was appointed Grand minister and his influence at court increased.But nothing lasts in this world.

13. The Third Princess and Kashiwagi: Genji’s decline • Genji unwillingly married the Third Princess who was just a girl. Kashiwagi was very disappointed that the Third Princess who had gone to Genji, and he was still longing after her. In the late spring, there was a football game in the northeast corner of the Rokujo garden. When a cat came running, the curtain was pulled back to reveal the woman behind in informal dress. Her profile framed by beautiful black hair was elegant. It was the first time for Kashiwagi to see the princess. As she was the wife of Genji, it was forbidden love. • Kashiwagi called the cat and took it up in his arms. Mewing prettily, it brought the image of the Third Princess back to him. • After Genji’s marriage to the Third Princess, heart-broken Murasaki became seriously ill. • Later Kaoru was born as son of the Princess and Genji (in reality Kashiwagi).

14. Birth of Kaoru • In the Third Month, the ceremony of the fiftieth day was taking place. The child was elegant and charmingly different from other children. Looking at the face of child, Genji shed tears for Kashiwagi, who had not lived to see his own son. • He wept for the boy who had to bear the burden of such a secret in his future. Genji felt sorry for himself too who held in his hands a son not his own, at his old age. • And he wondered if his royal father had felt this way a long time ago… • Then, Genji’s beloved Murasaki passed away…

15. Last days of Genji • The Tenth Month was always a time of gloomy winter showers. Genji felt more lonesome than ever. Looking up into the evening sky helplessly alone, he envied the wild geese overhead, which were returning home. "O wizard flying off through boundless heaven, find her whom I see not even in my dreams." The inconsolable days went by, and his longing for Murasaki increased.