The Tale of Genji (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Lady Murasaki Shikibu
- First Published: 1004
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Romance
- Time of Work: Early medieval period
- Setting: Japan
- Genres: Long fiction, Romance, medieval
- Subjects: Suffering, Politics, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Betrayal, Jealousy, envy, or resentment, Asia or Asians, Adultery, Kings, queens, or royalty, Illegitimacy, Aristocracy or aristocrats, Orphans or orphanages, Japan or Japanese people, Middle Ages, Buddhism, Nobility, Princes or princesses, Royal courts or courtiers, Tenth century
- Locales: Kyoto, Japan
Characters Discussed
Prince Genji, the handsome and popular son of the emperor of Japan. This courtly romance of medieval Japan is primarily concerned with Genji’s amours.
The emperor of Japan, Genji’s father.
Lady Kokiden, the emperor’s consort.
Kiritsubo, Genji’s mother and the emperor’s concubine. Largely as a result of Lady Kokiden’s antagonism to her, Kiritsubo dies during Genji’s childhood.
Princess Aoi, who is married at the age of sixteen to twelve-year-old Genji. She is unhappy at first as a result of her husband’s youth, and...
[The entire page is 824 words long]
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