The Tale of Genji (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
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
- Principal Characters: Prince Genji, The Emperor, Kiritsubo, Lady Kokiden, Princess Aoi, Utsusemi, Yugao, Murasaki
- 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
The Story:
When the emperor of Japan took a beautiful gentlewoman of the bedchamber as his concubine, he greatly displeased his consort, the Lady Kokiden. The lot of the concubine, whose name was Kiritsubo, was not easy, despite the emperor’s protection and love, for Kokiden’s influence was very great. Kiritsubo therefore had little happiness in the birth of a son, although the child was beautiful and sturdy. Kiritsubo’s son made Kokiden even more antagonistic, for she feared that her own son might lose favor in the emperor’s eyes and not be made heir apparent. Because...
[The entire page is 2506 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
