The Tale of Genji | The Tale of Genji

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

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 Tale of Genji | The Tale of Genji

At a glance:

The Story:

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