The Tale of Genji

Examples of mono no aware in The Tale of Genji can be found in chapter 10, "The Sacred Tree," during the final meeting between Genji and Lady Rokujo. It is autumn, and Genji asks Lady Rokujo to...

The Tale of Genji is deeply intertwined with Shinto practices, reflecting a way of life without a singular deity or scripture, harmonizing with Buddhism. Shintoism in the tale emphasizes ethical...

An example of miyabi in The Tale of Genji is found in "The Sacred Tree," where the Rokujo Lady embodies refined elegance and cultural sophistication, hallmarks of miyabi. Her decision to leave the...

In The Tale of Genji, yūgen is the ability to express the inexpressible through subtlety. This can show itself in several ways: in the scenery, dialogue, and action of the tale. One example of this...

In The Tale of Genji, the author shows bias in favor of the domestic sphere over public affairs such as warfare and politics. However, she also seems to condone and expect male violence against women.

In The Tale of Genji, heroic behavior is associated with wisdom and the concept of mono no aware.

The possession of Genji's first wife, Aoi no Ue, by spirits (mono no ke) is arguably an example of the uncanny in The Tale of Genji. In his essay on the concept of the "uncanny," Freud defines the...