EAL248: The Tale of Genji & the Pillow Book: For Fun

This hand scroll depicts the first sixteen chapters of the Tale of Genji, a fifty-four chapter epic novel written by Murasaki Shikubu (about 973-1030). The story follows the life and loves of Prince Genji, the son of the emperor and his favorite concubine, Kiritsubo. Although fictional, the Tale of Genji is taken to be an accurate representation of aristocratic life in the middle of the Heian period (794-1195).

Tale of Genji - Song of Jealousy

Hikaru Genji from Asakiyumemishi

see Youtube for the rest of the movie

Liza Dalby, who did her Ph.D. work on geisha, has written a novel called Tale of Murasaki. This website teaches you more about the characters and scenes in the Tale of Genji as well as the fictional elements that Dalby has added to her story.

Photographs of some of the places mentioned in the Tale of Genji.