Invitation to The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji ( Genji Monogatari ) is a long-form narrative composed in Japan at the beginning of the eleventh century. It depicts relationships both harmonious and discordant among a wide cast of the men and women of the Heian court. These revolve around the many love affairs of the main character, the Shining Genji (Hikaru Genji).

The Tale of Genji is said to be the world’s first novel and a work of extended prose fiction. But the tale is not notable simply because it is old or long. It must be emphasized that this tale is the centerpiece of a long and vital literary practice with outsized cultural impact, inaugurated by a noblewoman and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu and her female contemporaries at imperial court more than one thousand years ago.

Their active engagement in such literary productions represents a ground-breaking shift in human history. At the same time, we must not overlook the contribution The Tale of Genji made to the creation of culture in the eras that followed it. From Genji-themed pictures ( Genji-e ) and Genji-inspired noh dramas ( Genji nō ) to contemporary manga, films, and plays, examples of what we might call “Genji Culture” have continued to appear.

This course will give an overview of the story of The Tale of Genji with ample visual references to explain the daily court life, manners and customs, and aesthetic sensibilities, as well as the city (Kyoto), society, and systems that Japanese aristocrats developed a thousand years ago. As a result, students will gain a precise and sophisticated understanding of the world of the tale.

Furthermore, with The Tale of Genji and its reception history as a pivotal point, the course structure will enable participants to approach the foundations of Japanese culture and its spirituality that have been passed down from the ancient time.

*This program is supported by Global Japanese Studies Model Unit, Waseda University Top Global University Project. For more information, please visit here.

What you'll learn

• Introduction to the narrative of The Tale of Genji , and its unique language, including the poetry found throughout
• Lifestyles, manners and customs, and aesthetic sensibilities of the Heian period (794-1185) nobility (with ample visual references)
• The Heian period city, spaces, society, and institutions
• The reception of The Tale of Genji and the development of “Genji Culture”