Murasaki Shikibu

Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet, and courtier of the Heian period, best known for writing The Tale of Genji, an early major work of prose fiction.

The Tale of Genji: An eleventh-century Japanese prose narrative following Prince Genji and the generations around him. Murasaki’s best-known work, and the source of her lasting literary reputation.
Fujiwara no Tametoki: A Japanese scholar and official of the Heian court, remembered as Murasaki Shikibu’s father. His learning and family position helped shape Murasaki’s education and courtly opportunities.
Psychological realism: A mode of fiction that emphasizes characters’ inner states, motives, and emotional changes. Murasaki’s sustained attention to feeling gives Genji much of its narrative depth.
Japanese literature: Literary works written in Japanese across the country’s historical periods and genres. Murasaki’s fiction became a landmark in the history of Japanese prose.
Heian period: A period of Japanese history from 794 to 1185, marked by an influential imperial court at Heian-kyō. The court society in which Murasaki lived and composed her writing.
Fujiwara no Michinaga: A powerful Fujiwara regent who dominated Japanese court politics in the early eleventh century. Murasaki served at the court of his daughter, Empress Shōshi.
Narrative voice: The distinctive perspective and manner through which a narrative is told. Genji’s narration shifts attention among characters and shapes how their lives are interpreted.
Japanese novel: A long-form work of prose fiction written in Japanese. The Tale of Genji is frequently treated as a formative work in novel history.
Kana: A Japanese writing system using syllabic characters derived from Chinese characters. Kana enabled literary expression in Japanese, including the prose tradition Murasaki helped shape.
Empress Shōshi: A daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga who became an empress consort of Emperor Ichijō. Murasaki entered court service as a companion and attendant to Shōshi.

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