The Tale of Genji: Legends and Paintings

Unquestionably one of the world’s greatest literary masterpieces and the finest achievement of classic Japanese prose narrative, The Tale of Genji , written by Murasaki Shikibu shortly after 1000 A.D., has provided endless inspiration for Japanese painters throughout the centuries. Widely held to be the first novel ever written, its story relates the amorous adventures of “the shining prince” Genji and the elaborate and highly ordered court culture of the Heian era. Presented here is one of the most exquisite, complete, and beautifully preserved series of paintings illustrating the tale, bringing to life the events of this classic work. The fifty-four imagesillustrating one chapter eachdate from the mid-seventeenth century and were executed by an artist trained in the traditional Tosa school of painting. Their small dimensions (they measure just over five inches square) and lyrical colors call to mind the illustrated manuscripts of medieval Europe. Roofs are entirely removed from houses to reveal small, doll-like figures within. Delicate flowers and plants suggest the seasons of the year. Surrounded by gilded clouds, these graceful paintings shimmer with uncommon beauty and delicacy. Murase’s introduction examines the paintings in detail, providing insight into the uniqueness of this set in particular, exceptional for being one of the most pristine and complete surviving series of illustrations of The Tale of Genji . Commentaries on each of the images describe the scene depicted and summarize, in brief, the key events from the tale. 54 color illustrations, 8 black-and-white illustrations.