The Tale of Genji

by Murasaki Shikibu

Also known as: Genji Monogatari, The Tale of Prince Genji

"A meditation on impermanence (mono no aware), the fleeting nature of beauty and love, and the search for meaning in an elegant yet transient world."
The Tale of Genji cover
Type:Prose Romance / Courtly Novel
Source:Classical Japan (Heian Period)
Original Date:c. 1008 CE (Heian court oral storytelling traditions)
Written Date:c. 1008–1010 CE
Length: (~35 hours)

Summary

The Tale of Genji follows the life and romantic adventures of Hikaru Genji, the 'Shining Prince,' son of an emperor. Blending romance, courtly intrigue, and deep psychological insight, the work explores themes of love, loss, beauty, and the passing of time. More than just a romance, it is a portrayal of the Heian aristocracy’s ideals, aesthetics, and philosophy, emphasizing the Buddhist sense of impermanence. Often regarded as the world’s first novel, it profoundly influenced Japanese literature and aesthetics.

Themes

Love and impermanence (mono no aware)Courtly romanceFate and transienceAesthetics and beautyPower and exileGenerational cycles

Major Characters

Hikaru Genji (The Shining Prince)Kiritsubo Consort (Genji’s mother)Lady FujitsuboMurasaki no UeLady AoiLady AkashiKashiwagiKaoru (Genji’s son, central in later chapters)

Notable Quotes

"The world knows no one who has not felt the sadness of autumn."

"It is in the fleeting world that beauty lies, like dew upon the morning grass."

"Genji was like the radiance of the spring moon: brilliant, yet tinged with sorrow."

Notable Translations

Arthur Waley(1925)

First major English translation, free and literary.

Edward Seidensticker(1976)

Faithful modern translation, widely respected.

Royall Tyler(2001)

Highly regarded for accuracy and cultural context.

Dennis Washburn(2015)

Newest major English translation, accessible and readable.