How do we define a piece of literature as an enduring classic? Does it depend on the characters? Does it depend on the descriptive language and sense of place? Does it depend on its cultural influence? If these things define a classic then The Tale of Genji most certainly fits the bill. If only in terms of longevity then The Tale of Genji wins hands down as 2008 marks the 1000th anniversary since references to the tale first appeared in recorded history.

The Tale of Genji (or Genji monogatari as it is known in Japanese) was written by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting in the imperial court of eleventh-century Japan and is widely regarded as the world’s first novel. It is set in the Heian period (794-1185) and follows the youthful love affairs and rise to power of Hikaru Genji, The Shining Prince. Genji, the son of an emperor, is a charming, handsome and passionate character whose turbulent personal relationships and political fortunes are the main focus of Murasaki’s masterpiece. The Tale of Genji also explores themes of karma, an indication of the influence of Buddhism in Japan at the time, as well as giving valuable insights into daily life, politics and cultural pursuits in the Heian court.

The Heian period of Japanese history began in 794 when the imperial capital was moved from Nara to the site of present day Kyoto. The new capital was called Heian Kyō, ‘The City of Peace and Tranquility’, and it remained the imperial capital for more than 1000 years. The Heian period was a time of relative peace and stability in Japanese history and it is regarded as a time when Japan began to develop its own distinctive culture, separate from the influences previously brought from China.

Up until the early years of the Heian period, diplomatic envoys were regularly sent to China, thus bringing back many Chinese influences in the areas of politics, literature and art. In the imperial court, Chinese culture was revered to such an extent that even the new capital city was modelled on the Chinese city of Ch’ang-an. Written Chinese was used for official correspondence and Chinese poetry and literature were considered the height of sophistication. Due to unstable political conditions both at home and abroad, the official envoys to China ceased in the latter part of the 9th century and Japan began to develop its own unique culture. A large part of this change was the introduction of the phonetic kana writing system which made it possible to write in the Japanese language, something that had previously been difficult to do using only Chinese characters. Many upper-class men still preferred to write in Chinese but for the women who were usually excluded from Chinese studies, the introduction of the kana script provided an effective way to record their thoughts, emotions and the minutiae of daily life in the imperial court.

It was in this environment that Murasaki began to write her epic masterpiece. The details of Murasaki’s life are few but she is believed to have been born in the 970s and may have lived until the 1030s. Murasaki was the daughter of a provincial governor and scholar who allowed her to obtain a good education including knowledge of Chinese literature. Murasaki married and had a daughter but she was widowed in 1001. It is believed she began writing The Tale of Genji after the death of her husband and as a result of the tale gaining notice in the Emperor’s court, Murasaki was engaged as a companion to Empress Shōshi. During this time Murasaki wrote a diary, known as Murasaki Shikibu Nikki (The Diary of Lady Murasaki), detailing aspects of life in the imperial court in a similar intelligent and witty style as is evident in The Tale of Genji. Murasaki was also adept at poetry and is credited as the author of a collection of poems called Murasaki Shikibu Shu.

For an ancient text, The Tale of Genji has also had an incredible impact on Japanese popular culture. In recent years The Tale of Genji has been adapted on film several times, as a television series and in several manga versions aimed at readers of all ages. Robotics specialists at Kyoto University have even developed a prototype ‘Murasaki Shikibu robot’ modelled on a Heian-era courtier. The 31 cm tall robot is dressed in kimono, holds a fan and has a built-in MP3 player to ‘read’ an audio version of The Tale of Genji.  

To celebrate the continuing influence and popularity that The Tale of Genji enjoys even now, there are some special events planned for 2008. The Japanese government will release a 1000-yen commemorative coin representing Kyoto featuring scenes from The Tale of Genji and Japan Post has just released a series of postage stamps featuring illustrations from the Tale of Genji scrolls. The Tale of Genji museum in Uji, a city near Kyoto that is the setting for the latter chapters of the novel, has undergone a refurbishment in time for the 1000th anniversary and there are various art exhibitions planned both in Japan and abroad (including Australia, at the Art Gallery of NSW) to give as many people as possible a glimpse into the enchanting world of Genji, the Shining Prince.

The influence and popularity of The Tale of Genji is not limited to Japan, the novel has been translated into several languages over the years and is well-loved by readers around the world. The most recent English translation was completed in 2001 by Dr Royall Tyler. Dr Tyler is a Japanese studies scholar who most recently taught at the Australian National University in Canberra until his retirement in 2000. In 2007, Dr Tyler was awarded the Japan Foundation award for his outstanding contribution to the understanding of Japanese literature and culture overseas, through his long-term research, teaching and translation. In Tokyo last year to accept the award, Dr Tyler gave a lecture at Tokyo University talking about his experiences translating The Tale of Genji and discussing the reception the novel has received by English-speaking audiences since the first English translation appeared in the 1920’s. Dr Tyler has kindly agreed to share the original essay that his Tokyo lecture was based on for Omusubi readers to enjoy.

To read Dr Tyler’s essay please click here.