Murasaki Shikibu, << MOO rah SAH kee SHEE kee BOO >> (A.D. 975?-1031?), also called Lady Murasaki, is the most famous writer of early Japanese literature. Her long novel The Tale of Genji is generally considered the greatest work of Japanese fiction. The novel begins with the romantic adventures of Prince Genji, the “Shining Prince.” He exemplifies courtliness and the unique Japanese sensitivity to nature. The tone grows somber as the book follows the next two generations of Genji’s family. The themes of death, frustration in love, and a Buddhist sense of human impermanence dominate the story. Lady Murasaki flawlessly handled a large cast of characters, portraying them with a psychological realism that did not appear in Western literature until centuries later.
Lady Murasaki was one of several gifted writers who served as ladies in waiting to Japanese empresses during the 1000’s. In addition to The Tale of Genji, she wrote poetry and a diary famous for its witty portrayal of her contemporaries.
