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Written one thousand years ago, The Tale of Genji is a masterpiece of Japanese literature, often regarded as its best prose fiction. Read, commented on, and reimagined by poets, scholars, dramatists, artists, and novelists, the tale has left a legacy as rich and reflective as the work itself. The most comprehensive record of The Tale of Genji's reception to date, this sourcebook presents a range of landmark texts relating to the work during its first millennium, almost all of which are translated into English for the first time. An introduction prefaces each set of documents, situating them within the tradition of Japanese literature and cultural history. These texts provide a fascinating glimpse into Japanese views of literature, poetry, imperial politics, and the place of art and women in society. Selections include a recorded conversation among court ladies gossiping about their favorite Genji characters and scenes; learned exegetical commentary; a vigorous debate over Genji's moral concerns; and an impassioned defense of Genji's ability to enhance Japan's standing among the twentieth century's community of nations.Taken together, these documents reflect Japan's fraught history with vernacular texts, particularly those written by women. Zusammenfassung A textual history of the reception, canonization, and popularization of Japan’s premier literary text. IllustrationsAbbreviationsChapter Titles of The Tale of GenjiIntroduction1. Early Discussions of FictionKagero Diary, by The Mother of MichitsunaEarlier Collected Poems of the Great Kamo Priestess, by Princess SenshiPreface to The Illustrated Three Treasures, by Minamoto no TamenoriThe Pillow Book, by Sei ShonagonThe Tale of Genji, by Murasaki ShikibuThe Diary of Murasaki Shikibu, by Murasaki ShikibuSarashina Diary, by The Daughter of Sugawara no Takasue2. Genji Gossip (Plus a Bit of Good Advice)A Nameless NotebookThe ListsForty-Eight Exemplars from GenjiA Key to GenjiExemplars from Genji[Untitled]The MatchesThe Feelings of People in Genji: A Match (Awa no kuni bunko text)Genji: A ContestThe Feelings of People in Genji: A Match (Suzuki manuscript)The Women in Ise and Genji: A Match in Twelve RoundsThe Nursemaid's Letter, by Abutsu3. Toward CanonizationSenzaishu, by Fujiwara no Shunzei and Kitamura KiginPoetry Contest in Six Hundred Rounds, by Fujiwara no Shunzei"Lord Shunzei's Memorial in Japanese Script, Submitted in 1200", by Fujiwara no ShunzeiExplicating Murasaki, by SojakuDiary of the Juntoku Retired Emperor, by The Juntoku Retired EmperorFull Moon Diary, by Fujiwara no TeikaOral Transmissions of the GoToba Retired Emperor, by The GoToba Retired EmperorConversations with the Kyogoku Middle Counselor, by Fujiwara no NagatsunaPreface to Sino-Japanese Poems on The Tale of the Shining Genji4. Obsequies for GenjiThe Mirror of the Present, by Fujiwara no TametsuneCollected Poems of the Mother of Acting Middle Counselor Lord Saneki, by The Mother of Acting Middle Counselor Lord SanekiCollection of Fujiwara no Takanobu, by Fujiwara no Takanobu New...
