Facts about Murasaki Shikibu

1. 05

   Heian-era Japan's literary culture deeply influenced Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote her masterwork in classical Japanese known as kanbun-influenced vernacular prose.

   Murasaki ShikibuJun 7shareliteraturemedievaljapanese
2. 04

   Born around 973 CE, Murasaki Shikibu is believed to have been the pen name of a noblewoman whose real name remains unknown to historians.

   Murasaki ShikibuJun 7shareliteraturemedievaljapan
3. 03

   Written in early 11th-century Japan, Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji follows the life and romantic adventures of the son of a Japanese emperor.

   Murasaki ShikibuJun 7shareliteraturemedievaljapanese
4. 02

   The diary of Murasaki Shikibu survives as a valuable historical document describing court life in Heian-period Japan.

   Murasaki ShikibuJun 7shareliteraturemedievaljapan
5. 01

   A lady-in-waiting at the Japanese imperial court, Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji, widely considered one of the world's first novels.

   Murasaki ShikibuJun 7shareliteraturejapanesemedieval