The Tale Of Genji Essay

The Tale of Genji Essay
World History
The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji, not only had a huge impact on Japanese literature, it is considered to be the first
novel ever written in the world. Japanese literature was limited to poetry, fairytales, and memoirs
until the birth of this remarkable work. The tale revolves around prince Genji's life and his love
adventures in an important period in Japanese history. Its complicated plot focuses on the
significance of the Heian period and portrays in detail the life of the upper society in the Heian
court. A court lady named Muraski Shikibu who had first hand experience of Heian society and
Japanese aristocracy having served the empress wrote this literary work. She managed to pull the
reader deep in to her world of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The only access to nature that they encountered was in the garden within the palace. Therefore the
architecture of the imperial palace further reveals these barriers on women by the society. Each
woman and her servants were assigned to a separate pavilion and they would eat, sleep, and
socialize in their assigned in them. They were not allowed to leave the property and had very limited
access to other pavilions. It is evident in many scenes of the novel that their world was limited.
Males were able to move more freely through this opportunity to catch glimpsed of women they
were otherwise not supposed to see. For example, when Genji's son Kaoru, visits his uncle, the
Eighth Prince, at his villa in Uji where he falls in love with his uncle's eldest daughter, Ohigimi.
"Kaoru is seated on the veranda of Tamakazura's mansion. A bush warbler alights in the blooming
prunus or plum tree. [from within the curtains, ladies of the household tease the proper young Kaoru
about his distinctive fragrance, likening it to the plum blossoms." Another example is when "one of
Yugiri's sons peeks through the curtains at Tamakazura's daughters and ladies engaged in a game of
Go." The work mentions "curtains" several times revealing the women's restricted lifestyle.
(http://digital.films.com/FalshCC/4061.xml) .
Moreover, women were expected to adapt to a world where marriage and obsession to ranking were
closely tied. The Fujiwara Family had reigned during the
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The Golden Age Of Heian
Dorf Samantha
Ms. Lee
Global History
23 March 2015
The Golden Age of Heian
Periods of time with peace and stability politically and religiously, paired with flourishing arts, are
called "Golden Ages". One thriving, revolutionizing time like this occurred in Heian, Japan from
794 to 1185 C.E., under the rule of the Fujiwara family. Succeeding the Nara period, many aspects
of the Heian culture, such as Buddhism and the writing system, were borrowed from China.
However, in this time, Japan took those preconceived ideas and really made them their own, adding
many new ones along the way. The peace and stability, as well as influential literature greatly
contributed to this period's golden legacy. Poetry during this time, most importantly Lady Murasaki
's novel, "Tale of Genji", reflected this time period and forever changed today 's writing, making this
era a truly prosperous golden age.
This thriving golden age might have flourished, but it started out small, just like any other era. The
Heian period began when the capital was moved from Nara to Heian, modern day Kyoto. Many
noble families moved along with it (Charles). The Nara period had just ended, and aristocrats
violently fought for power. Therefore, for the sake of peace, that's why the capital was moved. The
Fujiwara family rose to power, and the golden age began. As Japan 's second great period of
Japanese culture arose, it brought many accomplishments with it (Fitzgerald).
Peace and stability, especially politically,

Heian Japan Influence
Heian Japan, which is commonly known as the golden age had many influences on Japan, but the
Kamakura Shogunate may have had more effects on Japan. During the golden age Prince Shotoku
brought Buddhism to Japan, but before that there were many confucian scholars. These two
religions went hand in hand in both the teachings and writings. Many of the Japanese ideas were
collected from Korea. Like China, Japan made an examination system, although it was actually
more of a formality. As the book The Asian World 600–1500 says, "The nobles refused to accept the
idea that they would have to compete with commoners for government jobs and the highest
positions continued to be reserved for aristocrats" (Des Forges and Major, 70), meaning that they let
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The kamakura are the group that ends up defeating the fujiwara in the rebellion. The first tribe that
does this makes two major mistakes. Firstly instead of reconstructing the government, she settles in
just as the fujiwara had done previously. The second mistake was that they did not kill all of the sons
of the other major clan. the sons of the other clan acts up as soon as they are old enough, and seize
control of Japan. the concept of the Samurai Warriors started with Minamoto and Yoshisune.
Minamoto chased after his brother trying to kill him, but Yoshisune valued his brother's honor more
so than he did his own life. so instead of being caught and killed by his own kin he decided to
comment noble suicide by disembowelment. After this brave feat, any warrior who dishonored
himself or his leader would be expected to commit the honorable suicide. a new political system was
made called the Bakufu. The Bakufu is a tent shaped government. each person involved in the Baku
had a job, and each layer is very tightly bound to the others. The order went from the emperor who
was actually more of a religious head than a political leader next the Shogun who was the general,
but in actuality the Shogun was the political leader. next there was the daimyo who were the military
aristocrats. the daimyo had the samurai, and the samurai had the stewards. the last and

The Influence Of Beauty During The Heian Era
This period of Japanese history is notable by its visual impact. During the Heien era women had the
most influence upon the social aesthetics of society at the time. They dictated what was beautiful in
all things, including poetry, wardrobe, the arrangement of their homes and gardens. Such a profound
influence has continued to be important within Japan today, as many of the Heian precepts of beauty
are still considered the height of society today. Beauty, in all things, was considered of utmost
importance: in language, the written word, the spoken word, the costume, gardens, and in the very
essence of the culture. Mono no aware, a term coined in the 19th century by Motoori Norinaga in
regards to the Heian concept of beauty, best describes the Heian thoughts of beauty. "Beauty is
precious, because it is brief" (Hooker, 1999). The term aware during the Heian era represented
sensitivity to things ranging from beauty to sadness, life, love or death. In the letters, diaries,
literature and poetry, the fashion stands out and is the most obvious and most scrutinized aspect of
Heian beauty personified. While the men, too, had splendid robes to wear, their color options and
individuality was constrained by the sumptuary laws and their rank (Bryant, 2004). However,the
women wore juni–hitoe (called karaginu mo, with formal court layers, which allowed a huge canvas
upon which to express their individuality and fashion sense. Moreover, for the women's clothing, the
colors of the many

How Did Heian Culture Influence Tang China
After the reign of the Tang Dynasty, the influence of the Chinese was nearing its completion, both in
religion and culture. The following years spanning 794 to 1185 was known as the Heian period. The
Heian period can be classified into 3 distinct phases over its four centuries. Early Heian (794–951),
Middle Heian or Fujiwara (951–1086), and Late Heian or Insei (1086–1185). During the Early
Heian Period the shift in power from Buddhist community back to the Aristocratic families is fully
realized. The Court culture that was heavily adopted from Tang Chinese influences facilitated this
shift. Buddhism makes a transition from a cultural state presence to a set of complex philosophies.
During the Early Period it was the people realized that they had nothing left to learn from Chinese
influence and started to look to themselves for as the center of all things. Poetry began during this
time in Heian aristocratic society not simply as a personal accomplishment which could prove the
quality of a gentlemen or gentlewoman as it had been since at least the Nara period. It became a
more sophisticated ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Amida, the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, was said to save believers through rebirth in his
realm. The idea of eternal salvation in the Pure Land helped spread Buddhism to all classes of
Japanese society. The most important surviving monument in Japan relating to Pure Land is Phoenix
Hall. Inside the Phoenix Hall is a famous Amida image, the Amida Nyorai, by Jocho. A truly
remarkable work. It sits serenely on its pedestal. It stands in the meditation gesture, and its eyes in
an unfocused gaze. The Raigo triptych in the Juhakkain of the Yoshi Hachiman Association of
Mount Koya demonstrates the development of this genre. The Amida Buddha is represented in a
gold figure seated in a formal, cross–legged position on a golden lotus blossom

Japanese Poetry: The Roles of Poetry in Narrative Prose...
The ninth century was one of major turning points of Japanese literature history, in which the kana
syllabary was developed, along with abolishment of the legation to China (Handout 8). Moreover,
the invention of the Japanese native writing systems served as a stimulus to the creation of a prose
literature, as well as the births of prominent female writers (Handout 8). Two types of the prose went
mainstream in the Heian literature: monogatari (tale) and nikki (diary) (Handout 8). Murasaki
Shikibu's Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji) is probably the most famous work from the era and
therefore I will focus on it as an example in the monogatari genre in this paper; as for the second
genre, I will use Ki no Tsurayuki's Tosa Nikki (Tosa Diary) in ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This part also reminded me of the chapter title and actually explained the author's intension toward
naming the title:
 I who never knew what it was the broom tree meant now wonder to find the road to Sonohara le
me so far from my way. (p. 52)
Stricken with regret to have it known she was born in a humble home, the broom tree you briefly
glimpsed fades and is soon lost to view. (p. 53)
In point of fact, apparently some of the chapters of The Tale of Genji contain poems that empitomize
the chapter and/or its title, like the ones above from the chapter of The Broom Tree. Some other
examples include:
 Poems exchanged between Yūgao and Genji:
At a guess I see that you may indeed be he: the light silver dew brings to clothe in loveliness a
twilight beauty flower. (p. 57)
Let me then draw near and see whether you are she, whom glimmering dusk gave me faintly to
discern in twilight beauty flowers. (p. 58)
 A piece Genji sung to himself, longing for Young Murasaki who has the same family lineage as
Fujitsubo.
How glad I would be to pick and soon to make mine that little wild plant sprung up from the very
root shared by the murasaki (p. 113)
 A sequence of poems between the Dame of Staff and Genji, when she unsuccessfully seduced
him. This part may imply how noble Aoi was considered in the society, or the plot, in addition to
how attractive Genji was. The kakekotoba: 葵 and逢う日(NAC Hiroshima) is

The Heian Court In The Tale Of Genji
During the Heian period the Heian court had the highest power in Japan. This was a period known
for its art, literature, and culture. During the Heian period there was a lot of change going on and the
society cared less about foreign affairs and focused domestically. The religion was changing from an
elite Buddhism into religion for the people. Warriors started to become important political figures
during this time. Samurais were rising and gaining power and the court recognized them and gave
them power. The social, religious, and political structures during the Heian period went through a
vast amount of change and transitions that created new developments. In, The Tale of Genji, the
Heian Society is described as a large group of elite aristocrats ... Show more content on
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Many women would enter the court and offer their service to the empress as a lady–in–waiting or
become a concubine. Doing so would allow the women to freely search for love with a man of the
court. Genji frequently had interactions with ladies–in–waiting and concubines all vying for his love
and marriage. The women of the court had much more social interactions and they tried
exceptionally hard to get the attention of men. They wanted to gain the attention of the elite men so
they would do whatever it took. They all took pride in looking good and showing that they were
both sophisticated and well dressed. They all had long hair and wore extravagant kimonos that were
complex in design and colorful. Women did not travel often and lived lives that had a significant
amount of social interaction so keeping up appearances was routine.
The men were not interested in what a woman looked like, largely because so much of the woman
was covered at all times. Physically, the only part of a woman that mattered to a man was her hair,
which had to be thick, dark, and long. What mattered most to a man about a woman was hear ability
to write poetry and beautiful calligraphy. She also had to wear colorful kimonos that had many
layers. In Genji he had sent many letters back and forth with poetry to many women. Anytime he
would go to visit the ladies they would be hidden behind a

Status And Society In The Tale Of Genji
The Tale of Genji was centered around the Heian period in Japan. The book is centered around
Genji, the son of the Emperor. The book gives glimpses of what life was like for the elites in Japan.
It displayed elite status and culture, how the Japanese value material possessions and how it defines
status in society. The book gives us an insight of Heian Japan. Status is a very important in Heian
Japan. Status gives you power and the higher up you are, the better off you are. Status is defined by
what rank one is. Rank displayed the amount of education, dignity, social status and so on. The
emperor can raise one's rank. This was seen when Genji's mother died. The emperor was genuinely
in love with the women. So much so that the other ladies ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Though Genji comes from the imperial family and has elite bloodlines, he has limitation he lives by.
For example, he does not get to travel very often. According to the book, "he did not often go on
such expeditions, for he was of such rank that freedom of movement was not permitted him." (66)
This point is driven home when he states that the people who get to live around such beauty are in
the vast mountains (68). His men that followed him on this adventure told him of other places that
obtain beauty (68). This is a good contrast that shows the elites, though powerful, did not always get
the better deal in

Role of Poetry in Narrative Prose of the Heian Period Essay
Japanese literature in the Heian period was most popular for its domination of women's culture
(Hooker, Richard). During this time, a new writing technique was implemented called hiragana.
This was especially accepted as a woman's way of writing since a woman knowing Chinese
characters was considered unladylike. For many years Chinese characters was the only accepted
way of writing, thus the birth of a new writing technique was like a revelation. This incorporation
made a huge impact on Japanese literature, since long before it existed, most techniques were
adopted from the Chinese. The most popular works during this time included various monogatari
such as Ise monogatari and Taketori monogatari, and most popular, Genji monogatari. ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The earliest full fledge narrative is Taketori monogatari, also known as The Bamboo Cutter. The
author is unknown, but said to be a woman since written in kana, since only men knew kanji and
Chinese characters. It is a story of Kaguya Hime, a moon princess, who is also immortal, and who
was sent to earth as punishment. Her founder finds her in bamboo, when she is only inches tall, and
he takes her in as his own daughter and raises her, loves her as his own, and is devastated when she
has to go back. The imagery in this tale is so strong. You can see and imagine all of the places where
the suitors lie about or actually do go to. The imagination needed to create such an in–depth story is
truly amazing. The most popular and lasting piece is Genji monogatari written by Murasaki Shikibu.
Genji monogatari is most well known for being one of the greatest novels in world literature. The
story is not accepted by all women since it reveals the type of man Genji was. He was known to rape
and kidnap women and a lot of women still get angry with this. Still today, women do not like Genji.
The role of poetry in Genji is to play into the character that Genji is supposed to be. In the story he
is handsome and loved by all, but also makes love to a lot of women all the time. He writes poems
about his relationships with women, good and bad. In the story he is perfect, including the fact that
he is a perfect

Comparing The Diary Of Lady Murasaki And The Tale Of Genji
Did you know that there was a time where black teeth were considered beautiful? Or that the
stationary a poem was written on was just as important the poem itself? These customs are
showcased in both The Diary of Lady Murasaki and The Tale of Genji, which are both written by
Murasaki Shikibu and set in the Heian period of Japan. Poetry and story writing were highly valued
art forms during this period, poems were usually printed on beautifully decorated stationary. As for
stories, most of them were written by women and considered classics of the time. Aesthetics were
also highly valued. From the way a ladies hair was done, the color choice of her clothing, the
blackness of her teeth, and makeup. All of these were considered determining factors of status. As
for religion, during this time it was heavily influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism. During the
Heian period a huge emphasis was placed on art, aesthetics, and religion, which is prominently
featured in The Diary of Lady Murasaki and The Tale of Genji. Poetry, music, and art were
considered the most important human accomplishments in this time period , not only was poetry a
valued art form it was also a source of expression. Lovers would use poetry as a means to
communicate their love. These affairs would either be successful or not according to the sensitivity
of the poem and the beauty of the writer's handwriting. This is seen in The Diary of Lady Murasaki
when Murasaki wrote a poem to a dear friend whom she

The Heian Period Was Denoted As The Era Of The Court...
The Heian period was denoted as the era of the "court aristocracy, which manifested highly
reformed taste in art and literature and strongly developed customs and modes of behavior" (Hane,
Pg. 61). During this period, women created some of the greatest writing throughout Japan's history,
the most sophisticated and highly desired one being poetry. While traditional Chinese poetry had
great emphasis "waka, a japanese–style poem of thirty–one syllables, also gained popularity at the
Heian court" (Hane, Pg. 64). These poems allowed for an outsider to get an insight of Japan's
society and culture at the time. One of the underappreciated author's of this time was Sei Shōnagon,
her most famous work being The Pillow Book. Although her work has ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
As the sentence continues she describes the interaction with the child by using the words "pet" and "
imitating". In the context of the sentence, these words come off as condescending and sarcastic, but
I believe that to be her point. To perform these tasks of petting the child and imitating his voice
shows that there were standards to be maintained in this society to keep everyone pleased. However,
the demeaning feeling behind these actions explains that people just played the proper role. Yet, this
sentence is still composed with the use of okashi. When read, it brings a smile to ones face due to
the ridiculousness of the situation and the bluntness of Shōnagon's solution.
Having the ability to write exquisite poems and use them to describe everyday life was a big factor
within the Heian period. Having a man deceit the public with the false accusation of being capable
of reciting beautiful poetry was highly frowned upon. She described it as, "A man recites his own
poems and tells one about the praise they have received– most embarrassing" (Shōnagon, Pg. 275).
This denotes the idea that the public was immensely drowned in the expectation of being idolized by
the nation for their supposedly well–written poetry. With the word choice of "most embarrassing"
she heightens the ideal of how this action was repulsive. She conveys with the aid of sarcasm to
indicate that becoming a compulsive liar in order to gain a positive reputation is an undesirable trait

Summary Of Genji : A Lover Who Transcends The Boundary Of...
Eric Sands
Professor David T. Bialock
EALC 342
September 30th 2014
Genji: A Lover Who Transcends the Boundary of the Heian Court One thousand years ago, when
art, poetry, and literature were flourishing at the height of the Heian court, a noble Japanese lady–
in–waiting named Murasaki Shikibu wrote a story that was not entirely fiction but also not non–
fiction. The Tale of Genji, a story about an impressively handsome "shining" young man named
Genji, was intended to be read by a small elite group of aristocrats, those whom the story itself
depicts. Consumed by their rank that separated them from the common people considered inferior
and subhuman, the high–ranking class was keenly aware of the beauty of nature, music, poetry,
calligraphy, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is read, interpreted, and taught in various forms of analytical literature and serves as a model for
literary production for adaptations and translations and re–creation in such media as painting,
drama, books, fashion, food, design, musicals, films, animation, and comics (Shirane 9). Written for
the high–ranking class of the Heian court, The Tale of Genji has extended itself to be a masterpiece
of world literature because the theme of Genji seeking comfort and ultimately true love in the place
of his passed mother transcends the boundaries of the insular world of the Heian court.
Genji is such a relatable character to the contemporary world through his consideration of how
people aesthetically present themselves as a main factor in finding a potential lover. Reading The
Tale of Genji with a historical lens, one can deduct that Genji's considerations of the physical
appearance of women he pursues are not so far off from those considerations of today. The
importance of beauty to Genji's pursuit of love is a notion that holds true in the contemporary world.
Beauty in the Heian period can be characterized by the length and thickness of a woman's hair and
the presence of overlapping sleeves from multiple layers of matching colorful clothing extending
from beyond the screens or draping from the sides of a carriage. "...Carriages were hastily and
unostentatiously decked out, and the sun was already high when

Comparing Tale Of Genji And Ariwara No Narihira
The 'kishu ryūritan', or the 'exile of the young noble', is a recurring motif in Classical Japanese
literature where 'a young god or aristocrat undergoes a severe trial in a distant and hostile land' as
punishment for a previous transgression (Haruo, 1987). With both the protagonists of the Tale of
Genji (Hikaru Genji) and the Tales of Ise (the anonymous 'man') embarking on self–imposed exiles,
this essay will examine the similarities and differences between the experiences of the two
characters, as well as the Heian socio–political context that this literary trope reveals.
According to Ivy (1995), the 'theme of the wandering stranger–god is one of the most important
literary...motifs in Japan'. The formation of 'thematic oppositions' such as 'exile and exclusion',
'travel and return' in Japanese literature is significant in light of the socio–political system of Heian
Japan (Ivy, 1995). Not only was the capital 'a primary ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Often regarded as representatives of the 'irogonomi' character type, both the protagonists are of 'the
aristocratic class' and show a 'strong predilection for romantic entanglements, often multiple, with
the opposite sex' (Levy, 2011). Their common status as 'connoisseurs of love' and 'perfect Heian
courtier[s]', however, is also what led to their downfall (Sprague, 2011). In the Tale of Genji, Genji
becomes 'amorously involved with one of Kokiden's younger sisters, Oborozukiyo, who has been
promised to' the future Emperor Suzaku (Bowring, 2004). Similarly, Narihira is described in
Episode 6 of the Tales of Ise to have 'for years courted a most inaccessible lady', who is identified in
the same episode as 'the future Empress from the Second Ward' (Tales of Ise, 72–73). The discovery
of the 'affair with the consort' is thus a common plot element within the two texts that lead to the
exile of Genji and Narihira (Commons,

Summary Of ' The Tale Of Genji '
Jordan Adams
11/25/14
World Civilization I
MacKinnon
Text Analysis
The Tale of Genji In early eleventh century Japan, circa the year 1021, noblewoman and lady–in–
waiting Murasaki Shikibu published The Tale of Genji, widely renowned as the world's first novel.
The work is set in Shikibu's contemporary Heian period of Japan, in which political and social ranks
dictated society's functioning and heavy prejudices were placed on those deemed unsuitable for the
affairs of public court life. Women fell under this umbrella of outsiders, meant to live primarily
behind screens and closed doors only to be seen by their father and husband. It is believed that
Shikibu wrote such a tale of forbidden romance and whimsical court affairs to bring life to her
fellow women who shared in such a limited existence. This single piece of literature manages to
wholly represent the Heian age of Japanese history, embodying the period's culture and seamlessly
incorporating a broad spectrum of themes of civilization. The Tale of Genji revolves around the
illegitimate son of Japan's emperor and his favorite concubine Kiritsubo. Kiritsubo is easily
influenced by the critics and judgments of the court, falls ill, and dies of jealously. With her having
no concrete political standing, the emperor removes their son from court and assigns him to the
commoner Genji clan (thus giving the boy his name) and names Suzaku, the son he had with Lady
Kokiden as the royal prince. Genji matures to be notoriously

The Contrast of the Heian-Era Courtier and the Kamakura...
The Contrast of the Heian–Era Courtier and the Kamakura Samurai April 29, 2011 The Contrast of
the Heian–Era Courtier and the Kamakura Samurai The major periods that shaped Japan's history
and future were the Heian–era of Aristocracy and the Kamakura period of Samurai. The Heian–era
and the Kamakura period are interesting because of their differences in social structure, tradition,
and culture. In the Heian era, the aristocrat's social class was sought by many because of their social
and cultural status. When the warrior rise in the Kamakura age the social classes change
dramatically between aristocrat and warrior. The Heian–era (794–1191) was an age of self
development in Japan's culture and tradition. Before the Heian–era, Japan ... Show more content on
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In 1159, Kiyomori of the Taira clan was victorious over the Minamoto clan. Kiyomori murdered all
the adults of the Monamoto clan and forced the children into exile. The emperor rewarded Kiyomori
victory by giving him an advisor position in the government. This event was significant because
Kiyomori was the first warrior in Japan's government. Like the Fujiwara family, Kiyomori desired a
royal bloodline within the Taira clan. So the Taira clan consorted with the imperial family in efforts
to secure an imperial bloodline. Later, Kiyomori obtain a higher government position and more
importantly a grandson was born and is heir to the throne. Feeling cheated an imperial prince sought
the exiled Minamoto to overthrow the Taria clan. In 1180, Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan formed
an army and battled with Taira clan that is known as the Genpei War. Eventually, Kiyomori died and
the Taria clan shortly declined after him. During these battles warriors ran amok pillaging the
Japan's cuntryside. To end the chaos and violence the imperial turned to Yoritomo. Yoritomo in
return raise an army of samurais and took complete control of the government and transformed it
into a military government. The Kamakura government consisted of the emperor, shogun, and the
house men. The emperor served merely as a figurehead, he little to no control of his government.
The shogun had

Essay on Buddhism in Japan
"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future; it
transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural and spiritual, and
it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a
meaningful unity." Albert Einstein (Buddhism)
Buddhism has affected many people. From the Buddha's first followers to my next door neighbor,
people everywhere have followed the teachings of Buddhism. Buddhism was started by a Prince; a
prince who wanted more. Many different ways of showing appreciation to Buddha are present in
today's society as well as when Buddhism was first started. There are paintings, carvings, statues
and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One was an elderly man, another was a man suffering from illness, and finally he saw a dead body
surrounded by mourners. Since he had never seen anything like this before, he asked his charioteer
what these things were. He responded to the Prince that these things were natural and unavoidable,
and happened to everyone. Once again Siddhartha asked his charioteer to take him out into the city;
this time he was to see the last of four images that would change his life forever. The last sight he
saw was a wandering old holy man with no possessions. His head was completely shaved and he
was wearing a yellow robe. Having seen all these things, Buddha not only became aware of the pain
and suffering of humankind, but was also prompted to do something about it. He left his family in
search of the answers to his questions (Buddhism).
Siddhathra traveled throughout the northeastern portion of India, seeking out holy men and teachers
who taught him ancient Indian techniques of meditation. Even though meditation was important to
him, his main quest was to find the answer to the problem of suffering. He wanted to know why
they were suffering and how it could stop. So Siddhartha studied the teachings of Hinduism. He was
very fascinated by the belief of reincarnation or Samsara. (This was the belief of the soul, after
death, would travel to a new body and be born again.) Depending on the person's previous life, their
soul could enter a body of a higher or lower state of

Buddhism During The Heian Period
Buddhism During the Heian period (745–1185AD) Buddhism spread throughout Japan and thrived
in the imperial court in Heiankyo (Kyoto). There were two sects of Buddhism that were most
popular during this time, one was Tendai and the other was Shingon. Both of these sects of
Buddhism came from China and were brought over to Japan by two different people. Saicho or
Dengyo Daishi brought over Tendai sect (767–822) and Kukai or Kobo Daishi brought over
Shingon sect (774–835) known as Esoteric Buddhism. Tendai sect beliefs were also of Esoteric
Buddhism, but Saicho teachings were based on Chih–I form inspired by the Lotus Sutra, the practice
of Chines Ch'an, the commandments of the Mahayant, and part of the esoteric teaching of the "True
Word" (History of Buddhism). Due to both Saicho and Kukai being introduced to Esoteric
Buddhism, some might have thought there was a rivalry between them, but that was not so due to
Kukai was consider an expert due to his training he had with his mentor. Out of the two sects it
would be Kukai that would still have a strong hold in the Japanese culture today. It is important to
understand how Kukai came to understand his beliefs and what Esoteric Buddhism was for him and
the influence Kukai would have on Esoteric Buddhism. Esoteric Buddhism (Shingon in Japanese)
"refers to the mantra words and syllables that convey the essence of the Buddha–teaching
(Symbols)." Esoteric is about the word of presence, the word of God, a divine word, a

The Era Of The Heian Era
It was evident to the historians of the present that the Heian era placed great emphasis on beauty. It
was evident everywhere, and it was a significant part of the Heian aristocratic life. If one looked
with a scrutinizing eye, he/she would have found beauty even in the most meagre things. Men and
women alike praised the opposite gender for their beauty, but the praise was not limited to humans,
it extended deeper into the Heian daily life. For a Heian aristocrat, a large part of beauty was
observed in how he/she communicated with others, and that was through poetry. The poet had to be
careful in the prose, the writing style, and the way the letter was presented.
In an era where beautiful literature superseded abstract speculation, poetry was the center of
attention. As historians would say that it was a work of art because this formed the basis of all
communications, verbal or written, and the Japanese tried to include poetry in any way possible. A
man or women with no poetic skills was a handicap in the Heian society because of poetry's central
position in communications. Because poems were limited to 31 syllables, most of it was trite. Poetic
competitions were held, and not all the poetic pieces written by competitors were original. This was
totally understandable since the vernacular language hadn't changed a lot since the lapse in
relationships between the Japanese and Chinese. However, poetry still was vastly popular. Hundreds
of pieces were written down every day,

The Heian Period: Social Status, Economy, And Feminism
Introduction
In the history of Japan, the Heian period is thought by many critics and literally experts an important
age of art and culture. During this time period, Japan was able to develop a strong and very
important sense of native visuals. The period was so developed that even merchants and warriors
had started in becoming important political and social figures within the Heian period. The period
had also witnessed a substantial rise in liberty of women and importance of feminism but it also had
seen the dominance of the elite over the labour and working class. Our study will focus on the three
key issues during the period and the impact they had on the Heian citizens: Social status, Economy
and Feminism.
Social Status
There is a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As the total number of ranked candidates used to be more than the total number of vacant offices,
therefore, either those who could afford to offer gifts to the appointing authority or those who had
strong political connections were used to get the opportunity to hold the vacant offices more easily
than those who either could not afford to offer gifts or those who didn't have strong political
connections. As by securing the vacant offices, individuals not only get the opportunity to earn
money on regular intervals but they also get the opportunity to further progress in their respective
careers, hence securing the vacant offices was the most important thing for them to do. On the other
hand, although women were also used to be assigned with ranks but they were not made eligible to
hold the offices of ministers or governors. But some women used to hold key positions in the courts
and influenced the decisions involving the appointments of various men to various offices. But this
made some women considering themselves highly superior to another. "Those who think of
themselves as being superior to everyone else in this way will suffer and come to a bad end and
people who have become so precious that they go out of their way to try and be sensitive in most
unpromising situations, trying to capture every moment of interest and are bound to look ridiculous
and superficial." It does provide evidence that, even so many years back, a strong sense of
dominance had existed in women to such a great extent that they considered people below them as
non–existent and they had even used their goodwill to exert substantial influence at crucial

Essay on The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
Being a student interested in the field of biology, one knows that studying life in the past plays an
important role in the history of organisms that lived on this earth. Similarly, being Japanese,
studying the past of how Japanese were plays an important role in Japanese history. Despite all the
general aspects of life that have changed from the Heian period, the one idea that has definitely not
changed is the romantic relationships between a man and woman. Though the general concept is the
same, from reading The Tale of Genji, it is what was considered the ideal woman and ideal man that
were both surprising and thus worth discussing. Written around 978 by Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale
of Genji, regarded as the world's first ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, as To no Chujo pointed out (Shikibu 21), women that are high rank, have a lot of people
that serve them and make them look better than they are so that a man cannot really know what kind
of personality she may have. Middle rank women on the other hand, have less hidden about her, and
so one can tell what kind of woman she is. This is probably because middle rank women do not have
as much pressure to look good as high rank women have and because they are not expected to be as
great. Thus in this way they are not pampered as much and in a sense show their true colors. From
this it can be concluded that the ideal woman if it were possible, would be someone that was high
rank, but also had a good personality that was not just made to seem good but her servants. For a
woman to have a good personality is definitely an understandable character, but what constituted
'good' personality and character? The Chief Equerry, an older man with more experience in matters
with women in comparison to To no Chujo and Genji, explained that the woman's main duty is to
look after her husband and the household (Shikibu 23). Thus the ideal woman would be one who
was educated and smart enough to take care of the household including preparing a fresh set of
clothes after her husband returns from journey, and keeping the house tidy and clean. She should not
have to ask her husband for every little thing that needs to be done because that would just waste

Beauty And Japanese Beauty
This era of Japan is notable by its visual impact, an area of life that the women had the most
influence upon their society at the time and that influence has continued within Japan today. Beauty,
in all things, was considered of utmost importance: in language, the written word, the spoken word,
the costume, gardens, and in the very essence of the culture. Mono no aware, a term coined in the
19th century by Motoori Norinaga in regards to the Heian concept of beauty, best describes the
Heian thoughts of beauty. "Beauty is precious, because it is brief" (Hooker, 1999). The term aware
during the Heian era represented sensitivity to things ranging from beauty to sadness, life, love or
death. In the letters, diaries, literature and poetry, the fashion stands out and is the most obvious and
most scrutinized aspect of Heian beauty personified. While the men, too, had splendid robes to wear,
their color options and individuality was constrained by the sumptuary laws and their rank (Bryant,
2004). The women however wore juni–hitoe (called karaginu mo, with formal court layers, and
allowed a huge canvas upon which to express their individuality and fashion sense. For the women,
colors for robes came to be combined into discreetly named combinations known as irome no
kasane. This sensitive layering of colors developed into a full and subtle bloom over the course of
400 years. Very little in the emerging style was Chinese, in fact of the 12 items of clothing usually
worn, only two,

What Is The Theme In The Tale Of Genji
Afro– Asian Literature
Dolly C. Cruz MWF 9:30–10:30 March 18, 2015
The Tale of Genji
By:Murasaki Shikibu
The tale of Genji according to researches was actually published before 1021 and has its original
title Genji monogatari. According to www.taleofgenji.org, "the tale is called as the not just Asia's
first novel but the world's first true novel and the first psychological novel ever written". This was
authored by Murasaki Shikibu and was written during the Heian period (794–1185). There are lots
of themes shown in the novel like love, lust as shown in Genji's affair to different women , the life
of the Japanese people during the Heian people, the life of the female and the emperors and people
of higher rank during the said period. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
During this period, there is the transfer of the capital from the Heijo–Kyo to Heian–Kyo. According
to figal sensei.org/hist157/textbook, "The Heian court was actually headed by an emperor claimed
sovereignty over most territory of Japanese islands". It was also stated in the same source that
members of the "High Court Nobility were recruited among Junior and imperial family". This tells
us that the members of the prestigious clan in the period should have a powerful and strong family
background which Genji did not have. Also it is stated in the same source that "holders of the
aristocratic ranks enjoyed special legal and economic privileges." It shows us how the great power
that these Aristocrats have during this Period which is evident in the tale of Genji. In the Heian
society, people are very much interested of their own ease and leisure and the emperor is the center
of everything. They are very into arts and are very obsessed in rank and breeding. This shows in the
tale the obsession of Lady Kokiden for his son to be the next in line to become the emperor, her fear
of Genji as a threat for his sons expected and wanted

Heian Art Experience
I originally chose to enroll in this course because I had absolutely zero previous experience or
background knowledge regarding the history of East Asia and thought that it would be beneficial to
learn something about Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture since I'm hoping to work in
international affairs someday. I had also never taken a college–level Art History course before and
thought it would be an interesting challenge. Over the course of the semester, I found myself
learning more than I ever thought was possible from an Art History course. When attempting to
decide what topic I wanted to further study for this project, I carefully thought about which time
period covered in class caught my attention the most. I immediately thought of ... Show more
The second representation of the Heian period I chose to include in the elegant robes on the
unidentified female was the Byodoin Temple because it's a noteworthy example of Buddhist Pure
Land architecture. The temple (including its garden) represents the Pure Land Paradise, which was
also influential on future temple construction. After doing some further reading, I learned that
Byodoin was initially built in 998 as a countryside retreat villa for Fujiwara no Michinaga, the
powerful politician, and was not actually intended to be a temple; however, Michinaga's son ended
up turning Byodoin into a temple and was the one who ordered the construction of its most
spectacular feature, the Phoenix Hall. Despite the building being given another official name, it was
nicknamed Hodo almost immediately after its construction in 1053 because of its shape and the two
phoenix statues on its roof. In fact, the significance of this structure is still present today as its hall is
now featured on the back of the Japanese ten yen coin (Byodoin Temple,

Monogatari : A Historical Analysis
Genji Monogatari: A Historical Analysis
Genji Monogatari, or as it is known in the Western world, the Tale of Genji, is considered one of
Japan's greatest literary works. Murasaki Shikibu, the story's disputed author, was a noblewoman
with ties to the Fujiwara clan, the ruling house at the time. She is said to have written the story as a
form of entertain her contemporaries (Waley). Due to Genji's noble birth, the majority of the
characters introduced in the story are the elite members of society. The monogatari's cast list
consists of the Emperor, military leaders, governors, and their various wives and mistresses. It is in
essence the a list of the of the most powerful people of the time period. It is due to both Murasaki
Shikibu's and Genj Hikaru's noble births, many scholars consider Genji Mongatari as a reliable
source for the habits and behaviors of the Heian Court. The insight the tale gives about the social
structure, the relationships and even the religious practices is massive.
The Heian lords seemed to be split among five ranks. The top three ranks were the high court
nobles. This was the group that spent its time with and around the Emperor. The fourth and fifth
ranks were the provincial governor. This group was seen inferior not only because their lower status
but also due to the fact that many had a more 'countrified' dialect and speech patterns. The fourth
and fifth rank nobles usually spent a large amount of time away from the capital due to
administrative

Murasaki's Treatment Of Women In The Tale Of Genji
The Heian period lasted from 794, when the capital of Japan was moved from Nara to Heian–kyō, to
1185, when Minamoto Yoritomo took power. This time is known for the culture of the aristocracy,
which placed a great deal of importance on aesthetic refinement. The importance of Chinese during
this time should also be noted. Chinese was the language of government, philosophy, and educated
men. It was considered improper for women to learn and use. In addition, while a man was expected
to study poetry in Chinese and compose it in Chinese and Japanese, fiction was considered beneath
them. Because of this, early prose fiction in Japanese was a matter mainly for women.
The Tale of Genji is the world's oldest novel. It was written in Japan during the early 11th century,
the peak of the Heian Period, by a woman known as Murasaki Shikibu. I say known as because her
real name is unknown. Murasaki comes from the heroine of The Tale of Genji and Shikibu from her
father's position, Shikibu meaning Bureau of Ceremonial. Her father was Fujiwara no Tametoko, at
one time governor of Harima, Echizen, and Echigo. When exactly The Tale of Genji was written is
not known. The novel was at least partly written by 1007 or 1008 ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
First, the poetry. Second, how the style of the story reminded me of a fairytale. Both of these makes
sense in the context of the time in which it was written.
Nearly 800 poems appear in The Tale of Genji. The style used is known as uta, tanka, or waka.
These poems have 5 sections with syllable counts of 5–7–5–7–7 and are not supposed to rhyme. In
the Heian period poetry was an essential part of court life, both for communication and status.
Poetry was viewed as one of the greatest arts. Poetry also allowed one to communicate without
some of the restrictions of the hierarchy. A well–formed poem was worthy of respect even from one
considered inferior. Poems were also exchanged during

Comparison Of The Pillow Book And The Song Of Roland
Both The Pillow Book and The Song of Roland gives us an insight about the dominant groups
during its respective period. The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon provides us with the picture of
aristocracy in Japan during the Heian period. Sei Shonagon served as a court lady to the empress
around the year 1000 and through her time she records her opinions and her experiences in the court.
On the other hand The Song of Roland offers us the history of battles during the reign of
Charlemagne and how his government was set up and controlled.
The Heian court controlled the most of the territory of Japanese islands. The government was
centralized and it relied on local officials who relied on the warlords and Buddhist temples. There
were groups who held political power during this period. The emperors were highly prestigious and
politically influential. At this period the country was in peace as there were no outside threat. Due to
this the aristocrats in the court spent time on creating their own rich culture. From the passage of
"Service at Court" of The Pillow Book, there's detailed information of the women role during that
period and their experience. Sei Shonagon's tells us about her imagination of how it would feel to be
living in the home serving their husbands who don't have a exciting life yet believing there happy.
She says, "I wish they could live for a while in our society, even if should mean taking service as
Attendants, so that they might come to know the delights it has to

Ideal Men &Women of the Heian Court based on “The Tale of...
Genji Monogatari or The Tale of Genji is a story that was written by Murasaki Shikibu during the
Heian period. It is a very well received work of Japanese literature and the first part of the story is
written with the main character being Genji, and then continues without him. I have no knowledge
of the second half of Genji Monogatari but it is in the first section of this tale the characteristics and
traits for ideal men and women of the society within the story can be gathered. The criteria for an
ideal man or woman in The Tale of Genji was the importance of the physical attribute of beauty, the
background, personality, and education of a woman, and characteristics that the main hero of the
story, Genji, possessed. In the society ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The general community around Genji is probably similar in the audiences understanding of his
character because Genji was still only 17 at the time, and thus for them to lament based mostly on
his beauty is a portrayal of society's love for an ideal and perfect beauty. However, this standard was
not only put on males, but also placed on females. In chapter 2 of Genji Monogatari they speak of
many women and the physical characters that fit the ideal women is that which is "pretty, innocent,
and young." The stress men put on beauty is shown in one example said by the Chief Equerry of the
story. In that example, the only thing that he found disagreeable with one of his lovers was that "lest
her lack of looks offend me." Going back to Genji's beauty, the men of Genji Monogatari must have
been deeply obsessed with perfect beauty as during chapter 2 they found Genji so beautiful they
wished he was a woman. It is important to note, however, that while the story emphasizes the
importance of beauty in an ideal man or woman, there is never an actual description of physical
characteristics make a "perfect beauty." In any case, while beauty is subjective and not defined in
Genji, it is clear that it is an important opinion one must have for another before a person can be
considered ideal. Chapter 2 of Genji Monogatari touched on the physical appearance of woman and
how they must look to be desirable, but it also went in depth of the pluses and minuses of other

The Heian Period Essay
The Heian Period from about 794–1185 A.D. was an impressive era in Japanese history. Considered
Japan's Classical Age, it was a period of wealth and sophistication. Peace and prosperity, high
culture, powerful clans, new ideas and relative independence of foreign influence marked this time.
The move to the capital of Heian–kyō (modern day Kyoto) was motivated in large part on a desire
by Emperor Kammu to reduce the substantial influence exercised by the monasteries in Heijō–kyō
(modern day Nara). Nara was patterned after the capital city of Tang, China, and its religion was
based on their brand of Buddhism. Earlier Imperial sponsorship of Buddhism had politicized the
clergy, resulting in power and corruption within their leadership. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Great care was taken in color coordination of kimonos. In addition, lavish makeup was also prized,
and women of high caste were never seen in public without it. Even among men, good taste in dress
and manner were valued more highly than skill in battle.
The Heian Period marked a newfound independence in Japanese thought and brought with it a sense
of national pride that caused its people to begin a separation from the dominant Chinese influence.
Although trade continued on unofficial levels, Japanese rulers severed official ties with China.
Big changes were taking place in Japanese writing, as well. Although Chinese remained the official
written language of the court, Kana, a simplified method of writing, was developed. Each symbol
was a simplified version of Chinese characters and represented spoken syllables used in Japanese.
The ease of learning led to broader literacy and many poems and stories being written. Many
women possessed the ability to read and write and were able to express their ideas, one of the best
examples being The Tale of Genji, by Murasaki Shikibu. Believed to be the world's first novel, it
offers a detailed look at Heian court life, rituals, and culture. Educated women such as these were
often able to progress in Heian society, with considerable rights and privileges. As such, they filled
roles at all levels and were often major players in politics and power struggles.
This period also saw the beginnings of the samurai.

The Role Of Buddhism In Heian Art
Buddhism began to dominate Japanese culture during the Heian period from 794 C.E. to 1185 C.E.
and affected both spiritual and political issues in Japan. For example, every time an emperor died
during this period, the capital would have to move, as the people were superstitious. This period is
also marked by Chinese influence with the adoption of Buddhism in Japan and ideally planned
cities. The Head of the Buddha was made during the twelfth century and The Head of the
Bodhisattva was made circa 1053 C.E. These two pieces fit into this time period stylistically, as they
relate to Buddhist ideals during the Heian period. These sculptures demonstrate their nature through
their subject matters, their location of display, their form, style, ... Show more content on
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As these two pieces are made of wood, the outward appearance of them is a brown color. The Head
of the Bodhisattva, however, has some residue on the surface that turns the color of the wood white
and even black in some places. At first glance, one would think this could be some kind of rot in the
wood, but it could also be some residual traces of paint along the surface. Although not apparent on
the exterior, The Head of the Buddha has traces of polychromy like the Bodhisattva head. This
would indicate that these wooden sculptures would have been more decorated when they were first
completed. The Head of the Buddha also takes on characteristic surface patterns that are common
among Buddha figures. The hair has a pearl–like quality, as the Buddha was of Indian origin. He has
a serene face, which is highlighted through his slit eyes. It was also common for a Buddha to have
multiple chins, and long elongated ears that are proportionally larger than they should be in reality.
One of the less common features, but also sometimes included, is the hole in the center of the
Buddha's forehead, which represents his third eye. The Bodhisattva also showcases common
features. Like the Buddha, it was common for the Bodhisattva to have elongated ears as well. Unlike
the Buddha's hair, the Bodhisattva has flatter hair with the occasional bump to make it appear curly.
It was also common

The Influence Of The Heian Period Of Japan
What is worth learning in a boring history class? Things such as The World Wars and The French
Revolution might be interesting, but the excitement of a history class comes from the 'Classics'. A
'Classic', as in a classical civilization. They draw the curiosity and interests of students because of
their unique marks in history, but what categories does one civilization have to satisfy in order to be
a 'Classic'? It has to be original, influential, and timeless! The Roman Empire and the Greeks are the
widely known classical civilizations, however, the Heian Period of Japan, that satisfy all the
categories to be a classic, is not considered as one! Since, the Heian Period is original, influential,
and timeless, it is a classical civilization. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As in, something made them unique and different from all the previous civilizations. The unique
factor of the Heian Period is that women were given more rights, which led them to be culturally
dominate and actively involved in the culture of the civilization. According to the book "The Tale of
Genji", written by a female novelist of the Heian imperial court, women of the Heian Period were
provided with the basic education such as, art, poetry, music, and writing. There were also laws that
protected women from abuse of male partners.(Shikibu, 2014) Furthermore, women were allowed to
divorce and remarry which was not even available in many European countries.(Lurie, 2004) All of
the following droits were much more than what the previous Japanese civilizations offered for
women. During this period, women were still limited to outside or political activities, thus, allowing
more time to create literature. Consequently, many novels, poems, and literature from the Heian
Period are from female authors. Notably, the Heian Period was also the peak of Japanese literature.
Giving women more rights significantly changed the behaviour of Heian women

The Heian Period: Japan's Golden Age
For much of the 8th century,Nara was the imperial capital of Japan.However in 794 emperor
Kammu then moved the capital to Heian–Kyo.This event started the Heian period which is also
called Japan's Golden age."Heian–kyo's became the first truly Japanese city."Kammu built this city
and called it Heian–kyo because Heian–kyo means the capital of peace and tranquility.Ranks were
very important during Japan's Golden Age.According each rank brought its specific privileges and
rules.In addition birth into a high–ranking family mattered more than qualities or skills.The ranks
were divided into classes including senior,junior,upper,and lower.To summarize this Japan's Golden
Age is also called the Heian period and that ranks were very important.In Japan's

How Did The Heian Period Differ From Medieval American...
The Heian Period began when the emperor Kammu moved the capital of Japan from Nara, and
Heian–Kyo in 794. Its government was run by a family of wealthy, noble aristocrats called the
Fujiwara family. This family was very respected, and ruled for over 300 years. Medieval Europe
began from the fall of the Western Roman Empire and lasted from the 5th to the 15th century.
Medieval Europe used a feudal system to do their government, and it was often unfair. The Heian
Period and Medieval Europe took place in the same time, but in different places. They had so many
differences and similarities, and I will go over these similarities and differences next. The Heian
Period and Medieval Europe differed in many ways when it came to social life. Art, ... Show more
The Heian Period's art was quite unique– the statues were sculpted in different pieces so that it was
quicker and easier to put them together. Art during Medieval Europe was normally on walls and
considered 'Romanesque", and the paintings on the walls were normally scenes from the Bible.
Fashion during the Heian Period was very strange– black teeth, long hair, and white faces with red
lips were all considered attractive during the Heian Period. During Medieval Europe, things were
different. Only the wealthy could dress in fashionable clothes. The Crusades influenced fashion a lot
when many different products like silks, satins, damasks, and more were able to be traded from the
east. The Heian Period and Medieval Europe differ in many ways. The Heian Period and Medieval
Europe both have very

Ideal Man and Woman in The Tale of Genji Essay
Based on Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji" the ideal man and the ideal woman of the Heian
Court can easily be discerned as not truly existing, with the main character, Genji, being the nearly
satirical example of what was the ideal man, and descriptions of the many women in the story as
prescription of the ideal woman with the young Murasaki playing a similar role to that of Genji in
the story.
It is made clear from the beginning of the story that Genji is the example of the ideal man. In
chapter one, "The Paulownia Pavilion (Kiritsubo)", Genji is born to the emperor and a woman of
middle birth as a "wonderfully handsome son" (5) who was with "such marvels of beauty and
character that no one could resent him" (6). From this point ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Although Murasaki Shikibu parodies the idealness of Genji's character by showing even though he
is ideal he is still not perfect, by having Genji admired by the majority of the other characters in the
story she is acknowledging that Genji is an ideal man (or at least as close as one can get in the Heian
Court). "His [Genji's] many flaws are balanced by his charm, taste, generosity, humor, and
sensitivity."
There are both concrete and abstract things that make up the character of the ideal Heian man that
Genji represents. In the realm of the tangible, Genji is able to play all instruments beautifully, paint
with excellence, and compose poetry that is perfect as well as his incomparable beauty (among
many other thing)s, and in the realm of the intangible, Genji was charming and smart and emotional.
Reference to his excellence in everything is made in almost every chapter. "In fact, if I were to list
all the things at which he excelled, I would only succeed in making him sound absurd." (10). With
this particular line Murasaki Shikibu is recognizing that Genji was indeed amazing, but she does not
want to make him sound 'absurd' by listing all the qualities that become him because the list is
inexhaustible. By saying this however she is commenting on the fact that if one were to hear all of
which Genji excelled in people would realize the absurdity of Genji as a character.
An important thing that is noticeable about

Classical Japan: The The Heian Period
Sit up straight! Good posture Reader–sama! What are you wearing?! Defiantly not your traditional
kimono! Wait...What? We aren't in the Golden Age of Japan? Then why am I lecturing you on being
a proper Heian Noble? Oh well, if you cant be a Heian, then why not learn about them? But, Heian
Period? What's a Heian Period? I'm glad that question ran through you head. Its considered to be the
great golden age of Japan. It was a time of great beauty and physical labor. Many things were
accomplished from the beginning to the end. And those accomplishments turn to great legacies.
Because of these special attributes of the Heian Period, it became the golden age.
The Heian Period, also known as 平安時代 in kanji, is a time period in Classical Japan. To be
precise, the Heian Period was the last period in it. Starting from the year 794 all the way to 1185.
During this time, beauty was a major project to the Heian's. "Every aspect of life was modeled
around finding beauty, including handwriting, dress, appearance, gardens and homes." But one of
the most important was self beauty, as in making yourself look beautiful. Or atleast looking pretty
during that time period, because today we might considered their ways of getting ready for everyday
quite unusual and unnecessary. For example, when someone thinks of a Feudal era Japanese women,
they might think of them with white faces and ruby red lips. This is indeed correct, many, if not all
Heian women covered their face in rice powder. And

Kiritsubo: Marriage In The Heian Period
Kiritsubo
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In the Heian period, marriage was closely intertwined with politics. Within the high–class
population, marriage was a means of gaining influence, as seen by the tactics of Fujiwara no
Michinaga, who nudged himself into the imperial family through a vast amount of marriages.
During this time, a marriage of honor was between the high–class. Because of this, the Emperor's
relationship with Kiritsubo was bound for hardship from the start. There were a number of causes
for this relationship to receive scorn: Kiritsubo had no influential male support on her side of the
family, the Kokiden Consort (and other people

Genji: The Heian Society
1. In the Heian society, a majority of qualities that are considered a negative or a positive do not
necessarily pertain to just male or female, but for either gender. Some qualities that would be
considered negative for aristocrats during the Heian period would be intellectual flaunting, being too
submissive, not taking responsibility for ones actions, being to upfront/confrontational, not keeping
ones word, and the secrecy of faults. Some good qualities that are not particularly masculine or
feminine during the Heian period are high intellectual capability, literacy, beauty, ability to convey
emotion in an intelligent or humanistic manner, honor, and being an individual while staying
loyal/respectful. One such quality that Genji displays that are valued during the Heian period that
would be considered more feminine in the western modern age would be that he conveys his
emotion when he feels it. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Genji would be an ideal man according to Heian norms due to his honorable nature when it comes to
taking care of the women's household he has been with even if he does not see them anymore. Genji
is also apparently extremely beautiful awhile being good at pretty much all that he does. However,
Genji is not ideal form a woman's point of view due to his complete disregard for the feelings of the
women he no longer chases to sleep with. Genji goes after an abundance of women without thinking
of what that would do to others and lives in the moment with little foresight. This notion can be seen
throughout the first half where he continues to sleep with Oborozukiyo even while she was going to
be wed to the emperor and Genji was married to Mursakai. Before the moment he was caught with
her it says that "Genji feared discovery because the Empress Mother was then at home as well, but
as usual, danger only spurred him to pursue his visits in deep secrecy" (Shikibu 217). Thus showing
is recklessness when it comes to women and how he is attracted to actions that he knows is

Ideal Man and Woman in The Tale of Genji Essay
The literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is a fictional tale that provides clear
insight into the sociopolitical court life of the Heian period in Japan. In the tale we are able to see
the standards of life that were expected of the aristocrats during the Heian period. The social nature
of Heian court life is depicted in the many relationships of the characters through the various stories
presented in The Tale of Genji. The relationships in the tale are mainly romantic relationships that
surround the Shining Prince Genji, along with other relationships such as parent and child, master
and servant, and relationships between social contemporaries. The romantic relationships in the tale
indirectly provide the reader with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
On one such occurrence Genji is pursuing a woman named Yūgao, who is of "lower grade" (Tyler,
62). He visits her only at night in secret, and doesn't call on her until everyone in the house is asleep
(Tyler 63).
The values, makoto and aware, are also deeply ingrained into The Tale of Genji and are a recurring
theme within the work. The men are always searching for women with sincere characteristics, and
the women are always chasing after Genji, who is a paragon of sincerity. The value of aware is quite
Buddhist in nature and describes the impermanence of all things. This is definitely the most
significant religious influence on The Tale of Genji because aware is the abounding theme
throughout the tale. Genji is constantly witnessing the impermanence of life. One such example is
when he loses his wife, Aoi, to childbirth. She is very sick and fragile after the birth of their son, and
Genji is deeply moved by her fragility, "The sight of her lying there, so beautiful yet so thin and
weak that she hardly seemed among the living, aroused his love and his keenest sympathy" (Tyler,
179). After Aoi's death, Genji takes it hard and "life was intolerable to him" (Tyler, 180). The feeling
of aware is embodied in Genji's reaction to Aoi's sickness and death; moreover, the fragility of life is
made clear to him

Heian Japan Culture Analysis
First, however, understanding the socio–political climate of Heian Japan is important, particularly in
how it pertains to the women of the noble class. The Japanese first began to develop a personalized
identity, separate from China soon after the Capital was moved from Nara to Heian–kyo, what is
now modern day Kyoto, in 794. Prior to this period, the Japanese observed Chinese customs and
cultural nuances in all aspects of their life. They traveled back and forth from the island to the
continent, wore Chinese styled clothing, Buddhism was followed, Tendai and Shingon being
primary and both out of China, and much of custom and protocol was both the written and spoken
word were Chinese. (See Appendix A for Periods of Japanese History)
With the

The Tale Of Genji Essay

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The Tale Of Genji Essay