historywithwomen:Murasaki Shikibu (English: Lady Murasaki) (c. 978 – c. 1014 or 1025)Murasaki Shikib
historywithwomen:Murasaki Shikibu (English: Lady Murasaki) (c. 978 – c. 1014 or 1025)Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet, and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1012, which is considered to be one of the world’s finest and earliest novels. Some argue that Murasaki is the world’s first modern novelist.Though it was improper at the time for women to learn Chinese classics, Murasaki was taught them alongside her brother in her younger years. In her early twenties, she was married to a distant relative with whom she had a daughter. It is uncertain when she began to write The Tale of Genji, but it was likely while she was married or shortly after she was widowed. In about 1005, Murasaki was invited to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shoshi at the Imperial court, likely due to her reputation as a writer. She continued to write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work. After five or six years, she left court and retired with Shoshi to the Lake Biwa region. The Tale of Genji became popular from the moment of its release. Within a century it was recognized as a classic of Japanese literature. Scholars continue to recognize the importance of her work, which reflects Heian court society at its peak. There are as many sorts of women as there are women.- The Tale of Genji -- source link
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