Transcript Lady Murasaki - lewisminusclark

Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki)
Lady Murasaki lived Around
973-1025 CE
During the Japanese Golden Age
Kyoto, Japan
Lady Murasaki was known to live in
Kyoto, Japan in her adult life.
Author of the First Novel
Lady Murasaki is
known for being the
author of the first
novel ever written, The
Tale of Genji.
The book was written
just after 1000 CE.
Lady Murasaki was a
well known writer in
the Japanese Heian
period.
How She Got Her Name
Lady Murasaki was born into life in the royal court.
Part of her name came from the position of office
her father held. (Shikibu)
Her name then changed to Murasaki, based off of
a character in her book.
Logo of the Fujiwara clan
Family Facts
Lady Murasaki’s father was part of the Fujiwara
clan that was the most powerful part of the royal
court.
Her father was also the governer of Echizen
Province when she was born.
Lady Murasaki also had a brother.
Murasaki’s grandfather was a poet.
Lady Murasaki’s family was Buddhist.
1008-1010 CE
Lady Murasaki kept a diary about her times in the
imperial court while she worked for the Japanese
empress Akiko as a young woman.
The diary is thought to be inspiration for The Tale
of Genji.
The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji has 54 chapters.
It also has six parts.
The Tale of Genji was considered the
first novel because of its length and
realistic background.
Adult Life
Lady Murasaki’s
husband was an
elderly relative of
hers, who died in
1001 CE.
They had their only
daughter in 999
CE.