The Tale of Genji: Legends and PaintingsUnquestionably one of the world's greatest literary masterpieces and the finest achievement of classical Japanese prose narrative, the Tale of Genji has provided endless inspiration for Japanese painters through the centuries. Widely held to be the first novel, its story of the amorous adventures of the 'shining prince' Genji and of the elaborate and highly ordered court culture of the Heian era was written by Murasaki Shikibu shortly after AD 1000. Presented here is one of the most exquisite, complete and beautifully preserved sets of illustrations of the tale. The 54 images - each illustrating one chapter - date from the mid-17th century and were executed by an artist trained in the traditional Tosa school of painting. Their small dimensions and lyrical colours call to mind the illuminated manuscripts of medieval Europe. Roofs are entirely removed from houses to reveal small, doll-like figures within. Delicate flowers and plants suggest the seasons of the year. Surrounded by gilded clouds, these graceful paintings shimmer with uncommon beauty and delicacy. Miyeko Murase's introduction examines the paintings in detail, while a commentary opposite each image describes the scene dep |
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affair Akashi lady Akikonomu Asagao autumn beauty Broom Tree brother Burke albums century Channel Buoys Chapter Cherry Blossoms child Chinese composition consort daugh death depicted Eastern Cottage Eight Views Eighth Prince empress episodes father Festival fifty-four Fujitsubo Fujiwara Genji Chap Genji finds Genji illustration Genji monogatari Genji paintings Genji pictures Genji's mother girl Heartvine Heian period Herbs Higekuro iconography Ishiyama-dera Izumi Shikibu Japanese Jeweled Chaplet kana Kaoru Kashiwagi Kiritsubo emperor Kōbai Kokiden Kyōto Makibashira mansion Marries Mitsuoki Miyeko Murase Murasaki Shikibu Nakanokimi Nijō Niou Niou's novel Oborozukiyo Õigimi orange blossoms palace Chap Paulownia Court perfumed Picture Contest Plum poem Prince Hitachi Prince Hotaru prince's Reizei emperor Rokujō Rokujō lady romantic Sacred Tree Safflower scene shikishi Suetsumuhana Suma Suzaku emperor Tale of Genji Tamakazura Third Princess tion Tō no Chūjō Tosa artist Tosa Mitsuoki Tosa school Trefoil Knots Ukifune Ukifune's Ukiyo-e Utsusemi woman women young Yūgao Yūgiri