Genji-e: Tale of Genji Paintings

The Tale of Genji is a long romantic novel that has been loved for over a thousand years. Written by Murasaki Shikibu, it is not just a simple love story, but a profound one. The novel is filled with deep literary elements such as the impermanence of worldly things and the law of cause and effect. It also provides insights into the customs and lifestyles of the aristocracy of the time.

Upon its release, The Tale of Genji became extremely popular within the court, with readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. As the demand grew, people wanted to enjoy the story visually as well as through text. This led to a large-scale project, comparable to a national initiative, to illustrate the story. This effort resulted in the creation of the Genji Monogatari Emaki (The Tale of Genji Picture Scrolls).

 

This movement inspired many artists to create their own paintings based on The Tale of Genji, establishing Genji-e as a major genre.

Thus, Genji-e became a significant genre, visually expressing the profound literary elements of The Tale of Genji and capturing the hearts of many people.