Shikibu Murasaki Collection

The Maiden, From Lady Murasaki's Tale Of Genji Card Game, 1857. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada II
The Maiden, From Lady Murasaki's Tale Of Genji Card Game, 1857.

The Ascendence of a Modern Day Genji, 1853. Creators: Ando Hiroshige, Utagawa Kunisada
The Ascendence of a Modern Day Genji, 1853

An Elegant Genji in Snow, 1853. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
An Elegant Genji in Snow, 1853. Murasaki Viewing the Snow

The Poetress Murasaki Shikibu with a poem about the moon at midnight (image 2 of 2), c1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Poetress Murasaki Shikibu with a poem about the moon at midnight (image 2 of 2), c1775. From One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

The Poetress Murasaki Shikibu with a poem about the moon at midnight (image 1 of 2), c1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Poetress Murasaki Shikibu with a poem about the moon at midnight (image 1 of 2), c1775. From One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

Murasaki Shikibu, c1670. Creator: Hishikawa Moronobu
Murasaki Shikibu, c1670. From One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

A Modern Prince Genji at Chigogafuchi, Enoshima, 1864. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
A Modern Prince Genji at Chigogafuchi, Enoshima, 1864

The Waka Murasaki Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Waka Murasaki)...parodies, c. 1710
The Waka Murasaki Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Waka Murasaki), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

The Momiji-no-ga Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Momiji-no-ga), from a series... c. 1710
The Momiji-no-ga Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Momiji-no-ga), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

Murasaki Shikibu: Bird, from the series "Famous Women and Their Poems on Flowers... c. 1805
Murasaki Shikibu: Bird, from the series "Famous Women and Their Poems on Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon (Meifu eika kacho fugetsu)", Japan, c. 1805

The Young Murasaki (Wakamurasaki), from the series "Fifty-four Chapters of the Tale... 1852
The Young Murasaki (Wakamurasaki), from the series "Fifty-four Chapters of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari gojuyonjo)", 1852

The Hanachirusato Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Hanachirusato), from a series... c. 1710
The Hanachirusato Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Hanachirusato), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

The Suetsumuhana Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Suetsumuhana), from a... c. 1710
The Suetsumuhana Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Suetsumuhana), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari), 17th century. Creator: Kaiho Yusetsu
The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari), 17th century. The Tale of Genji written by Murasaki Shikibu provides a unique depiction of the lifestyles of high courtiers during the Heian period

Murasaki Shikibu, Edo period (1615-1868), about 1784. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Murasaki Shikibu, Edo period (1615-1868), about 1784. The author sits on a balcony in Ishiyama where she is said to have written the classic romance " Genji Monogatari" (Tale of Genji)

Murasaki Shikibu composing the Tale of Genji at Ishiyamadera, Edo period, 19th century

Four Friends of Calligraphy: Lady Murasaki, 19th century. Creator: Gakutei
Four Friends of Calligraphy: Lady Murasaki, 19th century

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Shikibu Murasaki, also known as Lady Murasaki, was a Japanese novelist and poet who lived during the Heian period. She is best known for writing "The Tale of Genji," which is considered one of the world's first novels. Her work explores themes of love, court life, and human emotions with exquisite detail and insight. Despite living in a male-dominated society, Murasaki's talent and intelligence shone through in her writing, earning her recognition as one of Japan's greatest literary figures. Her legacy continues to inspire writers and readers around the world today.