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Tale of Genji: Legends and Paintings
Tale of Genji: Legends and Paintings | Miyeko Murase
3 posts | 1 read | 2 to read
Presented here is an exquisite, complete, and beautifully preserved series of paintings illustrating The Tale of Genji, the masterpiece of classic Japanese prose narrative by Murasaki Shikibu. The fifty-four images -- illustrating one chapter each -- date from the mid-seventeenth century and shimmer with uncommon beauty and delicacy.
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Lindy
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The synopsis that accompanies this painting states that chapter 11 “forms a brief interlude between the events of the previous chapter (in which Genji‘s downfall is planned by his political adversaries) and the suffering of the next (in which their plans are carried out).” I was grateful for the brevity. #Genji11

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit

saresmoore I was grateful for the brevity, too, but I‘m also eager for some karmic retribution! 6y
SoniaC Can‘t wait to get home and dive into chapter 11! 6y
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Lindy
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“No other Japanese text has inspired as many works of literary illustration as The Tale of Genji.” This art book focuses on a rare complete set of miniature paintings from the 17th c, one for each of the 54 chapters. Facing each colour plate is a page summarizing the chapter and explaining details portrayed. I can only imagine what it‘s like to be swaddled in so much clothing! I‘ll refer back to these illustrations as I read the novel. #Genji

Lindy @Cindymylifeislit @Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat I‘m just keeping you in the loop as I prepare for January 1. 6y
saresmoore Oh, neat! 6y
CindyMyLifeIsLit Thanks! I can‘t wait to start! Right now I‘m reading some of the shorter books on my to-read list in a last-minute sprint to reach my yearly goal. 😁 6y
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Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit I‘m also tidying my reading world in preparation for a fresh start in 2019. Working on monthly and end-of-year stats. 6y
CindyMyLifeIsLit My stats are disappointing every year. So far I‘ve read 64 books this year and that‘s the most I‘ve read in years! My darn job takes up so much of my time. That‘s one reason I‘m going to grad school to be a librarian—get my life back and more reading time!! (edited) 6y
Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit Best wishes on adding to your yearly goal in these last days of December. You can do it! 💪 6y
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Lindy
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This collection of illustrations for what‘s considered one of the world‘s literary masterpieces is whetting my appetite for reading The Tale of Genji. Anyone up for a buddy read of over 1,000 pages?

CindyMyLifeIsLit It‘s on my to-read and I own a copy, so . . . 6y
Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit Yes! I plan to start reading it in January. If that suits you, I will come up with a schedule. 😁 6y
Daisey @Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit I might be interested, depending on whether I can find a reasonable copy and timing. Which translation/edition will either of you be using? Will you tag me as you make plans? 6y
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llwheeler I'd be interested 😊 6y
Lindy @Daisey @CindyMyLifeIsLit @llwheeler I have easy access to a Penguin Classics edition translated by Royall Tyler. I have enjoyed comparing different translations when I‘ve read classics in the past, so I don‘t think we all need to have the same one. (I might switch if another one seems better.) 6y
llwheeler The one my library has is trans. Edward Seidensticker (what a name!) But I agree, it's fun to compare translations 6y
CindyMyLifeIsLit @Lindy I have the same edition you have. I‘m game! If possible, can we not make the schedule too ambitious? I‘m a high school English teacher (lots of grading!) taking two grad classes next semester. Not a snail‘s pace, but 200 pages a week will not be doable for me! 😁 6y
Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit @Daisey @llwheeler I want to finish reading it before I leave for Japan on March 6, so I‘ve decided to read 1 chapter per day (54 chapters in 54 days), starting with chapter 1 on Jan 1st and ending with the final chapter on Feb 23. My edition has 1120 pages, so that‘s an average of 20 or 21 pages per day. I hope this isn‘t too strenuous for you. It will be great to have your company bushwhacking through the #gardenofGenji ! 6y
CindyMyLifeIsLit You‘re going to Japan? How awesome! I think I can swing that. So January 1st it is! 😁 6y
Daisey @Lindy @llwheeler I‘m in, although I‘m not promising I‘ll stay caught up. Like @CindyMyLifeIsLit spring is a busy semester for me. Hoopla has the Whaley translation available as ebook, so I may start with that and consider picking up the Tyler based on what you all think as we get into it. 6y
Daisey Also, what a great time to read it, just before a trip to Japan! 6y
Lindy @Daisey I‘m so glad that you mentioned it‘s in Hoopla. I‘ve just now downloaded it from there because I‘m leaving for a 9-day visit to Banff on January 1 and I will only have carry-on luggage. I had been considering reading the ebook edition at Project Gutenberg while I‘m away from home but Waley is a better option. Thanks for the tip! @CindyMyLifeIsLit @llwheeler 6y
llwheeler A chapter a day sounds good! 6y
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