This would explain why I feel there is so much to say about this rather slim thing of a diary left to us by Lady Murasaki, author of The Tale of Genji and court lady and tutor to an empress. The upside of all this that when I do finish a book it becomes quite a significant milestone in my mind. Personally I blame the Internet, or rather I spend a great deal of time reading, but more of it turns out to be silly digital articles than books. This would explain why I feel there is so much to say about this rather slim thing of a diary left to us by Lady Murasaki, author of The Tale of Genji and court It has come to my attention through Goodreads that I’m quite the slow reader nowadays. It has come to my attention through Goodreads that I’m quite the slow reader nowadays. Husband or father? Did she miss him badly and hence was so depressed? The book has left me intensely curious about this lady and her life!. There was a time when she mentions holding Chinese books collected by someone close to her. Murasaki tends to be rather morose and depressed for most of the narrative when she is not in description mode.
This speaks of interesting court intrigues but sadly, Murasaki doesn't get into any particulars. I wondered why until I did some research and realised that it made sense since Sei Shonogan served Empress Teishi, first wife of Emperor Ichijo, while Murasaki served Empress Shoshi, the second wife and consort. It was amusing to read how much Murasaki appeared to despise Sei Shonogan, the author of the famous The Pillow Book.
But though the rows of names and descriptions of robes does pall after a while, there are some interesting insights to the culture. As mentioned in the introduction, it does appear that only fragments of the original diary have remained. Then at some point, the tone of the diary changes to become much more personal. The first half of the diary is a detailed description of the ceremonies taking place after the birth. It could be Ichijo's mother or his first wife. Also, whom did 'Her Majesty' and 'Her Excellency' refer to? One of them definitely refers to Empress Shoshi, but which one? And it's a mystery who the other woman is. There were times when there was a list of names and while it might have made sense to contemporaries, many of these names are now almost obscure. For instance, I frequently had no idea who was who and how they were related. Without the detailed introduction provided by the translator, putting everything into context, I would not have enjoyed the book as much as I did. The translation of my edition is done by Richard Bowring, a British historian specialising in Japanese history and culture. As a lady in waiting to Empress Shoshi, Murasaki writes about the birth of Shoshi's second son, Atshuhira, in The Diary of Lady Murasaki. She is the author of the famous Genji Monogatari, and by the time this diary was written, she had already become famous as an author. H Murasaki Shikibu was one of the women renowned for producing Japanese literature during the Heian Era. Murasaki Shikibu was one of the women renowned for producing Japanese literature during the Heian Era. The Diary is also a work of great subtlety and intense personal reflection, as Murasaki makes penetrating insights into human psychology her pragmatic observations always balanced by an exquisite and pensive melancholy.more
MURASAKI MIST REVIEW SERIES
Told in a series of vignettes, it offers revealing glimpses of the Japanese imperial palace the auspicious birth of a prince, rivalries between the Emperor's consorts, with sharp criticism of Murasaki's fellow ladies-in-waiting and drunken courtiers, and telling remarks about the timid Empress and her powerful father, Michinaga.
1020), author of The Tale of Genji, is an intimate picture of her life as tutor and companion to the young Empress Shoshi. Told in a series of vignettes, it offers revealing glimpses of the Japanese imperial palace the auspicious birth of a prince, rivalries between the Emperor's consorts, with sharp criticism of Murasaki's fe The Diary recorded by Lady Murasaki (c.
0 kommentar(er)
