Written By: Rana Abd El-Rahman
We love beginnings in all human fields and usually search for them. Literature is one of these fields, where there was the first poem, the first play, the first story, and the first novel. The art of the novel was born in Japan at the hands of a woman named Murasaki Shikibu.
The birth of an author
Murasaki Shikibu was born in Kyoto, Japan in 978 AD. She was a Japanese writer and lady-in-waiting at the imperial court. She wrote the novel “The Tale of Genji” (Genji Monogatari), which is considered the most outstanding work in Japanese literature and is believed to be the earliest complete novel in the world.
The author’s real name is unknown. It is believed she took the name Murasaki from the name of her novel’s protagonist. In contrast, the name Shikibu reflects her father’s high position in the Ministry of Ceremonials. She received a good education, studying Japanese, and also Chinese, which was exclusive to men back then. She also studied Buddhist classical literature. She married her much older cousin and had a daughter with him, but he passed away just two years after their marriage.
The first novel in the world
Some critics believe she wrote the novel between 1001-1005 AD. However, it is more likely she took longer, until around 1010 AD, to write such a complex and long novel consisting of 54 chapters spanning more than a generation.
The novel sheds light on a unique aristocratic society with excellent skills in poetry, music, courtship and calligraphy. It focuses mainly on Prince Genji, his relationships and romantic adventures, stretching into the life of his son and grandson. Though lacking vital events or actions, it is rich in subtle feelings for human emotions and nature’s beauty.
The novel’s tone grows darker and sadder as events progress, perhaps indicating the depth of Murasaki Shikibu’s Buddhist conviction of the world’s vanity and
evil. It deals with many themes, such as death, human immortality and betrayal in love.
Notably, Murasaki succeeded in dealing with many characters in her complex novel, employing a realistic psychological style not known in the West for centuries.
Criticism and speculations
The novel faced much criticism in the 20th century, with some arguing her father outlined the novel and left her the details, while others said her daughter wrote the last ten chapters. There were many speculations, even describing the novel as merely a literary treatment of a Japanese prince’s biography.
Nonetheless, the novel was pivotal in establishing the art of the novel as we know it today through Murasaki’s skill in character development and vivid yet simple language, preferring realism over supernatural figures or deities. The novel is translated into English for the first time by Arthur Waley. Till now it remains considered one of the world’s greatest literary works.
