Inn Genji-koh in Minamichita, Aichi Prefecture

• Table of Contents
• About The Tale of Genji and its author Murasaki Shikibu
• Summary of Part 1 of The Tale of Genji: The Splendid Life of Hikaru Genji
• Part 2 synopsis: The shadow that creeps under the feet of an elegant life
• Part 3 synopsis: Humanity depicted through the children and grandchildren of Hikaru Genji
• Experience the Heian period with Genji-koh
• Finally

About The Tale of Genji and its author Murasaki Shikibu

The Tale of Genji was written around the beginning of the 11th century and spans 54 chapters, starting from Kiritsubo and ending with Yumeukihashi. It is the oldest in the world in ancient times, and it tells the story of Hikaru Genji and his descendants and grandchildren over a period of more than 70 years. You could call it a full-length novel.

It was not called ``The Tale of Genji'' from the beginning, but was called ``The Shining Tale of Genji,'' and it was written as if it were being spoken by a wife who served close to Hikaru Genji.

Murasaki Shikibu (Murasaki Shikibu) was a poet, writer, and lady-in-waiting during the mid-Heian period.As a poet, she wrote ``Hyakunin Isshu'', ``Nyobo Thirty-Six Poems,'' ``Murasaki Shikibu Diary'' (18 poems), and ``Murasaki Shikibu.'' He left many waka poems in such works as ``Shui Wakashu'' and ``Shui Wakashu''. He is also the author of ``The Tale of Genji,'' and this work, which contains 795 waka poems, is the only narrative work he wrote during his lifetime.

The Tale of Genji can be divided into three parts. From here, I will introduce the synopsis of each part.

Summary of Part 1 of The Tale of Genji: The Splendid Life of Hikaru Genji

Hikaru Genji, the son of Emperor Kiritsubo, lost his mother at a young age and began to fall in love with his stepmother, Fujitsubo (his father's wife), who resembled his real mother.

A child was born to the two, but he was raised as the son of his father, the Emperor.

In addition, he has a political marriage with his legal wife, Aoi no Ue, and falls in love with Utsusemi, Yugao, and Rokujo no Miyasudokoro.

After Aoi no Ue passed away, he married her niece, Murasaki Ue, who looked a lot like Fujitsubo, and they became his lifelong partner.

Meanwhile, Hikaru Genji falls in love with Oborozukiyo, the daughter of his political rival, the Minister of the Right, and is forced to leave the capital and spend his days in exile in Suma and Akashi.

It was there that I met Akashi no Kimi.

Eventually, he was brought back to Kyoto and the son of Genji and Fujitsubo became emperor, greatly increasing his power and leading a life of elegance in his mansion, Rokujo-in.

After becoming Daijodaijin, he received treatment comparable to that of the abdicated emperor, and reached the peak of worldly prosperity both in name and reality.

Part 2 synopsis: The shadow that creeps under the feet of an elegant life

Hikaru Genji had to take Onna Sannomiya, the beloved daughter of his older brother Suzakuin, as his legal wife.

Several years later, Murasaki no Ue, who until then had been in the position of Genji's legal wife, fell ill.

Furthermore, Onna Sannomiya gave birth to a young man named Kashiwagi who sneaked into Genji while he was away.

Genji is painfully made aware of his aging self and the consequences of his past mistakes with Fujitsubo.

Eventually, his beloved Murasaki no Ue died from an illness, and Hikaru Genji decided to become a monk.

``Kumogakure no cho'', which follows ``Phantom cho'' at the end of the second part, has only the volume title and no main text.

There are various theories, including whether it once existed or whether it was never written in the first place.

Could it be that the author, Murasaki Shikibu, couldn't bear to write the final moments of the protagonist who had been by his side for so long?

Or perhaps it was left to the imagination of each reader.

Part 3 synopsis: Humanity depicted through the children and grandchildren of Hikaru Genji

Kaoru, born to Onna Sannomiya and raised with care as Hikaru Genji's youngest child, and Nio no Miya, Genji's grandchild, appear as the most noble princes of our time.

After Hikaru Genji passes away, Kaoru and Nio no Miya become the main characters of the third part.

Kaoru has doubts about his birth and the value of his existence, and Nio no Miya struggles with not being able to go out as much as she would like.

The relationship and suffering between them and the Uji no Okimi and Nakano no Kimi sisters is also discussed.

Eventually, Ukifune, the half-sister of these sisters, appears, and an unexpected twist unfolds.

The decision that Ukifune made during her relationship with the high priest Yokogawa Sozu was to become a monk, pursuing Buddhism, even though she was a single woman with no social status, wealth, or education.

What will happen to Ukifune and the men after that?

Experience the Heian period with Genji-koh

At Genji-koh, you can have a variety of Heian experiences.

Of course, you can read The Tale of Genji inside the museum. Why not pick it up for yourself and enter the world of the story?

There are also guest rooms called designer's rooms that are inspired by the imperial court of the Heian period.

The most popular thing about our hotel is definitely the Uchikake experience. You can take a commemorative photo wearing the glittering uchikake. Of course you can try it for free. We have Uchikake in various colors, so please try it out when you come to our hotel.

Finally

The 2024 taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' will feature Murasaki Shikibu as the main character, and I'm already looking forward to it as I think this will raise awareness of Murasaki Shikibu and The Tale of Genji.

I wanted to live a popular life like Hikaru Genji, the main character in The Tale of Genji...

When you come to Genji-koh period.