In the Tale of Genji, Murasaki Shikibu writes about the life and times of the Heian court, including examples about how the ideal man and woman should act during this period. The Heian period is considered the peak of Japanese aristocratic culture in terms of art, literature and poetry. The Heian period is called the golden age of peace and harmony. It is appropriate that Murasaki Shikibu would describe the ideal man and woman when writing about this golden age in Japanese history. (Heian Period)
Ideal Man
Prince Genji is the ideal Heian man because he is handsome, sensitive, a wonderful poet, and a beautiful dancer. (Tale of Genji)
He is physically very beautiful and not one woman was immune to his advances. “Genji the lover is devastatingly handsome, charming, and eloquent, and he seems to enjoy throughout his life unlimited material means.” (Tyler xiii)
“He was turning out to be so handsome that he hardly seemed of this world at all, and for the Emperor this aroused a certain dread.” (Tyler 9)
“Nor did any other imperial lady hide from him, because he was already so charmingly distinguished in manner that they found him a delightful and challenging playmate. Naturally he applied himself to formal scholarship, but he also set the heavens ringing with the music of strings and flute.” (Tyler 9-10)
In the Heian period, an educated person like Genji who wrote beautiful poetry becomes well known and highly regarded. “When the time came to declaim the poems, the Reader could not get on with Genji’s because the gathering repeated and commented admiringly on every line. Even the Doctors were impressed. His Majesty was undoubtedly pleased, since to him Genji was the glory of every occasion.” (Tyler 153)
Poetry w...
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...led him with wonder and a desperate longing.” (Tyler 40)
Conclusion
The author of the Tale of Genji, Murasaki Shikibu, was a woman and it is interesting that the hero Prince Genji is a male and takes on many wives and lovers during his lifetime. Murasaki had special insights into how men and women related to each other during the Heian period and these insights led to a captivating story in terms of how men and women measured up to the ideals that Heian society expected of them.
Works Cited
“Heian Period.” Women In World History Curriculum. n.p. n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
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“Tale of Genji.” Invitation To World Literature. n.p. n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
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Tyler, Royall. The Tale of Genji Abridged. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. Print.
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Matthew Gerber. “The Importance of Poetry in Japanese Heian-era Romantic Relationships”. 2007 May. 2011 June 3.
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