Special Exhibition: The Tale of Genji - Splendor of the Dynastic Court

About this event

Written by Murasaki Shikibu during the Heian period, 'The Tale of Genji' is an iconic dynastic tale in Japanese literary history that has inspired countless works of art as it was read across generations. This exhibition brings together paintings and decorative art objects depicting scenes and motifs from the tale, alongside manuscripts and commentaries containing the text, illustrating its wide-ranging influence on performing arts and popular culture. Touring from the Kyoto National Museum, this is a major exhibition presented with full dedication by the Tokyo National Museum. Written in the mid-Heian period when aristocratic culture flourished, this long-form novel depicts the life of protagonist Hikaru Genji, the romantic entanglements of diverse women, and the rise and fall of court society with delicate psychological depth and refined aesthetic sensibility. The final ten chapters of its 54 chapters are known as the 'Uji Chapters,' narrating the story following Hikaru Genji's death centered around Kaoru, a child born of an illicit affair. This exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the thousand-year-old appeal of what is often acclaimed as the world's oldest novel through magnificent works of art.

Venue

Tokyo National Museum

13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712