Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 – c. 1014 or 1025) was a Japanese novelist,
poet and
lady-in-waiting at the
Imperial court during the
Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in
Japanese between about 1000 and 1012. In about 1005, Murasaki was invited to serve as a lady-in-waiting to
Empress Shōshi at the Imperial court, probably because of her reputation as a writer. She continued to write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work. After five or six years, she left court and retired with Shōshi to the
Lake Biwa region. Murasaki wrote The Diary of Lady Murasaki, a volume of poetry, and The Tale of Genji. Within a decade of its completion, Genji was distributed throughout the provinces; within a century it was recognized as a classic of
Japanese literature, and had become a subject of scholarly criticism. Early in the 20th century her work was translated; a six-volume English translation was completed in 1933. Scholars continue to recognize the importance of her work, which reflects Heian court society at its peak. (
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Two Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) mating. The male clasps the female by her neck while she bends her body around to his reproductive organs; this is called a mating wheel. This
damselfly species is found throughout Europe. The male is similar in appearance to the
Azure Damselfly.
This Wikipedia is written in
English. Started in 2001 (2001), it currently contains
3,885,058 articles. Many other Wikipedias are available; some of the largest are listed below.
Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 – c. 1014 or 1025) was a Japanese novelist,
poet and
lady-in-waiting at the
Imperial court during the
Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in
Japanese between about 1000 and 1012. In about 1005, Murasaki was invited to serve as a lady-in-waiting to
Empress Shōshi at the Imperial court, probably because of her reputation as a writer. She continued to write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work. After five or six years, she left court and retired with Shōshi to the
Lake Biwa region. Murasaki wrote The Diary of Lady Murasaki, a volume of poetry, and The Tale of Genji. Within a decade of its completion, Genji was distributed throughout the provinces; within a century it was recognized as a classic of
Japanese literature, and had become a subject of scholarly criticism. Early in the 20th century her work was translated; a six-volume English translation was completed in 1933. Scholars continue to recognize the importance of her work, which reflects Heian court society at its peak. (
more...)
Two Common Blue Damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum) mating. The male clasps the female by her neck while she bends her body around to his reproductive organs; this is called a mating wheel. This
damselfly species is found throughout Europe. The male is similar in appearance to the
Azure Damselfly.
This Wikipedia is written in
English. Started in 2001 (2001), it currently contains
3,885,058 articles. Many other Wikipedias are available; some of the largest are listed below.