Early Japanese literature, such as Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji written between 1000 and 1010, provide insights into aristocratic life. Besides literary works, numerous historical documents are preserved as national treasures, including letters from emperors and officials, Buddhist and Shint̄o temple records, and family histories. Notably, the Shimazu family’s collection has over 15 000 documents spanning from the eighth to the nineteenth century, offering valuable historical insights.
SOURCE3 A chapter from the Lotus S̄utra from the tenth century. This text, introduced from China, was an extremely important part of Japanese spirituality during this period.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. Look at SOURCE4 . Why might the artist have chosen to create this picture almost 700 years after the novel was written? 2. Discuss the symbolic importance of the figure’s thoughtful pose. What might it imply about the process of storytelling or writing? 3. What does the inclusion of nature (like the tree and water) tell us about Japanese values during this time?
SOURCE4 Murasaki Shikibu wrote the first great Japanese novel, The Tale of Genji , in early eleventh century. This artwork depicting a scene from the novel was created in 1767.
212 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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