The Tale of Genji

Rating:
Summary: This translation VS the new translation (2001)
Review: So far I much prefer the 1973 (?) translation by Seidenstucker (whatever!). I read the first 7 or so chapters alternately until I decided the aforementioned was easier to read. The new translation might be "truer" to the original and I love the footnotes but it's difficult to figure out who exactly is talking (S. incorporates the information in the footnotes in more recent translation into the body of the text) and S. is a far more graceful writer. If you should be seized by the inclination the read this book, I strongly recommend reading "The World of the Shining Prince" (Morris) first. The genealogical charts alone are invaluable to understanding "Genji".

Rating:
Summary: Very nice indeed
Review: The strength of this translation is the introductory information that provides necessary background of both the text and the world that Genji inhabits. Much more than either the Waley and the Seidensticker versions and the footnotes are copious as well. Which makes this translation good for students and classroom study. I would still recommend Ivan Morris' book, _The World of the Shining Prince_ as supplemental inforamtion about Heian Japan but Tyler has provided a very good start with his work including very useful genealogical charts.

The illustrations are generous and found throughout both volumes. Seidensticker had larger illustrations but slightyly less of them whereas Tyler has opted for smaller. One of the flaws of this particular version is the fact that the illustrations are not done as well as the Seidensticker 2 volume set or even the one volume Knopf version. This flaw I place more due to the publisher who has not printed the text as cleanly e.g., ink blots and slight blurring of illustrations and incomplete pressing, as I would have expected.

The more useful study volume is definitely Tyler's with his chronology, geneaology charts, informative introduction, footnotes, clothing and color background, offices and titles, and summary of poetic allusions. It is also beautiful in its red plum cloth cover with end pages of lavender (how self referential) and ink line drawings.

It is a very good addition to the collection but do give a swing through both the Waley and the Seidensticker translations as well.

Rating:
Summary: A melodramatic and intricate story of a man named Genji
Review: The Tale of Genji by Lady Muraski is about a young man named Genji who is lost in his own search for real love. He goes on his daily "night" searches and nmanages to wallow into a few messy relationships as a result. One of them being the father of his own king. But the true strength lies in the vivid and colorful description written by Lady muraski and the seemingly endless novel in which it turns out to be. Possibly the most famous novel in Japan

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest....
Review: The Tale of Genji is a truly impressive book. It is, as the description states, "widely acknowledged as the world's first novel." Because of this, there was little precedent for the book. Most great authors learn their craft and are inspired by other great works. But Murasaki Shikibu had little to go on, other than much smaller and shorter pieces of literature. That is what makes this book so impressive. If it had been written in the 19th century, I may not think so highly of it. But, as it is, I'd rank The Tale of Genji among the greatest novels of all time.
The one thing that really struck me about The Tale of Genji is that it shows how little human nature changes despite vast and dramatic changes and differences in various cultures and time periods. It's amazing to read a book that was written 1,000 years ago in Japan, and to know that you can relate to Genji and the other characters in this book. Our basic fears, longings, and desires have remained, and hopefully always will remain, essentially unchanged.
If you do plan on purchasing this book I recommend Waley's unabridged translation.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest....
Review: The Tale of Genji is a truly impressive book. It is, as the description states, "widely acknowledged as the world's first novel." Because of this, there was little precedent for the book. Most great authors learn their craft and are inspired by other great works. But Murasaki Shikibu had little to go on, other than much smaller and shorter pieces of literature. That is what makes this book so impressive. If it had been written in the 19th century, I may not think so highly of it. But, as it is, I'd rank The Tale of Genji among the greatest novels of all time.
The one thing that really struck me about The Tale of Genji is that it shows how little human nature changes despite vast and dramatic changes and differences in various cultures and time periods. It's amazing to read a book that was written 1,000 years ago in Japan, and to know that you can relate to Genji and the other characters in this book. Our basic fears, longings, and desires have remained, and hopefully always will remain, essentially unchanged.
If you do plan on purchasing this book I recommend Waley's unabridged translation.

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this book -- read on.
Review: The Tale of Genji, and this (Seidensticker) translation, is without doubt one of the finest reading experiences one can possibly have. What I want to review is what the publisher has done with this book.

I purchased this copy in June 2001, and on the frontispiece it says 4th printing. There are so many printing errors in this book it mars what might otherwise have been a sublime reading experience. I will give you just one example: on page 113 a line reads:

"Then came Koremitsu's house, he would be called a lecher and a child theif [sic]."

Now this made no sense to me, either as a sentence or in the narrative context, so I consulted the abridged edition (which I also have). The line should have read:

"Then came Koremitsu's unsettling report. He must act. If he were to take her from her father's house, he would be called a lecher and a child thief."

That's a total of 14 words missing between "Koremitsu's" and "house".

This is the most serious error in the book, but there are many others, and I've only read 1/4th of the book so far. This Everyman Library edition, the publisher boasts, uses acid-free cream-wove paper with a sewn full cloth binding. It's a beautifully designed book. If only the publishers had given as much attention to the soul of this book as to its body, it might have been worth the price I paid for it.

Books should come with a warranty, really.

Rating:
Summary: Empathic Expressions of Genji
Review: The Tale of Genji, by Murasaki Shikibu, Japanese, translated by Arthur Waley. The review: Most of the story is about Prince Genji and the women in his life; their sensuality's, senitivities, and shared love. Here, intimate love emotions between a man and woman, are refracted by the beauties of nature (metaphorically) with a kind of hidden code of innuendoes as well, all mirrored with a human 'inner' emotional-awareness expression. The authoress even reaches into an area between life and death, and the realms of the spirit, also she shows the struggles with the 'magical', and of 'possession by a Spirit'; the 'supernatural' region itself is described with pure imagery, though only momentary, yet it is there. Murasaki, in simple/complexities describes in more detail the true depth of emotional ties which a person has to self, and also the world in which they reside. The often mystical human passions, are linked in parallel to nature, the realms of the land-beyond, and also the 'cosmic link'; Murasaki definitely, a woman with knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the immortal aspects. 'The Royal Lady of the Moon--Murasaki, of the first ones, and the fisherman and his daughter saw the moon, its color deep red, and they sighed within, of what--it signified.' These lines are descriptions by me in review as to some of the messages, subliminal messages from reading The Tale of Genji; there are a massive amount of clear-imagery attached to the spiritual region of perceptive-reading with Murasaki. Murasaki is a major key (in my mind) to the riddle of the human on planet earth. In her novel, there are many symbols and discrete messages interwoven between the line of thought and perceptive reading. There are a multitude of parallel-themes which are cosmic-communications, linked to the Galaxy and the human species connection to it! The messages are there in her story of 'Genji'. Some points which continue to arise are episodes related to possession by a spirit, and a mystery of a daughter of a fisherman who has no-name or home; there is much more than I have mentioned... In conclusion to this short 'review' of a kind, the following: 'Though one be born alone in wisdom-- upon the air her sweet emotions fair, her gifts of sorrows tear, tremble heart, yet Joy too, there, proceeds upon waves telling. Alexander Volenski ([e-mail]), USA

Rating:
Summary: Many times it is the earliest efforts that are the best.
Review: The Tale of Genji, or Genji monogatari, was written in the tenth century by Shikibu Murasaki. In it, there is a deep look at the culture and way of life of the highest classes in Heian-era Japan.

The tale itself is about the 'shining prince'; Genji. Son of the emperor and one of his lowest consorts, Genji is fated to be one of the most important men of the age, but never able to truly ascend to royalty. This story, all thousand plus pages of it, details his life full of music, poetry, and efforts to win the hand of various ladies.

While starting out very episodic, Genji soon turns into a more refined tale, when all the threads of story come together to create surprising relations and events that will delight the imagination in their color and depth. By the end of the book, you will have lived through so much of the characters lives that each person comes into their own, and you cannot help but hope that all will end well.

I will say, however, that this book is somewhat difficult to get into for the uninitiated. There's much in the way of allusion to religion of the day (be it Shinto or Buddhism), and of customs that are barely mentioned due to being so commonplace at the time. As such, I would suggest something to introduce people to the Heian culture.

My first and best suggestion would be The Tale of Murasaki, written by Liza Dalby. It's a diary of the author of Genji, Shikibu Murasaki, pieced together from poems and the real diary, and filled in with further guesses as to her life. Compared to Genji, it is very approachable, and makes reading this story even easier.

I cannot recommend Genji enough, being quite possibly the first novel in the world, and certainly one of the best. For anyone with an interest in Japanese history, well-written romance, or just the best of the written word, Genji is sure to delight.

Rating:
Summary: Many times it is the earliest efforts that are the best.
Review: The Tale of Genji, or Genji monogatari, was written in the tenth century by Shikibu Murasaki. In it, there is a deep look at the culture and way of life of the highest classes in Heian-era Japan.

The tale itself is about the 'shining prince'; Genji. Son of the emperor and one of his lowest consorts, Genji is fated to be one of the most important men of the age, but never able to truly ascend to royalty. This story, all thousand plus pages of it, details his life full of music, poetry, and efforts to win the hand of various ladies.

While starting out very episodic, Genji soon turns into a more refined tale, when all the threads of story come together to create surprising relations and events that will delight the imagination in their color and depth. By the end of the book, you will have lived through so much of the characters lives that each person comes into their own, and you cannot help but hope that all will end well.

I will say, however, that this book is somewhat difficult to get into for the uninitiated. There's much in the way of allusion to religion of the day (be it Shinto or Buddhism), and of customs that are barely mentioned due to being so commonplace at the time. As such, I would suggest something to introduce people to the Heian culture.

My first and best suggestion would be The Tale of Murasaki, written by Liza Dalby. It's a diary of the author of Genji, Shikibu Murasaki, pieced together from poems and the real diary, and filled in with further guesses as to her life. Compared to Genji, it is very approachable, and makes reading this story even easier.

I cannot recommend Genji enough, being quite possibly the first novel in the world, and certainly one of the best. For anyone with an interest in Japanese history, well-written romance, or just the best of the written word, Genji is sure to delight.

Rating:
Summary: A must for Japanophiles
Review: This edition is actually the first volume of the series that makes up the complete Tale of Genji. After much anticipation, fuelled by books such as The Tale of Murasaki, I was ready to take on this giant of world literature. It was quite disappointing, but perhaps much of that was due to my strong personal dislike of the title character, Genji. Presented as a 'shining prince', and the epitome of manhood, I found him to be a vain and childish character who was annoying in the extreme. So when the story is based on his adventures and accomplishments, it is bound to disappoint.

However, something strange happened with this book - by the end, I had decided to seek out the further volumes so as to complete the story. So Genji, annoying or otherwise, grows on the reader, and you feel compelled to find out what happened next. And this is the sign of a good book. And if you have any interest in Japanese literature, or Heian culture, this book is a must-read, as so much relates to it.

This is one of the 'classic' translations, and is quite easy to understand. I would recommend having 'A Reader's Guide to The Tale of Genji' by William Puette on hand while reading if you want to fully appreciate all that is going on.