Murasaki Shikibu

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/murasaki-shikibu

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Murasaki Shikibu born?Circa 973 AD
2. When did Murasaki Shikibu die?Circa 1014 AD or possibly later, around 1025 AD
3. Where was Murasaki Shikibu born?Heian-kyō (modern-day Kyoto), Japan
4. What is the career?Novelist, poet, lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court
5. Who was Murasaki Shikibu?Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese noblewoman from the Fujiwara clan who lived around 973 to the early 1020s. She is famous for writing the world’s first novel, "The Tale of Genji."
6. What is "The Tale of Genji"?"The Tale of Genji" is a 54‑chapter novel that tells the adventures and romances of Prince Genji and the people of the Heian court. It mixes stories, poetry, and songs to show life in ancient Japan.

Heian Period: A significant era in Japanese history (794-1185) characterized by the flourishing of courtly culture, arts, and literature.
Lady-in-waiting: A female attendant serving a queen, empress, or other high-ranking noblewoman, integral to courtly life and social dynamics.
Literary Canon: A collection of literary works considered to be the most important, influential, and representative of a particular period or genre.
Psychological Nuance: The subtle and complex portrayal of characters' inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations in literature.