Murasaki Shikibu

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Murasaki Shikibu

Japanese courtier and author

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 • Article History

Murasaki Shikibu

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Category: Arts & Culture

Born:: c. 978, Kyōto, Japan

Died:: c. 1014, Kyōto

Notable Works:: “The Tale of Genji”

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Murasaki Shikibu (born c. 978, Kyōto, Japan—died c. 1014, Kyōto) was a Japanese writer and lady-in-waiting who was the author of the Genji monogatari (c. 1010; The Tale of Genji), generally considered the greatest work of Japanese literature and thought to be the world’s oldest full novel. The author’s real name is unknown; it is conjectured that she acquired the sobriquet of Murasaki from the name of the heroine of her novel, and the name Shikibu reflects her father’s position at the Bureau of Rites. She was born into a lesser branch of the noble and highly influential Fujiwara family ...(100 of 420 words)

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