Japanese Aesthetics and The Tale of Genji

Narrative, poetry and relationships in the world of The Tale of Genji. Keep court titles, changing perspectives and translation choices visible.

How to study this source

• How do rank and point of view shape a narrative?

  coreInstructor’s Introduction and Notes on the Selected Excerpt; these are Liya Li’s context, not the full novel.

  Narrative, poetry and relationships in the world of The Tale of Genji. Keep court titles, changing perspectives and translation choices visible.

Ideas and questions

Read background definitions when a term blocks the argument. Then return to the source and reconstruct its claim in your own words.

Read alongside, read against