The book is often described as the world’s first novel and a touchstone of Japanese literature. But some of its themes, including its take on gender and power, have echoed over centuries. References ...

You don’t have to have read all of “The Tale of Genji”—the most recent English translation, by Dennis Washburn, is a thousand three hundred and sixty pages—to enjoy a rich exhibition, at the ...

Yamato Waki, Genji approaching death, from the series “The Tale of Genji: Dreams at Dawn” (1989) (image courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art) On view in Manhattan through January 20, 2026, Wright’s ...

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is the centerpiece of classic Japanese literature. It recounts the story of a Japanese aristocrat in the Heian period (794–1185), famous for his many love affairs ...