Scenes from the Tale of Genji

second half 17th century

Tale of Genji, arguably the first novel in the world, was written in the early 11th century by a court lady Murasaki Shikibu. It has since been an inspiration for countless art works. The screen on the right depicts a scene from Chapter 33, “Wisteria Leaves,” when the emperor pays a visit to Genji’s Rokujo mansion on an autumn day. The one on the left shows a scene from Chapter 35, “New Herbs, Part Two,” when Genji organizes a concert for a group of court ladies to perform on New Year’s Day.

Color and gold on paper

Overall: 66 x 146 in. (167.6 x 370.8 cm)

Friends of the Seattle Art Museum, in honor of the 75th birthday of Dr. Richard E. Fuller

72.1.2

Photo: Spike Mafford

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, A Thousand Cranes: Treasures of Japanese Art, Feb. 5 - Jul. 12, 1987.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Legends, Tales, Poetry: Visual Narrative in Japanese Art, Dec. 22, 2012 - Jul. 21, 2013.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Talents and Beauties: Art of Women in Japan, Nov. 4, 2017 - Jul. 15, 2018.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view July 28, 2022 - Jan. 8, 2023].

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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