Lady Murasaki's The Tale of Genji - Lecture on Chapters XIII-XXV

‘If we didn’t have these old tales to read, we’d have nothing to divert us in our idle hours.’

Today we are continuing our journey through Lady Murasaki's sublime saga. We are deepening our relationships with her characters, wrangling with the most profound themes of the human condition, and immersing ourselves in the vivid world of The Tale of Genji.

We're discussing cross-cultural psychology, Shinto vs Buddhism, Lady Murasaki's authorial intrusions, the moral value of art, the illusory nature of this world, psychologically complex characterisation, and much more.

Timestamps:

0:00 welcome back to the world of Genji

2:00 coexistence of Shinto & Buddhism

4:00 the most prominent Buddhist sects

6:00 Amida’s Pure Land & universal salvation

7:00 psychology of emulating religious figures

8:00 Lady Murasaki’s spiritual beliefs

9:00 art reveals to us the state of perfection

11:00 the moral/spiritual purpose of art

12:00 what did Lady Murasaki think of Genji?

13:00 extremes of the Japanese natural world

14:00 framework for cross-cultural psychology

15:00 uncertainty avoidance in Japanese culture

17:00 earthquakes, tsunamis, natural disasters

19:00 long-term orientation in Japanese culture

21:00 Genji’s father returns in divine dreams

23:00 the Heian world was full of spirits

26:00 pathos in the story of the lady of Akashi

28:00 psychological complexity of the characters

29:00 Lady Murasaki’s authorial intrusions

31:00 author caught in the act of composition

33:00 yielding, overpowering, temptation

34:00 the Buddhist ideal of renunciation

35:00 the consummation of Genji & Akashi

37:00 story more about the women than Genji?

38:00 does it matter if we don’t like a character?

40:00 when Genji returns to the capital

42:00 the reunion of Genji & Murasaki

44:00 Murasaki thinks ‘I am who I am’

46:00 what’s with the tear-soaked sleeves?

48:00 coloured robes & ranks of Heian Japan

49:00 Murasaki as personification of Middle Way

50:00 the inconstant constancy of Genji

51:00 the difficulty of polygamous relationships

52:00 Genji as guardian to Rokujo’s daughter

54:00 Lady Murasaki’s sense of humour

55:00 why does Suzaku put up with Genji?

57:00 the painting competition episode

59:00 The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

1:01:00 physical attractiveness & moral virtue

1:02:00 the narrative structure of Genji

1:03:00 ‘the very incarnation of the Buddha’

1:05:00 Genji’s leisure palace vs the Pure Land

1:07:00 ‘everyone acknowledges I’ve changed’

1:09:00 Murasaki raises Akashi’s daughter

1:10:00 Izanagi, Izanami & the Leech Child

1:12:00 ‘crossing a floating bridge of dreams’

1:14:00 Genji grieves the death of Fujitsubo

1:15:00 Emperor Reizei learns of his real father

1:17:00 hauntings as attacks of conscience

1:18:00 how Genji raises his son Yūgiri

1:20:00 Yūgiri’s infatuation for Kumoinokari

1:22:00 the return of Tō no Chūjō’s lost daughter

1:24:00 Genji’s advances upon Tamakazura

1:26:00 exploring our reasons for reading stories

1:28:00 ‘if we didn’t have these old tales to read…’

1:30:00 Murasaki’s Genji vs Shakespeare’s Hamlet

1:31:00 fiction is a lie that points to the truth

1:32:00 distinction between suffering & enlightenment

1:33:00 the instalments for our next discussion

1:34:00 what are your thoughts on The Tale of Genji?

Resources to Explore:

• The Teaching of Buddha: If you would like to learn more about Buddhism, I highly recommend this collection of writings on the essence of the faith, selected from the Buddhist canon. The work is slim and digestible, but incredibly compelling and will elevate your appreciation and understanding of The Tale of Genji.

• Meditation Practice: For an achingly beautiful example of the 'nembutsu' practice, in which the name of Amida Buddha is chanted and contemplated, take a moment to a listen to this. You may find this rewarding to listen to during your mindfulness practice. If you don't have a meditation practice and would like to start one, I highly recommend this guide: The Mind Illuminated.

• Allusion Appreciation: You may wish to continue your exploration of Japanese works by appreciating the story that Lady Murasaki calls 'the ancestor of all romances': 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.' Studio Ghibli produced a beautiful adaptation of the tale, which available on Netflix: The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Yasunari Kawabata also put out a retelling along with gorgeous illustrations by Masayuki Miyata.

• Cultural Dimensions: If you are interesting in learning more about Geert Hofstede's cross-cultural psychological framework, then you can check out the country comparison tool we spoke about in the lecture here. This is a great way to forecast, and therefore ameliorate, culture shock ahead of a journey abroad. Simply put your country into the tool and compare it with your destination to get an idea of what to expect.

• Our Journey Thus Far: Congratulations on getting so deep into this incredible story. There are many challenges to overcome with this literary mountain, so you should be immensely proud of what you have accomplished with your reading. If you would like a refresher of our previous discussions for Genji, you can check them out here and here.

Reading Assignment:

Our next discussion will cover up to and including chapter 41 of the story, which is entitled 'Maboroshi'. As you move deeper into the story, continue to note your impressions and let us know how you're finding the experience.

Questions for You:

1) Which of Lady Murasaki's characters do you sympathise with the most?

2) Does great art need to reveal truth or have a moral purpose?

3) How would you adapt the story for film, television, or the stage?

I would love to know how The Tale of Genji is meeting your expectations. Please do share with us your favourite passages and let us know any insights you have about the themes, style, and characterisation.

Happy reading, everybody!