Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973–1014)

Murasaki Shikibu was a novelist and poet in the mid-Heian Period. She is widely known as the author of the Japanese oldest long novel, The Tale of Genji.

Her mother passed away when she was young, and she was brought up by her father, Fujiwara no Tametoki who was the governor of Echizen [now northern Fukui Prefecture]. Tametoki was also an eminent literatus and was skilled at waka poems and other literature. Having lived in Tametoki’s household, she acquired a sound knowledge of the Chinese classics. She then became the wife of Fujiwara no Nobutaka in 999 and gave birth to a daughter Daini no Sanmi in the following year; however just after two years of their marriage, her husband passed away. She was then invited to serve Fujiwara no Shoshi, one of the empresses of Emperor Ichijo. One day, she was asked to write a story by Shoshi. Shikibu reportedly confined herself in Ishiyamadera Temple and started writing The Tale of Genji in ai-no-ma room in the main hall.

Her other works include The Diary of Lady Murasaki Shikibu in which she described the daily life of the palace and her feelings and Murasaki Shikibu-shu which is the collection of Murasaki Shikibu’s poems between her youth and later years. Her diary and other materials indicate that she was introspective and modest, yet she held a sharp critical mind inside.