Japanese Literature, Chapter 4: The Japanese Novel

What it is

This is a chapter from a 1955 book on Japanese literature, discussing the long history of the novel in Japan. It considers The Tale of Genji and its author, referred to as Lady Murasaki, as a central example.

Why it matters

The chapter traces the origins of Japanese fiction from folk tales and imported stories to full novels, arguing that the tradition goes back centuries. By treating the Tale of Genji as an exceptional early work, it highlights Murasaki Shikibu's importance to the history of the novel as a literary form, not just to Japanese literature specifically.

• Why might the author call Genji a