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Secondary sourcePaintingc. 1670

Murasaki Shikibu, from One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

c. 1670

A hand-colored woodblock print page portraying Murasaki Shikibu from a Japanese poetry anthology.

A later printed portrait placing Murasaki Shikibu among the hundred greatest poets of Japan.

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Hand-colored woodblock print of Murasaki Shikibu seated with her face turned slightly, wearing a patterned kimono with gold clouds, beside an orange fan-shaped screen and a round tray; Japanese calligraphy runs vertically across the upper right and center.
Unknown artist, Murasaki Shikibu, from One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets, c. 1670. Joan Elizabeth Tanney Bequest.

About this source

What it is

This hand-colored woodblock print comes from a Japanese book called One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets, made around 1670, long after Murasaki Shikibu's lifetime. It is now held in a museum collection as part of its Japanese Art holdings.

Why it matters

Murasaki Shikibu was included among the hundred most celebrated poets of Japan in this anthology, showing her lasting place in Japanese literary tradition centuries after she lived. The image reflects how later generations pictured her as an elegant court writer.

Look closer

  • What details in her clothing and surroundings suggest she is a writer of high status?
  • Why might she be included in a collection honoring one hundred poets?
  • How might this printed image differ from how she actually looked?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Murasaki Shikibu on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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