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Secondary sourceSculpture2014-03-29

Murasaki Shikibu Statue at Ishiyamadera

nobu3withfoxy from Iga,Mie, Japan · 2014-03-29

A modern bronze statue at Ishiyamadera temple honoring Murasaki Shikibu, shown seated with a scroll.

This modern statue commemorates Murasaki Shikibu, showing how she is remembered today rather than depicting her in her own lifetime.

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Bronze statue of a seated robed woman with a hooded head, resting on a bench-like desk and holding a scroll that unrolls across the base, set on a granite pedestal with a bronze plaque in Japanese. Green shrubs and pink blossoming trees surround it.
Photograph of a statue of Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyamadera, 2014.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, taken in 2014, shows a bronze statue of Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyamadera, a temple associated with her legend. The statue depicts her seated in robes, holding a scroll, with a plaque in Japanese at its base.

Why it matters

This statue is a later memorial, created long after Murasaki Shikibu's lifetime, showing how she has been remembered and honored in Japan as a celebrated writer. It reflects the lasting cultural memory of her work rather than being a historical record from her own time.

Look closer

  • Why might a temple choose to honor a writer with a statue?
  • What does the pose and object she holds suggest about how she is remembered?
  • How is a statue like this different from a historical document or diary?

This sculpture 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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