Photograph of the Hirase Kiritsubo Chapter

What it is

This is a black-and-white photograph taken in 1930 of a page from a manuscript copy of the Kiritsubo chapter of The Tale of Genji. It was made by 金子元臣 and published as a frontispiece in a scholarly edition of the novel.

Why it matters

The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu around the start of the 11th century, survives only through copies made long after her death. This photograph documents one such manuscript, called the Hirase text, showing how her story was passed down by later copyists.

Look closer

• What does the handwriting style tell you about when and how this copy was made?
• Why do you think scholars photograph old manuscripts instead of only describing them?
• What might be different between this copy and what Murasaki Shikibu originally wrote?