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Secondary sourcePhotograph27 June 2024

Statue of Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama-dera, Otsu

Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · 27 June 2024

A photograph of a signpost and statue of Murasaki Shikibu at the temple of Ishiyama-dera, where tradition says she began writing her novel.

This photograph shows a modern memorial statue to Murasaki Shikibu at a temple traditionally linked to her life.

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A wooden signpost in a forest garden with a white sign showing a blue-toned statue of a seated robed woman writing on scrolls, with Japanese text above. Below, black brush characters read Murasaki Shikibu, and a red arrow points left.
Statue of Murasaki Shikibu, Ishiyama-dera, Otsu. Photograph by Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, 2024.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows a wooden signpost in a forest garden at Ishiyama-dera temple in Otsu, Japan. The sign displays a blue-toned statue of a seated, robed woman writing on scrolls, labeled in Japanese as Murasaki Shikibu, with an arrow pointing visitors toward the statue.

Why it matters

Ishiyama-dera is traditionally associated with Murasaki Shikibu, and memorials like this statue mark places linked to her life and writing. They show how later generations have honored her as a key figure in Japanese literature.

Why it matters

Look closer

  • Why might a temple be chosen as the site for a memorial to a writer?
  • What does the signpost's design tell us about how the statue is meant to be found and understood by visitors?
  • How does showing her writing on scrolls shape the way we imagine her?

This photograph 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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