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Primary sourceDiary entryDiary written A.D. 1007-1010; this translation 1920

The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu

Murasaki Shikibu · Diary written A.D. 1007-1010; this translation 1920

An English translation of Murasaki Shikibu's own diary of court life, covering the years around 1007 to 1010.

This is Murasaki Shikibu's own diary in English translation, a direct window into her life and voice at court.

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About this source

What it is

This is the English translation of the Diary of Murasaki Shikibu, covering events from roughly 1007 to 1010, translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kōchi Doi and published in their 1920 anthology Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan. The opening describes autumn at the Tsuchimikado mansion and the Queen's court.

Why it matters

Written by Murasaki Shikibu herself, the diary offers a rare first-person account of a Heian court lady's daily life, feelings, and surroundings. It is one of the few primary sources we have for her own life, letting students read her descriptions of the natural world, court ritual, and her own moods in her own words, translated into English.

Look closer

  • What details does Murasaki notice about nature and sound, and why might these matter to her?
  • What does she reveal about her own feelings, and what does she keep private?
  • How might something be changed or lost in translating her diary from Japanese to English?

This diary entry 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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