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Primary sourceDiary entryDiary c. early 11th century; this anthology 1955

The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu in Donald Keene's Anthology

Murasaki Shikibu · Diary c. early 11th century; this anthology 1955

A passage from Murasaki Shikibu's diary included in Donald Keene's 1955 anthology of Japanese literature, with an introduction explaining its importance.

This excerpt from her diary, with Keene's introduction, highlights her diary's value as the chief source for her life.

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About this source

What it is

This is an excerpt of the Murasaki Shikibu Nikki included in Donald Keene's 1955 anthology of Japanese literature. The passage describes events at the Heian court, including a vivid scene around the Queen's illness and the rituals performed to protect her.

Why it matters

Keene's introduction calls the diary the chief source of information about Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, and praises it as a vivid portrayal of Heian court life. The scene included shows the mix of medicine, religion, and ritual used at court, giving insight into beliefs of the time as well as Murasaki's own observant, descriptive style.

Look closer

  • What does the detailed description of rituals and prayers tell us about beliefs at the Heian court?
  • Why might Keene say the diary is prized for more than just facts about Murasaki's life?
  • How does Murasaki's writing style in this scene compare to how you might expect a diary to sound?

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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