View source for Murasaki Shikibu

[[Image:Murasaki.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A mannequin dressed as Murasaki, at Nintendo's Ogura [[Hyakunin Isshu]] Museum in [[Arashiyama]], Kyoto.]]
[[Image:Murasaki-grave.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The grave of Murasaki Shikibu, at Horikawa-Kitaôji in Kyoto.]]
*''Born: c. [[973]]?''
*''Died: after [[1014]]''
*''Other Names'': 藤式部 ''(Fuji shikibu)''
*''Japanese'': 紫式部 ''(Murasaki Shikibu)''

The [[Heian period]] court lady Murasaki Shikibu is famous as the author of the ''[[Tale of Genji]]'', and for her poetry.

It is believed she may have been born around [[973]]. Her father was [[Fujiwara no Tametoki]] and her mother, a daughter of [[Fujiwara no Tamenobu]]. Her true name is unknown, but she is believed to have been known during her life as Fuji-shikibu, as a result of her father holding the post or title of ''daijô''<!--大丞--> within the Department of Rites (''shikibu''). It is believed that the name Murasaki Shikibu may have come about after her death, possibly in connection with the Lady Murasaki who appears as a prominent character in her ''Tale of Genji''; [[Fujiwara no Kinto|Fujiwara no Kintô]] may have been the first to name the author of the ''Genji'' "Murasaki."<ref>Ethan Bushelle, "Afterlife of Murasaki Shikibu: Buddhist Ritual and Canonization of the Tale of Genji," University of California, Santa Barbara, 3 Dec 2015.</ref>

Murasaki lost her mother at a young age, and grew up with her scholar & poet father. She learned the Chinese classics faster than her brother [[Fujiwara no Nobunori]], and it's said that her father lamented that she hadn't been born a boy.

Murasaki accompanied her father when he was appointed ''[[Echizen province|Echizen]] no kami'' in [[996]], but returned alone to [[Heian-kyo|the capital]] two years later, and very shortly afterwards she married [[Fujiwara no Nobutaka]], a distant relative in his 40s who already had a number of other wives and children. Murasaki gave birth to a daughter of her own, known to us today as [[Daini no Sanmi]], the following year. Nobutaka died suddenly in [[1001]], and Murasaki took to the life of a widow. It is believed that she began writing the Tale of Genji around this time. 

Around [[1005]], possibly in part because of a recognition of her literary wit, Murasaki was made an attendant to [[Empress Shoshi|Empress Shôshi]] (aka Fujiwara no Akiko; daughter of [[Fujiwara no Michinaga]] and Imperial consort to [[Emperor Ichijo|Emperor Ichijô]]). Fearful of attracting too much attention, Murasaki made some efforts to hide her academic knowledge or literary ability, but still gave lectures on various subjects to the empress.

From [[1008]] to [[1010]], Murasaki composed ''[[Murasaki Shikibu nikki]]'' ("Diary of Murasaki Shikibu"); in it, she records her depression despite it being a period of great liveliness and flourishing for Shôshi's inner palace, and includes various comments or criticisms about her fellow ladies-in-waiting. It is believed that The Tale of Genji may have already been circulating and popular among the noblemen of the court.

Through both the Tale of Genji, and her poems included in collections such as the ''[[Hyakunin isshu]]'', Murasaki remained a figure of great fame down through the centuries.

==References==
*"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%B4%AB%E5%BC%8F%E9%83%A8 Murasaki Shikibu]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Asahi Shimbun-sha.
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[[Category:Heian Period]]
[[Category:Nobility]]
[[Category:Artists and Artisans]]
[[Category:Women]]