Immerse yourself in the elegance and intrigue of ancient Japan with "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan." This exquisite collection features the intimate writings of three remarkable women: Sarashina, Murasaki Shikibu, and Izumi Shikibu, offering a unique glimpse into the lives and thoughts of court ladies during the Heian period. As these diaries unfold, a compelling question emerges: What secrets lie behind the delicate screens of the court, and how did these women navigate the complexities of love, ambition, and societal expectations? Each diary reveals the rich tapestry of court life, from poetic expressions to candid reflections on love and loss. The voices of Sarashina, Murasaki, and Izumi resonate with authenticity, transporting readers to a time of beauty and artistic achievement, while shedding light on the emotional landscapes of women often overlooked by history. This edition revives these classic texts, making them accessible for modern readers who seek to understand the depth of human experience through the eyes of these extraordinary women. Their stories invite you to explore the intersection of personal desire and cultural duty. Are you ready to delve into the intimate world of court ladies in "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan"? Engage with poignant passages that reflect the timeless struggles of love and identity, allowing you to connect with the past in a profound way. This collection invites you to appreciate the artistry of their writing and the resilience of their spirits. This is your opportunity to uncover the intimate thoughts and experiences of women who shaped Japanese literature. Will you embark on this journey through time and emotion? Don’t miss the chance to own this remarkable anthology. Purchase "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan" now, and experience the beauty and depth of these timeless voices!

Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan: The Sarashina Diary, The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu, The Diary of Izumi Shikibu by Various: Step into the intriguing world of ancient Japan with "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan." This collection features three significant diaries: "The Sarashina Diary," "The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu," and "The Diary of Izumi Shikibu." These firsthand accounts offer a glimpse into the lives of court ladies, their personal reflections, observations, and experiences, providing valuable insights into the culture, society, and poetic traditions of medieval Japan. Key Aspects of the Book "Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan": Personal Reflections: Explore the intimate thoughts, emotions, and experiences of court ladies through their personal diaries. These accounts reveal their joys, sorrows, aspirations, and challenges, offering a unique perspective on life in ancient Japan. Cultural and Historical Significance: Gain a deeper understanding of Japanese history, literature, and courtly traditions through the vivid descriptions, poems, and social interactions depicted in these diaries. The diarists' experiences provide valuable glimpses into the social fabric and cultural practices of their time. Poetic Expressions: Appreciate the poetic sensibilities and lyrical expressions found within the diaries. The court ladies' proficiency in poetry and their engagement with the art form offer a rich exploration of classical Japanese literature and its enduring influence. The diaries included in this collection were authored by various court ladies of ancient Japan. "The Sarashina Diary" was written by an anonymous author, "The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu" by the renowned poet and author Murasaki Shikibu, and "The Diary of Izumi Shikibu" by the poetess Izumi Shikibu. These diaries, preserved over centuries, provide invaluable historical and cultural insights into the lives of women in medieval Japan, their literary contributions, and their unique perspectives on the world.

A thousand years ago, a young Japanese girl embarked on a journey from deep in the countryside of eastern Japan to the capital. Forty years later, with the long account of that journey as a foundation, the mature woman skillfully created an autobiography that incorporates many moments of heightened awareness from her long life. Married at age thirty-three, she identified herself as a reader and writer more than as a wife and mother; enthralled by fiction, she bore witness to the dangers of romantic fantasy as well as the enduring consolation of self-expression. This reader’s edition streamlines Sonja Arntzen and Moriyuki Itō’s acclaimed translation of the Sarashina Diary for general readers and classroom use. This translation captures the lyrical richness of the original text while revealing its subtle structure and ironic meaning, highlighting the author’s deep concern for Buddhist belief and practice and the juxtaposition of poetic passages and narrative prose. The translators’ commentary offers insight into the author’s family and world, as well as the style, structure, and textual history of her work.

The Heian period (794-1186AD) of Japanese history - the setting of The Tale of Genji - was an era of unsurpassed refinement in art and literature, in which women played a unique role. Dominated by the mighty Fujiwara clan, the Japanese court was the bright centre of a world in which rare and exquisite taste in poetry, art, calligraphy, dress, incense, colour, even the selection of gifts, was cultivated to an amazing degree. This gossamer veil of beauty masked another reality of political intrigue and passionate rivalries which intensified the heady atmosphere of a court in which flirtations and love affairs were endemic. Cultivated and artistic women held a privileged position at court, and they perfected the literary genre of diaries that combined subtlety, strength and starkness in their depictions of life in this enclosed and dream-like world. These diaries are among the jewels of Japanese literature and three are presented here - The Sarashina Diary, the Diary of Izumi Shikibu and the Diary of Murasaki Shikibu - with an introduction by the poet Amy Lowell, an early admirer of Japanese literature.

Japanese and Western Literature delves deeply into Japanese culture to discover the concepts that similarize and differentiate Japanese and Western literary creations. Paralleling Japanese literary creations and fundamental thought with those of the West, the author draws many illuminating comparisons: for example, between the novels of Murasaki Shikibu and Marcel Proust, between the Portuguese poet Torga and the haiku master Issa, and between the picaresque novel in Japan and in the West. Contrastive studies are also made into such concepts as time, nature, love, and tragedy. This broad yet incisive survey of Japanese literarily genres and themes is more than a comparative study of literature, however; it is an attempt to grasp the core of Japanese culture by setting it against world culture. From this born a complex of new ideas and problems, and author is able to probe the extent of Western influence on Japanese fiction, poetry, and essays in the past hundred years.

"An outgrowth of a doctoral dissertation submitted to Stanford University in December 1965."