At the court of Prince Genji. A thousand years of Japanese imagination

WRITTEN IN FRENCH

Written in the 11th century by the poet Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji is considered the most representative work of classical Japanese literature. This work, evoking the refinements of the imperial court in the Heian period (794-1185) through the love epic of Prince Hikaru Genji, bears witness to a rich artistic period marked by the emergence of women's literature.
Painters, poets, calligraphers, ceramists, artisans and, from the 20th century onwards , manga artists, all have been nourished by this founding work for Japanese culture. The scrolls of the Tale of Genji woven by Master Itarô Yamaguchi, major pieces of the exhibition, show the heritage of traditional know-how and the incredible technical mastery of the Kyoto weaver; the precision of the details, the delicate variations of colors and the subtle effects of transparency invite us to plunge into the heart of the novel, into this ancient Japan which is still too little known.

Exhibition at the Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet from 22 November 2023 to 25 March 2024

French
208 pages

Éditions Gallimard