The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) | Novel

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MURASAKI Shikibu

Hikaru Genji (literally "Shining One of the Minamoto Clan" ) is the illegitimate son of Emperor Kiritsubo of Japan, and considered too handsome for his own good. After Genji's mother dies, his father reluctantly removes him from the line of succession and demotes him to commoner status. Genji takes up a job as an imperial officer, and the story follows his sexual, personal, and political exploits through the lens of Heian aristocratic society.

Tags

Genres

◆ Drama ◆ Historical ◆ Romance

Themes

Genji Monogatari Accidents Birth Secrets Conflicting Loyalties Difficult Childhood Discrimination Dreams Exile Hostility Intrigue Irony Lifetime Music Nepotism Political Crime Pregnancy Religion Reunion Rules Secrets Taboo Uncertainty Unfulfilled Dreams Death › Funeral Economics › Greed Folklore › Japanese Health › Illness Music › Song Narrative Themes › Betrayal Occult › Divination Occult › Exorcism Politics › Bureaucracy Religion › Rituals Reunion › Reencounter

Courtship

Adultery Affairs Mistress Obsessive Love Secret Crush Unexpressed Feelings First Love › Painful Obsessive Love › Obsession

Culture

Breaking Societal Norms Japanese Japanese Society Literature Traditions

Death

Mourning Suicide › Attempted

Emotions

Ambiguous Feelings Childhood Love Dead Lover Forbidden Love Hidden Jealousy Love Confession Possessive Lovers Regret

Emotions

Hatred Longing

Kinship

Adopted Children Dead Parents Dispute Over Succession Distinguished Family Important Family Lost Child/ren Marriage Abandonment › Parental

Marriage

Arranged Child Bride of Convenience Without Love Political Remarriage

Mental Health

Inner Turmoil Insecurity Stockholm Syndrome

Philosophy

Confucianism Destiny Fate Mono no Aware Philosophical Fate › Prophecy

Politics

Court Fight for the Throne Political Intrigue Succession

Pregnancy

Accidental Childbirth

Religion

Buddhism Religious References

Romance

Pining Unrequited Love

Social Issues

Gender discrimination Nobility Sexism Social Class Discrimination Social Gap Social Hierarchy

Nobility

Fallen Royalty

Violence

Grudge Scandal

Settings

Japanese Ambience Melancholy Atmosphere Mysterious Elements Mythology › Japanese Supernatural › Possession

Activities

Poetry Wedding

Art Forms

Calligraphy

Performing Arts

Dancing Painting

Crimes

Attempted Murder Murder

Character Archetype

Old Woman Yamato Nadeshiko Hero › Anti-Hero

Dere Types

Tsundere Yandere

Character Traits

Characters Connected to Important People Characters Connected to Wealth Condescending Character Eccentric Character Envious Character Flirtatious Character Hated Character Influential Character Inner Demon Insecure Character Look-Alike Sickly Character Spoiled Character Studious Character Ugly Character Age › Progression Behavioral Traits › Scheming Character

Appearance

Handsome Male Character

Hair > Hair Length

Long-Haired Female Character Long-Haired Female Lead

Attractiveness

Beautiful Female Character Bishounen Handsome Male Lead

Character Types

Illegitimate Child Important Secondary Character Old Man Playboys Playgirl Promiscuous Character Quirky Character Rival Widow/Widower Womanizer Younger Sister Parent › Foster Rival › Rivalry

Female Lead

Ability Female Lead › Talented Female Lead Appearance Female Lead › Ugly Female Lead Background Female Lead › Illegitimate Female Lead

Personality Female Lead

Jealous Female Lead Polite Female Lead

LGBTQ+ Characters

Bisexual Bisexual Protagonist

Male Lead

Falls in Love at First Sight Ability Male Lead › Talented Male Lead Occupation Male Lead › Prince Male Lead

Background Male Lead

Famous Male Lead Father Male Lead Illegitimate Male Lead Married Male Lead

Personality Male Lead

Cheating Male Lead Harem-Seeking Male Lead Influential Male Lead Polite Male Lead

Sexuality Male Lead

Bisexual Male Lead Flirtatious Male Lead Male Lead has Multiple Sexual Partners Male Lead with Sexual Experience Playboy Male Lead Promiscuous Male Lead

Protagonists

Famous Protagonist Father Protagonist Flirtatious Protagonist Handsome Protagonist Influential Protagonist Prince Protagonist Sexually Active Protagonist Talented Protagonist

Supporting Cast

Ensemble Cast Large Cast

Locations

Countryside Kyoto Mountain Palace Treehouses Kingdom › Royal Court Space › Moon

Accommodations

Garden Mansion

Religious Sites

Shinto Shrine Temple

Narrative Tropes

Breaking the Rules Change of Protagonist Conflicted Feelings Damsel in Distress Family Drama Rumors Secret Desire Symbolism Tragic Accident Ulterior Motives Backstory › Dead Family Member Fateful Encounters › Chance Encounter Identity Tropes › Secret Identity Oaths › Promises Sudden Twists › Sudden Ambience Shift

Character Change

Character Growth Personality Change

Death Tropes

Accidental Death Character Death Death of Leading Characters Death of Loved One Sudden Death

Love Tropes

Dysfunctional Relationship Fated Lovers Forbidden Relationship In Love with Family Member's Spouse Love At First Sight Love Rival Love Triangle Male Lead Falls in Love First Misunderstandings Searching for Love Unrequited Love Becomes Requited Unrequited Love Stays Unrequited Love Triangle › Love Polygon

Power Dynamics

Abuse of Power Power Struggle

Romantic Dynamics

Complicated Love Story Destructive Love Fight Between Lovers Important Non-Romantic Relationship Long Lost Lover Lost Love Love Letter Lovers Grow Distant Married Couple Multiple Love Interests Painful Love Relatives Become Lovers Sexually Active Couple Star-Crossed Lovers Substitute Lover Younger Lover

Time Passage

Spanning Generations Time Progression

Objects

Boat Flower Flute Kimono Letter Musical Instruments Perfume Throne

Occupations

Officials › Civil Servant Public Service › Politicians Security › Guardians

Clergy

Buddhist Nun Buddhist Priest/ Monks Nun Onmyouji Priestess Shrine Maiden

Court

Concubine Consort Courtier Crown Prince Crown Princess Emperors Empress Prime Minister Prince Princess

Performers

Celebrity › Famous Character

Service Staff

Servant Servant › Loyal

Relationship

Abusive Stepparent Age Gap Big Family Cheating Protagonist Child Of a Concubine Childhood Friends Complicated Relationships Cousin-Cousin Disapproved False Incest Friendship Harem Husband Incest Multiple Couples Multiple Wives Neglected Wife Searching For a Wife Husband Separation Of Family Member Stepmother-Stepdaughter Stepmother-Stepson

Age Gap

Older Female Younger Male Older Male Younger Female

Changing Relationship

Childhood Friends to Lovers Friends Become Rivals Rivals Become Friends

Family Relationship

Family Reunited Father and Son Wife Younger Brother

Family

Brothers Complicated

Extended Family

Aunt Brother-in-Law Cousins Granddaughter Grandfather Grandmother Grandson In-Laws Inseki Niece

Family Dynamics

Dysfunctional Family Estranged Family Mother Complex Neglectful Family Parental Favoritism Sick Family Member

Parent-Child

Daughter Dead Mother Father and Daughter Father Figure Hidden Child Irresponsible Parent Lost Mother Mother and Daughter Mother and Son Neglectful Father Negligent Parent Protective Father Protective Mother Secret Child Ren Son Stepdaughter Stepfather Stepmother Stepson

Siblings