The Tale of Genji 1

by Murasaki Shikibu

日本文学最大の傑作を、小説としての魅力を余すことなく現代に甦えらせた角田源氏。輝く皇子として誕生した光源氏が、数多くの恋と波瀾に満ちた運命に動かされてゆく。「桐壺」から「末摘花」までを収録。

＜疾走感ある自然な訳文で、なにより物語の醍醐味が味わえる、現代語訳の決定版！＞

恋に生き、切なさに、嫉妬に、美しさに涙する――

日本文学最大の傑作が、明瞭な完全新訳で甦る、全8巻！

【読売文学賞（研究・翻訳賞）受賞作】

とりかかる前は、この壮大な物語に、私ごときが触れてもいいのだろうかと思っていた。

実際にとりくみはじめて、私ごときが何をしてもまるで動じない強靭な物語だと知った。

――角田光代

＜出版社から＞

「最後まで初めて読めました！」「角田さんの訳で物語の全体が分かりました」等、小説としての面白さが分かる現代語訳として大好評の角田源氏。

【読みやすさの工夫を凝らした角田訳の特徴】

●原文に忠実に沿いながらも、読みやすく、感情に引きつけて読める自然な訳文

●主語を補い、地の文の敬語をほぼ廃したことで、細部までわかりやすい

●現代的で歯切れがよく、生き生きとした会話文

●作者や第三者の声（草子地）を魅力的に訳して挿入

●和歌や漢詩などの引用はほぼ全文を補って紹介

平安時代中期の11世紀初めに紫式部によって書かれた『源氏物語』は、54帖から成る世界最古の長篇小説。輝く皇子として生まれた光源氏が、女たちとさまざまな恋愛を繰り広げる物語であると同時に、生と死、無常観など、人生や社会の深淵が描かれている。400人以上の登場人物が織りなす物語の面白さ、卓越した構成力、細やかな心情を豊かに綴った筆致と、1000年読み継がれる傑作。

『源氏物語　１』は、若き光源氏の姫君たちとの恋と許されぬ藤壺への思慕を描く。

＊本タイトルは、差し替え修正済みです。(2024年10月10日更新)

Paperback

Published October 6, 2023

About the author

Murasaki Shikibu (Japanese: 紫式部), born around 978 in Heian-kyō (modern-day Kyoto), is widely celebrated as one of the most important and pioneering figures in Japanese literature. Though her real name is not definitively known, she is remembered by the sobriquet “Murasaki Shikibu,” a name derived from a combination of her most famous literary character, Murasaki, and her father’s official court position in the Bureau of Ceremonial (Shikibu-shō). This alias reflects both her literary contribution and her aristocratic lineage.
She was born into the prestigious Fujiwara family, though to a lesser branch that did not hold the most powerful positions in court. Her father, Fujiwara no Tametoki, was a scholar, poet, and provincial governor. Recognizing his daughter’s remarkable intellect, he allowed her to study Chinese classics, a field generally restricted to men in the Heian period. This early education proved foundational, setting her apart from many of her contemporaries and deeply influencing her literary style.
Murasaki married in her twenties, but her husband died shortly after their daughter was born. Following his death, she may have spent a period of seclusion before being summoned to court around 1005, where she entered the service of Empress Shōshi (also known as Fujiwara no Shōshi), the consort of Emperor Ichijō. In this environment of cultural refinement and political sophistication, Murasaki thrived, participating in the literary and poetic salons that were central to courtly life.
Her greatest and most enduring achievement is The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari), a monumental narrative often hailed as the world’s first novel. Written in the early 11th century during her time at court, the work consists of fifty-four chapters and follows the life, loves, and descendants of the nobleman Hikaru Genji. With rich psychological insight, a deep understanding of human emotion, and elegant prose interwoven with more than 800 waka poems, The Tale of Genji offers a vivid depiction of Heian court culture, aesthetics, and the complex interplay of personal ambition, desire, and fate. It remains one of the central pillars of classical Japanese literature.
In addition to The Tale of Genji, Murasaki also wrote The Diary of Lady Murasaki (Murasaki Shikibu Nikki), a work of non-fiction that offers unique glimpses into the daily life of the court and her own thoughts and experiences. Unlike her fiction, her diary is often introspective and frank, providing invaluable context for understanding Heian society, the role of women, and the tensions she faced as both a court insider and a perceptive, occasionally critical observer of her surroundings.
Despite the limitations placed upon women during her time, Murasaki Shikibu’s writings reflect a striking depth of knowledge, not only in poetry and prose but also in Chinese classics and Buddhist philosophy. Her work was deeply shaped by the refined aesthetics of the Heian period, especially the concept of mono no aware—the awareness of the impermanence of things—which permeates The Tale of Genji and gives it a profound emotional resonance.
Murasaki Shikibu’s influence transcended her own time. Her works continued to be read, studied, and copied in the centuries that followed. She has been commemorated in literature, art, and even in religious tradition, and is still celebrated today as a cultural icon. Statues and memorials honor her across Japan, and The Tale of Genji has inspired countless translations, adaptations, and scholarly studies worldwide.
Her legacy endures not only because of the historical significance of her writing but also because of the timeless insight she offered into the human condition. Murasaki Shikibu remains a symbol of literary brilliance, intellectual resilience, and artistic sensitivity—a voice from a millennium ago that continues to speak across the ages.