紫式部墓地The acclaimed author of The Tale of Genji, Lady Murasaki Shikibu, is buried in a tiny secluded grave in north Kyoto.
Genji is thought to be the first novel - ever - and was written in the 11th century.
This was the height of the Heian period. The novel concerns itself with court life in Kyoto.
Murasaki herself was born into the nobility, and chronicled her class from the vantage point of an insider.
In both literary circles and wider popular culture, Genji and Murasaki are very well known. Within Kyoto, however, she has yet to be feted. For that, one needs to travel to Uji and visit the Genji Museum.
Her grave, moreover, is hard to find, badly marked from the street, and in need of a bit of simple upkeep.
From the corner of Kitaoji-Horikawa, one walks south on Horikawa on the west side of the street.
Just before a factory (?) in part of the Shimadzu Corporation complex is a narrow passage. It is marked with a stone that reads, in Japanese only, "Grave of Lady Murasaki Shikibu" (pictured above).
A short walk back and there it is. In the corner, hard by a property wall, is a mound of earth with weeds sprouting out of it. Here lies one of Japan's greatest novelists.
Next to her is another, slightly smaller, grave.
© CycleKyoto.comTags
Japan
Murasaki Shikibu
Kyoto
Cycle
Genji
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