The Golden Age of Japan: Lady Murasaki and the Shining Prince (TRIH eps 560-561)
1008 · Resource
The episode examines Heian-period Japanese court culture through two seminal literary works: The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon and The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. Tom and Dominic discuss Sei Shōnagon's vivid, list-driven prose and courtly wit, contrasting her sunny, sociable tone with Murasaki's more introspective treatment of transience and sorrow. They outline the social importance of poetry, calligraphy, scent and dress in aristocratic courtship, and the unusual prominence of women wr...
On these timelines: The Rest Is History (podcast), Resources: Combined
Around 1008
- East–West Schism (1054)
- Holy Roman Empire (962)
- Song dynasty (960)
- Holy Roman Empire founded (962)
- Christianisation of Kievan Rus' (988)
- Founding of the Capetian dynasty (987)
- The Tale of Genji written (1008)
- Bi Sheng invents movable type (1040)
- William the Conqueror (1028)
- The Tale of Genji (1008)