REVIEW: The Tale of Genji

You have slept with thousand people? Cool. I am sleeping with people of recent thousand years. --Yeah?

Okay, I have finished exchanging "That's not too bad" facial expressions with some of you, now then shall we dive into the Heian period?

'The Tale of Genji 源氏物語' is a classic work of Japanese literature, written by the noblewoman and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, around the peak of the Heian period. 

If you ask modern Japanese people about Heian literature, they will mention this work. Because it is so important, some call it the world's first novel, everybody learns it at school. And also because it is a masterpiece, its story is thrilling and sensational.

The Original

To begin with, let me tell you the digest of the tale: The leading character of the novel is Hikaru Genji 光源氏, or Hikaru Kimi 光る君. Hikaru means "shining" in Japanese, he is Prince Shining. He has shining feature, excels in both literary and military arts. He is a lady's man and in multiple relationships with noblewomen simultaneously at the Heian period. 

So? Not attracted? Just something common? Well, the story goes on; He is a slave to incessant lust, because he cannot be satisfied with anyone or anything, because he cannot even touch his true love, because she refuses him since some passionate night, because she is married to the Emperor and is Genji's stepmother, because she is favoured by the Emperor, because she looks exactly alike to the Emperor's beloved ex-wife who died a few years after giving birth to Hikaru Genji. 

Not yet? Not enough? Okay, I'll give you more; One of his girl friends is so jealous and she cannot stand his uninhibited behaviour, however she belongs to a high social class and is gifted in many ways and far older than him so that she cannot open herself up to Genji, so then her enormously restrained mind makes her spirit separated from her body and it starts giving suffering to his girlfriends and she kills them unconsciously. 

How about that? This is the Japanese novel of the medieval times. These are the most famous and popular parts of the tale.

1. Hikaru Genji, Prince Shining, indulges in sensual pleasures in Heian noble society.

2. Because he cannot fulfil his desire to have his true love--his stepmother who is married to his real father, the Emperor, and alike to his prematurely dead real mother.

3. One of his girlfriends is so jealous and her spirit starts killing the other girls.

This sensational story was described in the beautiful Classical Japanese, with a lot of poems. This Murasaki's masterpiece still fascinates Japanese people.

Films

So there are a lot of novels, comics, TV series, films based on 'The Tale of Genji'. I want to introduce readily available three films this time;

(1961)The New Tale of Genji 新源氏物語

(2001)Thousand Years of Love--the Tale of Shining Genji 千年の恋 ひかる源氏物語

(2011)The Tale of Genji--A Thousand Year Enigma 源氏物語 千年の謎

TOG(1961) is a typical film of 'The Tale of Genji', very close to the original. But the other two films are not. Actually, there are enigmas on the author of the novel. The Heian period is a millennium ago and at the end of the period, Japan became unstable and had a lot of wars and experienced the change of rulers many times until Ieyasu Tokugawa 徳川家康 unified Japan and the Edo period began in the year 1603. So sometimes historical materials are incomplete, the author is Murasaki in a generally accepted theory, however, there are the other possibilities, including a plural-authors theory. "If Murasaki is the author, how could she finish writing this grand and elaborate novel for the first time in the history of Japanese literature, what was her purpose? Sei Shōnagon 清少納言 also accomplished great achievements, her purpose is clear, to be successful, but Murasaki is not the power-seeking type, she is more like the opposite, she is more like...love......whoa, wait a minute!" The other modern two films began with this sort of idea, and they portray the author Murasaki's personal life at the same time.

In the digital age, everything should be quick and simple? Okay, here's the ranking according to my rating;

1. (2011)The Tale of Genji--A Thousand Year Enigma 源氏物語 千年の謎

2. (2001)Thousand Years of Love--the Tale of Shining Genji 千年の恋 ひかる源氏物語

3. (1961)The New Tale of Genji 新源氏物語

The best of the three is TOG(2011). It's intense, very intense, that's my first impression. The cinematography, screenplay, acting, direction--everything is beautiful, including the casting and portrayal of the Emperors. The eagerness for beauty in this film should be highly valued.

The second is TOG(2001), the film of the most beautiful Prince Shining. Yūki Amami 天海祐希, the actress who used to play male leading roles in Takarazuka Revue 宝塚歌劇団, plays as Hikaru Genji, shines as a man. Sayuri Yoshinaga 吉永小百合, the iconic actress of Japan, plays as Murasaki Shikibu. Gorgeous casting, a lot of sensual scenes, a very ambitious film.

The third is TOG(1961), actually this is almost the second. It has the best depiction of "jealous spirit and curse" scene. It is poetic and cinematic.  

All three films were careful of the market. This is a story of a millennium ago, they all tried to arouse audience's interest. In TOG(1961), the way of dressing of Kimono-the Classical Japanese closing-is modern, a little obscene. In TOG(2001), Seiko Matsuda 松田聖子 as a fabricated character suddenly transcends a physical law and sings modern pop songs. In TOG(2011), for some reason, Michinaga Fujiwara 藤原道長 hangs out with Abe no Seimei 安倍晴明, and Seimei scenes are full of ungraceful CGI, which ruins Heiantic moments.

Conclusion

The literary work written in the Classical Japanese has scope for imagination. Everyone fantasises about this tale in their own way. No film can perfectly fulfil everyone's fantasy. Thus my conclusion is that films are good for beginners, however, the best way of appreciating the novel is to read the original or to find favourite translators. Yes...I'm the one who decided to talk about the films about Heian. I'm very aware of it. 

Many of modern Japanese people need translation to read literary works of the medieval times. Akiko Yosano 与謝野晶子(1878-1942) is one of the famous translators. She was a great poet, born in the Meiji period, she adored The Tale of Genji, and got married to Tekkan Yosano--a poet who was already husband and father of one. Very passionate. Seems qualified.

She was also an excellent calligrapher, and she calligraphed the poems contributed to 'The Tale of Genji' Looks so delicate as if fine strings dance in a stream of water. Tekkan failed to escape from the twine of the strings. 

In The Tale of Genji, when things have become too complicated, when feelings have become uncontrollable, people choose to get away from the problems. Some depart from the city, some enter the Buddhist priesthood in order to shuffle off this mortal coil. But if you are man, I say, "Watch 'Crimson Tide', just listen to what Gene Hackman says and indulge yourself in Hans Zimmer music" 

The wind shines just as the prince shines.