Deck 3: The Tale of Genji

Question 1

The author of The Tale of Genji is _________________.

Answer 1

Murasaki Shikibu

Question 2

Murasaki Shikibu went to court when the powerful courtier ________________ requested her to serve as a lady-in-waiting for his daughter.

Answer 2

Fujiwara no Michinaga

Question 3

Murasaki Shikibu served Empress ________.

Answer 3

Shōshi

Question 4

Empress Shōshi was the consort of Emperor ____________, who loved literature.

Answer 4

Ichijō

Question 5

Sei Shōnagon wrote The Pillow Book while she served Empress ________ (Ichijō’s first empress).

Answer 5

Teishi

Question 6

_____________ is the most famous work of Classical Japanese literature.

Answer 6

The Tale of Genji

Question 7

The hero of Murasaki Shikibu’s tale is ________________ or “The Shining Genji.”

Answer 7

Hikaru Genji

Question 8

In the ________________ chapter, Genji meets the young girl who will be the love of his life.

Answer 8

“Young Murasaki”

Question 9

Genji first meets ____________, who will become his ideal woman, when she is ten years old.

Answer 9

Murasaki

Question 10

The scene where Genji first catches a glimpse of Murasaki involves the famous motif of _________________.

Answer 10

kaimami

Question 11

Genji’s pursuit of Fujitsubo recalls Narihira’s pursuit of ____________ in Tales of Ise.

Answer 11

Empress Kōshi

Question 12

Genji’s foster brother ____________ (the son of his wet nurse) accompanies him on his trip to the mountain ascentic–and helps him learn more about Murasaki.

Answer 12

Koremitsu

Question 13

Genji is attracted to Murasaki because she reminds him of his forbidden love, ___________.

Answer 13

Fujitsubo

Question 14

Fujitsubo is a consort of Genji’s father, the _________________.

Answer 14

Kiritsubo Emperor

Question 15

Murasaki’s father is ____________, the brother of Fujitsubo.

Answer 15

Prince Hyōbu

Question 16

Genji’s forbidden love affair has been aided by Fujitsubo’s lady-in-waiting, ______________.

Answer 16

Ōmyōbu

Question 17

Genji originally broaches the topic of Murasaki with the girl’s great uncle, ________________, who lives near the mountain ascetic who is treating Genji for fever.

Answer 17

the Prelate

Question 18

The evening after he first sees Murasaki, Genji speaks to the girl’s grandmother, ____________, about the possibility of taking the girl as his wife.

Answer 18

the Nun

Question 19

As Genji leaves the mountains to return to the capital, he is met by his best friend ________________ (who is also his brother-in-law).

Answer 19

Tō no Chūjō

Question 20

Genji has little emotional connection to ________, his primary wife.

Answer 20

Aoi

Question 21

Genji’s father-in-law, ________________, is the powerful Minister of the Left.

Answer 21

His Excellency

Question 22

After the death of Murasaki’a grandmother, Genji continues to plead his suit with the girl’s nurse, _______________.

Answer 22

Shōnagon

Question 23

The kaimami scene where Genji first glimpses Murasaki recalls the opening episode of ________________________.

Answer 23

Tales of Ise

Question 24

The phrase ____________, or “young lavender,” appears as a literal motif in Tales of Ise and as a figurative motif in The Tale of Genji (where it becomes readers’ nickname for the young girl Genji discovers).

Answer 24

wakamurasaki

Question 25

In waka collections, the linking of poetry through patterned changes is termed_____________________.

Answer 25

progression

Question 26

In waka collections, the linking of poetry through similarities is termed____________________,

Answer 26

association

Question 27

The ________________ was the most influential poetry anthology of the Heian Period.

Answer 27

Kōkinshū (KKS)

Question 28

________________ was the author of The Pillow Book.

Answer 28

Sei Shōnagon