Genji Monogatari In Focus: Hikaru Genji's Childhood - Male Loneliness in the 11th Century

A detailed analysis of the first chapter of Genji Monogatari

There are few stories that have had as much of an impact on a civilization, as Genji has had upon that of Japan. The nearest one might compare it to, is something akin to the Aeneid upon Roman civilization or Homer upon the Greeks, though there is no war or conflict to speak of in the tale of Genji.

To the contrary, the story takes place during the reign…