Tale of Genji synopsis 💃🏽

 

The tale as a Goggle doodle

It starts with Emperor Kritsubo and his concubine, Kritsubo consort whom he loves but is of low societal rank. They gave birth to Hikaru Genji - Shining prince. But then Kritsubo consort dies when Genji was 3 years old.

The emperor then marries lady Fujitsubo because she resembles his beloved Kritsubo consort who died, Life moves on 😂. Lady Fujitsubo was a princess of the preceding emperor. For young Genji, he loves lady Fujitsubo as a step mother but as he grew, he sees her as a woman but can’t marry her😆.

After Kritsubo consort died, the emperor demotes Hikaru Genji to Minamoto Genji and sends him to reside outside the palace. This was based on political reasons; you know they always have plenty princes vying for the throne and Genji’s mother wasn’t powerful.

Outside the palace, Genji doesn’t like his own wife  - lady Aoi, possibly they had an arranged marriage but he can neither marry lady Fujitsubo. Of all the mistresses he encounters none satisfies Genji. On Genji’s travel to the countryside, he sees Murasaki, a young girl of ten and niece of Lady Fujitsubo. Since the girl looks like Fujitsubo, Genji kidnaps the girl and raises her to become his wife. Note, kidnapping young brides was a norm and Genji was still a young man.

While raising Murasaki to become his ideal Fujitsubo, he meets secretly with the real lady Fujitsubo in the palace. Lady Fujitsubo bears Genji’s son in the palace- Reizei who later becomes crown prince and emperor but not yet. Apart from the two lovers, everyone believed Reizei son of the emperor Kritsubo 🤐

Lady Aoi and Genji reconciled and had a son, not long after Lady Aoi dies. Minamoto Genji marries Murasaki...then emperor Kritsubo dies, his son Sukaru becomes emperor.

Emperor Sukaru and Genji are half brothers but political enemies. Genji is caught in secret meeting with Sukaru’s consort - Oborozukiyo...😂🤣🤣. Sukaru exiles Genji though he was amused with Genji’s womanly exploits 😅

In exile, Genji stays with a prosperous man, Akashi Novice. As you can guess, Genji gets Akashi’s daughter pregnant and she bears his only daughter who later became empress after Reizei, Genji’s son abdicated.

Sukaru pardoned Genji, he returned and Reizei became emperor. Knowing Genji as his biological father, Reizei raises Genji’s status. On return and at 40 years old, Genji marries the third princess, due to this Murasaki decides to become a nun but Genji objects to it.

The third princess bears Kaoru legally for Genji but was actually fathered by Genji’s nephew 😜 just like the case with Reizei. A child belongs to the husband, fathered by him or not. Then Genji’s beloved Murasaki dies....

Murasaki’s death unhinged Genji. Although the following chapter was left blank, it’s title reflects Genji’s death. The succeeding chapters 45-54 tell the story of Kaoru and Niou’s friendship. Niou was born to Genji’s daughter as an imperial prince. This story of Genji’s progeny ended abruptly. Though the story had a sudden full stop, it showed the legalities and culture of Heian period.

The story and author depicted on 2000 Japanese Yen note.

Hope you enjoyed the long ride 😆 with teeth intact from those names...