Common Core Literacy and Writing

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu was written in the eleventh century. This full length book is considered one of
the worlds first novels. It reveals the culture and attitudes of the Japanese nobility at the height of the Heian period
(794-1185), the golden age of Japanese art and literature. During the Heian period the Japanese nobles lived lives of
luxury, focusing their efforts on fashion, poetry, painting, calligraphy and theatre. As Imperial court advisers to the
emperor, nobles were expected to give guidance in governing Japan. Instead, as shown in the Tale of Genji nobles
were more interested in beauty and elegance in art and their own daily lives. A lack of connection with the average
people in the Japanese provinces led to a chaotic, dis-unified Japan and earned the court nobles the name of the
dwellers among the clouds.
Read the excerpts from the Tale of Genji. Match the excerpts to the commentary sentences. Some of the letters will be used twice.
A. No art or learning is to be pursued (done)halfheartedly...and
any art worth learning will certainly reward more or less
generously the effort made to study it.
B. You that in far-off countries of the sky can dwell secure
(easier, safe), look back upon me here; for I am weary of this frail
world's decay.
C. It is indeed in many ways more comfortable to belong to that
section of society whose action are not publicly canvassed
(watched) and discussed.
D. The hanging gate, of something like trelliswork, was propped
on a pole, and he could see that the house was tiny and flimsy.
He felt a little sorry for the occupants of such a place--and then
asked himself who in this world had a temporary shelter.
E. An attendant came up, bowing deeply. "The white flowers far
off yonder are known as 'evening faces," he said. "A very human
sort of name--and what a shabby place they have picked to
bloom in."
It was as the man said. The neighborhood was a poor one, chiefly
of small houses. Some were leaning precariously (ready to
collapse), and there were "evening faces" at the sagging eaves. A
hapless (unfortunate) sort of flower. Pick one off for me, will
you?"
The man went inside the raised gate and broke off a flower. A
pretty little girl in long, unlined yellow trousers of raw silk came
out through a sliding door that seemed too good for the surroundings. Beckoning (calling) to the man, she handed him a
heavily scented white fan. Put it on. It isn't much of a fan, but
then it isn't much of a flower either.
F. Regarding a noble party for the emperor.
It was a most extraordinary event. The talk of the whole court.
The preparations, which occupied the full attention of everyone
at Rokujo, were unprecedented (never done before) an attention to brilliant detail.the royal party went first to the equestrian (horse) grounds...there were brocades (silk art) spread
along the galleries and arched bridges and awnings over the
open places when, in early afternoon, the party moved to the
southeast cornerGenji hoped that he was not being a fussy
and overzealous host, but he didnt want a single moment of
the royal progress to be dull.

1. _____ These two excerpts demonstrate that Japanese court

nobles were disconnected with the Japanese peasants living
situation because the noble shows little compassion, or
understanding for a typical home in the provinces.
Directly quote a portion of one of the excerpts that provides
evidence the Japanese provinces were poor.
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2._____ This excerpt reveals how court nobles focused their
efforts on art and learning during the Heian period.
3. _____This excerpt details how Japanese court nobles lived
lives of luxury during the Heian period because it shows how
opulent (fancy) their parties were.
4._____ One can infer from this excerpt that the nobles
understood that it is more secure (easier, safe) to be in far off
countries of the sky than in the provinces, where there
is decay.
5._____One can infer from this excerpt that one of the
difficulties in the top social class of Japan was being scrutinized
or judged for your actions.
6._____ This excerpt reveals that silk clothing and scented
fans were fashionable in Heian Japan, even in the provinces.

7. Fashion was important to

court nobles in the Heian
period. Look at the picture
and describe what was
considered fashionable.
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