This is one of 54 chapters of the 11th-century adaptation of The Tale of Genji.
Kyodo NewsJapanese scholars have confirmed the authenticity of a recently discovered chapter called “Wakamurasaki,” which is part of the Genji manuscript written by the poet Teika.
The foundation noted some grammatical differences between the newly discovered chapter and Teika's earlier pages, but there are also many telling signs pointing to the manuscript's authenticity.
Firstly, the cover of the manuscript is blue, like the other Teika chapters, and the handwriting is the same.
The discovery of the long-lost chapter will likely be registered as an official cultural property of Japan, along with four other texts by Teika: Hanachirusato, Miyuki, Kashiwagi, and Sawarabi.
“It is very significant that this discovery of the manuscript edited by Teika will be made available to researchers,” said Junko Yamamoto, a professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Studies who specializes in Japanese literature of the Heian period.
The Tale of Genji, translated from its Japanese title Genji Monogatari, was written 1,000 years ago during the Heian period and tells the story of the difficult life of an 18-year-old Japanese prince named Hikaru Genji.
The story follows Prince Genji as he navigates between his personal life and the political court, giving readers a rare (albeit fictional) glimpse into the lives of Japanese royalty at the time.
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