Diary of Lady Murasaki

Rating:
Summary: A must read for Asian history buffs.
Review: And a companion piece ot the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon. The world of courtiers and courtesans, intrigues, affairs. Daily soaps will never be the same after you've read this book!

Rating:
Summary: An important Historical Document
Review: Aside from the "tale of Genji" this is the only known writings of Lady Murasaki. The book is slim, as not much of her personal diary survived. However, it does have a good introduction, including a VERY helpful picture of a court lady in her dress. If you ever read any of these old court diaries, you come to appreciate a good picture like this because the women who wrote these books dwelled, almost obessivly on what they wore.

The clarity and quality of the writing is this slim volume is very good, as good as what you will find in the pillow book of sei shonagon. This book is also a facinating read in conjuction with the latest novel by Liza Dalby "the tale of Murasaki". Anyone interested in Old Japanese litrature should had this title to their reading list.

Rating:
Summary: An important Historical Document
Review: Aside from the "tale of Genji" this is the only known writings of Lady Murasaki. The book is slim, as not much of her personal diary survived. However, it does have a good introduction, including a VERY helpful picture of a court lady in her dress. If you ever read any of these old court diaries, you come to appreciate a good picture like this because the women who wrote these books dwelled, almost obessivly on what they wore.

The clarity and quality of the writing is this slim volume is very good, as good as what you will find in the pillow book of sei shonagon. This book is also a facinating read in conjuction with the latest novel by Liza Dalby "the tale of Murasaki". Anyone interested in Old Japanese litrature should had this title to their reading list.

Rating:
Summary: Visions of the past, for those to follow
Review: Diaries in the west are usually kept for personal reference. Such was not the case in ancient Japan or China. Diaries were kept for those who came after, as guidebooks and records of important events. This diary was perhaps written for the author's daughter, instructing her on how to behave and what to expect if she became a lady-in-waiting for one of the higher nobility. As such it gives a nice peek into how people (at least the author) viewed life about 1000 years ago, and also records some of the more exeptional events of the time. This is also invaluable as a look into the mind of the author of the Tale of Genji, and may even clear up some of the unease people occasionally feel while reading it regarding life during that time.

Rating:
Summary: A Slim Tome that Packs Quite a Punch
Review: First off, Although the book i s 91 pages long there is a 52 page introduction. The introduction by Bowring is very well done, especially for those who are unfamiliar with Heian era Japan, like me. Bowring gives adequate introductions to the architecture, dress, religion, and other things of culture at the time. Although the info he gives of Murasaki Shikibu is scant, he does give the reader all of the information that is known about the author of the Genji monogatari. The diary itself is a wonderful resource of Heian era Japan. Murasaki Shikibu gives wonderfully detailed descriptions of ceremonies, dress, and glimpses of daily lives of females in the court. Bowring adds wonderfully helpful footnotes to aid teh reader. Also the illustrations inb the book are wonderful for showing how the Heian lady dressed and how a Heian era mansion looked. Good little book.