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Rating: 
Summary: a brilliant, enduring study of classical Japan
Review: Although forty years have passed since the first publication of Ivan Morris' "The World of the Shining Prince," no other book has appeared that can challenge either its elegance or its utility in introducing a Western audience to the glories of Heian-period Japan. Although written to provide cultural context for readers of the 11th-century "Tale of Genji" novel, Morris' study has serendipitously come to serve as well the growing legions of Westerners fascinated by Japanese religion, fashion and textiles, art, military sports, and fantasy folklore.
"The World of the Shining Prince" begins by looking at the broad political and societal nature of the Heian period (794-1185). It then works toward an increasingly specific examination of the "Tale of Genji" itself and the novel's author, Murasaki Shikibu. Along the way, individual chapters are devoted to those aspects of Heian culture that feature prominently in the book, namely religion, superstitions, the court elites, the cult of beauty, and the role of women. Appendices, meanwhile, provide welcome genealogical tables and a glossary.
Rating:
Summary: An Invaluable Resource
Review: Everything you ever wanted to know about the life and society of Heian Japan. Extremely readable. I was somewhat irritated by the doctrinaire Feminist tone of the introduction. Morris' former student takes offense at his calling Heian women 'promiscuous' the fact that they were, and so were the men, is apparently immaterial.
Rating: 
Summary: Valuable but very dated
Review: I first read the Tale of Genji and became fascinated by the Heian time period and I recently reread this book because I wanted to know more about it. Morris does a really good job of defining and describing the government and other functions that are necessary for understanding the Heian times and the Tale of Genji. Unfortunately, I found this book to be extremely dated in its outlook. There's an implicit understanding of how very exotic and strange these funny Japanese people were. While this may have been and still may be acceptable in some circles, I found that it hindered my understanding of the times and my empathy with the characters in the Tale of Genji and also the historical figures today. It's too bad that Morris wasn't able to step away from his time and see the Heian Japanese as real people not just strange exotics.
Rating:
Summary: A window into a vanished world
Review: I liken the experience of reading this book to a childhood memory of peering through the glass into a Victorian automata musicbox. Through the protective glass cover, the moving birds and scenery of the automata evokes a strange mix of fascination and mystery. Near enough for you to appreciate the delicate beauty it engenders but far away enough that the poetry of motion is not intruded upon by the sounds of the mechanism that made it possible.Portrayed in great detail but not mired in it is the cultured and time-obscured world of Heian Japan. All the things associated with "traditional" Japanese culture like Bushido, shear-walled castles, geishas and tea ceremonies were clearly absent in Heian Japan. In their place were values quite alien to our image of modern Japanese history with its martial ethos culminating in the apocalypse of 1945. Heian high society held up ideals for the courtier so diametrically opposed to the samurai that I re-read many of the passages again to relish the contrast in my mind. The author successfully conjured images of Heian architecture and the characters that peopled it Utopian landscape, a major feat since so little material from that period actually survived the ages. Yet it was in its very fragility that the essence of Heian aesthetics is ascentuated. Later ages of Japan, the bakufu governments of the Kamakura and Tokugawa periods are comemmorated by menacing suits of armor and brooding castles. The Heian period is best remembered by the elegant prose of courtly ladies, as colorful and fleeting as butterflies. I recommend reading this book together with the Tales of Genji to achieve a more profound understanding of Murasaki Shikibu's masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely invaluable! Read BEFORE reading "Tale of Genji"
Review: Social/historical study of various *aspects* (not a true "history") of Heian Japan that really, REALLY helps one understand the behavior/attitudes of the characters in "Tale of Genji"! The "Genji" genealogical charts & character listing in the appendices - by themselves - justify the price (keep it at your side when reading Genji!). Furthermore, the book is entertaining to read as the author actually knows how to write well. I would also recommend this book to anyone that didn't plan to read "Genji" but was curious about that period of Japanese culture. AND - if you are a student that has an assignment to read GENJI and don't have time to read all of the 900+ pages of the original - you could probably fake your way through any exam after reading this! (And will later be curious enough to slog through the original). I will probably read this book a second time.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely invaluable! Read BEFORE reading "Tale of Genji"
Review: Social/historical study of various *aspects* (not a true "history") of Heian Japan that really, REALLY helps one understand the behavior/attitudes of the characters in "Tale of Genji"! The "Genji" genealogical charts & character listing in the appendices - by themselves - justify the price (keep it at your side when reading Genji!). Furthermore, the book is entertaining to read as the author actually knows how to write well. I would also recommend this book to anyone that didn't plan to read "Genji" but was curious about that period of Japanese culture. AND - if you are a student that has an assignment to read GENJI and don't have time to read all of the 900+ pages of the original - you could probably fake your way through any exam after reading this! (And will later be curious enough to slog through the original). I will probably read this book a second time.
Rating:
Summary: An execellent overview of Hein Japan
Review: The court of Heian (Kyoto) in the 9th and 10th centuries has left Japan with a rich history of litrature and culture. This book is an excellent introduction to the era. It deals with topics like: politics & society, religions, "the good people", the cult of beauty, women & men, Murasaki Shikibu & the tale of Genji - Japan's first novel masterpiece. Before you start diving into old Japanese litrature, this is probably a good place to start as it explains in clear english some court relationships that otherwise would remain murky, no matter how good the footnotes are in the book you are reading!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Introduction to Heian Japan
Review: Though the book is over 30 years old this is still the best introduction to ancient Heian Japan available in English. Everything is covered from the politics, religious beliefs, and economic structures of Heian society. Because it is an introduction it does not go to such detail that it overwhelms, but strikes a good balance for the beginning scholar. The angle of emphasis is from Murasaki Skikibu's _Tale of Genji_ and the height of the culture from the middle of the 10th to the middle 11th century. Using a mix of textual evidence in works like the Pillow Book, Genji and the Sarashima Diary and scholarly work by Ikeda it is a well documented and well argued work. Morris also deals with various schools of criticism regarding Genji and its world, including Genji as femenist protest, and whether Genji was really written by Murasaki. Overall, a very good introductory work that will lead one to read deeper in the field. Highly recommended for those who are starting to read Classic Japanese prose and poetry. This book will provide you with an understanding of the context and world of a long bygone era.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: What do most people think about when someone mentions Japan? Samurai, ninjas, tea ceremony, karate, and kabuki? Can you imagine a Japan without these things? Actually this book describe just such a Japan. In the Heian period (950-1050AD), Japan was dominated by life at the imperial court. The ideal man was a gentle, poetry-writing aristocrat and the women were some of first novel writers in the world. It contrasts greatly from the macho military culture that Japan is known for. Morris gives a run-down of the world of Heian Japan. As he gives this cultural information, he also offers passages fro "The Tale of Genji," a literary masterpiece written by a woman (Murasaki Shikibu) in this period. This book is great for people who are reading "The Tale of Genji." It gives you a lot of background and cultural information that will help you understand it. Also it's great for those who want to learn about a totally different Japan. It's a definite must read.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: What do most people think about when someone mentions Japan? Samurai, ninjas, tea ceremony, karate, and kabuki? Can you imagine a Japan without these things? Actually this book describe just such a Japan. In the Heian period (950-1050AD), Japan was dominated by life at the imperial court. The ideal man was a gentle, poetry-writing aristocrat and the women were some of first novel writers in the world. It contrasts greatly from the macho military culture that Japan is known for. Morris gives a run-down of the world of Heian Japan. As he gives this cultural information, he also offers passages fro "The Tale of Genji," a literary masterpiece written by a woman (Murasaki Shikibu) in this period. This book is great for people who are reading "The Tale of Genji." It gives you a lot of background and cultural information that will help you understand it. Also it's great for those who want to learn about a totally different Japan. It's a definite must read.
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