"The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki, and the Passing of the Seasons

Genji Monogatari is the greatest single work in Japanese literature. It provides us with an informative look into the court life of the Heian Period, as well as give us a wealth of vivid characterizations along the way to developing the lineage of the hero, Genji. The reason for its being qualified as a classic is not the fact that it was the first novel, or its twisting plot line. It is Murasaki's subtle insights into the medieval Japanese way of life and thought that give this novel its immortality. Genji manifests the idea of mono no aware, loosely interpreted as a 'sensitivity to th…