Abstract:

Designated national treasures, the picture scrolls of The Tale of Genji were made in the 12th century, 100 years after Murasaki Shikibu wrote her classic story of Buddhist sensibilities and courtly romance in Japan’s Heian period. This program combines readings from chapters corresponding to the paintings with a look at their meticulous restoration in order to rediscover an enduring literary masterpiece. Digital technology and painstaking reproductions allow the ancient pictures to be enjoyed in their original splendor, vividly bringing the world’s oldest novel to life.