THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations in the text are details redrawn by a contemporary artist from a wide range of medieval material, mainly painted scrolls (emaki). Since nothing of the kind survives from the time of The Tale of Genji itself, these choices are as close as possible to authentic depictions of objects and scenes in the tale. A few—for example "Playing Go" in chapter 3—are from Genji monogatari emaki (twelfth century), the earliest known but unfortunately incomplete set of Genji illustrations. Those interested in identifying the source of each picture should refer to the Shogakukan edition of the original text, which includes the name of the source in the caption.

The figures on the slipcase are from full-book-page block prints included in one of the many editions of Kojitsu sosho (Compendium of Ancient Usages), a collection of texts and illustrative material on ceremonies, properties, costumes, and so on associated with Japan's court and warrior aristocracies. This particular edition dates from the first years of the twentieth century. Two are from a section illustrating Heian court costume. The third, from a section on bugaku dances, shows a masked dancer performing "Ryoo" ("The Warrior King").