Spirit possession and emotional suffering in "The Tale of Genji" and its selected adaptations : a study of love triangle between Prince Genji, Lady Aoi and Lady Rokujō

The Tale of Genji, renowned novel written by lady Murasaki Shikibu in the beginning of the 11th century, continues to inspire various artists through the centuries. Many motifs have been adopted or reinterpreted within other works of art, yet the scene of spirit possession - when wife of prince Genji, lady Aoi, is possessed by the spirit of her lover, lady Rokujō - seems to be exceptionally inspiring. This article traces those adaptations of The Tale, where the possession is highly signi- ficant: including classic nō play, modern nō play and film versions. The relations between the characters are carefully investigated, along with their emotions and motives: both in the original text and its adaptations. The key conclusion shows that in all analysed works it is not the actual possession and its mechanism that matters the most, it if for the emotions of the characters, their development and complicated relations with one another.