"The tale of Genji" : fascination between fiction and reality

The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari, Japanese: 源氏物語), written by Murasaki Shikibu in the beginning of 11th century, is considered to be the first novel in the world, but it also remains a particularly abundant source of knowledge about the Heian period (794-1185). The novel concentrates on the character of prince Hikaru Genji (called "The Shining Prince"), the most flawless hero of all. It tells the story of his life and numerous affairs and also depicts the customs of aristocracy of the time within political and sociological context. The object of this article is to present the essence of The Tale of Genji in relation to the author’s view of her fictional character, as well to analyse the reception of the novel among its first readers - the ladies of the Heian emperor court. Their fascination with the Shining Prince and blurred boundaries between fictional affair and real-life events will be the key aspect of the analysis.