Timeline Murasaki Shikibu: Author of The Tale of Genji

Murasaki Shikibu: Author of The Tale of Genji 15

• 973 Murasaki Shikibu is born in Heian-kyō Daughter of the scholar-official Fujiwara no Tametoki She was born into a minor branch of the Northern Fujiwara clan, and the year is estimated at about 973. As a child she picked up the Chinese classics alongside her brother, which was unusual for a girl of her time.
• 996 Murasaki Shikibu accompanies her father to Echizen Province Fujiwara no Tametoki is appointed provincial governor When her father became governor of Echizen in 996, she travelled with him. It was the only time she is known to have lived outside the capital, and the journey is reflected in some of her poems.
• 998 Murasaki Shikibu marries Fujiwara no Nobutaka She returns to the capital to marry a much older courtier She came back to Kyoto from Echizen around 998 and married Fujiwara no Nobutaka, a relative and official many years older than her who already had other wives.
• 999 Murasaki Shikibu gives birth to her daughter Kenshi Kenshi later became the poet Daini no Sanmi Her only known child, Fujiwara no Kenshi, was born around 999. Kenshi became a court poet in her own right, and her work appears in the Hyakunin Isshu anthology.
• 1001 Murasaki Shikibu is widowed when Nobutaka dies Her husband dies during an epidemic in the capital Fujiwara no Nobutaka died in 1001, probably in an epidemic that was sweeping Kyoto. Her poems from this period of mourning are among her most personal.
• 1002 Murasaki Shikibu begins writing The Tale of Genji Composition is thought to have started during her widowhood Scholars generally believe she began The Tale of Genji in the years after her husband's death, from about 1002. Its chapters circulated in manuscript among aristocratic readers.
• 1005 Murasaki Shikibu enters the service of Empress Shōshi She joins the salon of Fujiwara no Michinaga's daughter Probably in late 1005 or 1006, she was brought to court as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shōshi, consort of Emperor Ichijō. Michinaga may have recruited her because of her growing reputation as a writer.
• 1008 – 1010 Murasaki Shikibu is nicknamed 'Lady of the Chronicles' Emperor Ichijō praises her learning after hearing Genji read aloud According to her diary, Emperor Ichijō remarked that the author must have read the Nihon Shoki. A rival lady-in-waiting turned this into the mocking nickname Nihongi no Tsubone.
• 1008 Murasaki Shikibu oversees a fair copy of The Tale of Genji Empress Shōshi's ladies prepare bound copies of the tale Late in 1008, before the empress returned to the palace, Murasaki supervised the copying and binding of her tale for Shōshi. Her diary describes the work in progress.
• 1008 Murasaki Shikibu records the birth of Prince Atsuhira Her diary describes the birth of the future Emperor Go-Ichijō In 1008, Empress Shōshi gave birth to Prince Atsuhira at Michinaga's Tsuchimikado mansion. The Murasaki Shikibu Diary describes the event and the ceremonies that followed in detail.
• 1008 Murasaki Shikibu's Genji is first mentioned at court Fujiwara no Kintō jokingly asks whether 'young Murasaki' is present Her diary says that at a banquet in 1008 the courtier Fujiwara no Kintō asked after 'young Murasaki', a character from Genji. This is the earliest dated evidence of the tale, and Japan's Classics Day commemorates it.
• 1010 Murasaki Shikibu completes her diary The Murasaki Shikibu Diary covers court life from 1008 to 1010 Her diary combines accounts of court ceremonies with candid portraits of fellow writers, including a sharp criticism of Sei Shōnagon. It is a major source on life at the Heian court.
• 1011 Murasaki Shikibu stays with Shōshi after Emperor Ichijō's death Shōshi is widowed and moves out of the imperial palace Emperor Ichijō died in 1011, and Shōshi went on to become empress dowager. Murasaki is believed to have remained in her service.
• 1013 Murasaki Shikibu appears in Fujiwara no Sanesuke's diary The Shōyūki records her as Shōshi's go-between Entries from 1013 in the Shōyūki, the courtier Sanesuke's diary, mention a lady-in-waiting identified as Murasaki carrying messages for Shōshi. This is one of the last reliable records of her life.
• 1014 Murasaki Shikibu dies Death in Heian-kyō, dated only approximately Murasaki Shikibu is commonly thought to have died around 1014, the year her father suddenly gave up his governorship and returned to the capital. Some scholars argue she lived until about 1031.