The Tale of Genji - Colors of the Fifty-Four Chapters

Discover the vibrant colors and elegant costumes of 'The Tale of Genji,' meticulously recreated using authentic Heian dyeing techniques. This edition features vivid color plates and bilingual text, making it an ideal resource for deeply appreciating the classic tale's rich hues.

In "The Tale of Genji," revered as the world's first novel, Murasaki Shikibu exquisitely details the multilayered costumes, known as "Kasane no Irome" (layered color combinations), of both female and male characters, capturing the seasonal color diversity of Japan. The late dyeing expert Yukio Yoshioka thoroughly examined these descriptions across all fifty-four chapters in his 2008 book "The Dictionary of Colors in The Tale of Genji," meticulously reproducing these vibrant hues using traditional dyeing methods based on ancient techniques from the "Engishiki," a Heian-period text.

This revised edition features Yoshioka’s detailed color plates and offers comprehensive explanations of the dyes and color materials used, presented in both Japanese and English. Enhanced with quotes from Edward Seidensticker's renowned translations of The Tale of Genji, this book provides a vivid exploration of the Heian court's emotional and visual splendor. It serves as an indispensable companion for anyone seeking to deepen their appreciation of "The Tale of Genji" through its richly colored narrative.