The Tale of Genji and its Chinese Precursors

In The Tale of Genji and its Chinese Precursors: Beyond the Boundaries of Nation, Class, and Gender, Jindan Ni departs from the view of The Tale of Genji as a product of Japanese literary tradition devoid of Chinese and Buddhist influences. Combining close reading, the archival work of Japanese and Chinese scholars, and comparative literary theory, Ni argues that Murasaki Shikibu avoided the constraint of a single literary tradition by drawing on Chinese intertexts. Ni's account reveals the heterogeneity that makes The Tale of Genji a masterpiece with enduring appeal.