"It wasn't long before I repented of having distinguished myself. Even boys become unpopular if its discovered they are fond of their books. For a girl, it's worse."
250: Murasaki Shikibu
Novelist, Poet, and Lady in Waiting to the Imperial Court During the Heian Period of Japanese history
Born: c.978, Kyoto, Japan
Died: c.1014, Kyoto, Japan
She is most known for writing The Tale of Genji—the first novel ever written.
Murasaki is the most well remembered writer from that time period.
Her father was a provincial governor and scholar and he allowed her to learn alongside her brother—even learning some of the classical Chinese writings—which was seen as improper for a woman at the time.
Murasaki married and had a daughter and two years later her husband died. She was then brought to the imperial court and she kept a diary for two years of what court life was like.
Not much is known about her life after the Tale of Genji was published.
We also do not know the exact years she was born or died—and Murasaki Shikibu was not actually her real name but we do not know what her name really was.
I first learned her story while watching the Docu-Series Ascent of Woman by Amanda Foreman. I've posted Episode Two: Separation, to the left.
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Located in My Personal Library:
Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee
Uppity Women Speak Their Minds by Vicki Leon
Who Knew? Women in History: Questions That Will Make You Think Again by Sarah Herman
Sources:
http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine9.html
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shikibu-Murasaki
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200120866/murasaki-shikibu