The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan

Ivan Morris's definitive and widely acclaimed portrait of the ceremonious and melancholy world of ancient Japan.

Using The Tale of Genji and other major literary works from Japan's Heian period as a frame of reference, The World of the Shining Prince recreates an era when women set the cultural tone. Focusing on the world of the emperor's court--a world deeply admired by Virginia Woolf, among others--renowned scholar of Japanese history and literature Ivan Morris explores the politics, society, religious life, and superstitions of the period.

Offering readers detailed portrayals of the daily lives of courtiers, the cult of beauty they espoused, and the intricate relations between the men and women of the age, The World of the Shining Prince has been a cornerstone text on ancient Japan for half a century.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 05/21/2013
ISBN: 9780345803900
Pages: 368
Weight: 0.64lbs
Size: 7.73h x 5.51w x 0.80d