FROM THE TALE OF GENJI BY MURASAKI SHIKIBU

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Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji, written in 11th century Japan, may be the first written novel, but its words are anything but prosaic. Among stories of romance and adventure are moments of reflections, and especially reflection upon nature. The cherry blossoms, both beyond human grasp and deeply meaningful to human hearts, are the subject of the passage here reproduced.

The beauty of Japanese script is striking even to those who cannot read it. Those interested in the English translation need only look down the page to find it hidden (but perfectly legible) within the paper.

EDITION NOTES

• Limited to 65, numbered 1 through 65.

• The fifth broadside of No Reply Press, Spring 2021.

• Broadside measures 5 by 10 inches.

• Printed using a tabletop hand-press on Awagami handmade paper.