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Comparing The Diary Of Lady Murasaki And The Tale Of Genji

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Did you know that there was a time where black teeth were considered beautiful? Or that the stationary a poem was written on was just as important the poem itself? These customs are showcased in both The Diary of Lady Murasaki and The Tale of Genji, which are both written by Murasaki Shikibu and set in the Heian period of Japan. Poetry and story writing were highly valued art forms during this period, poems were usually printed on beautifully decorated stationary. As for stories, most of them were written by women and considered classics of the time. Aesthetics were also highly valued. From the way a ladies hair was done, the color choice of her clothing, the blackness of her teeth, and makeup. All of these were considered determining factors of status. As for religion, during this time it was heavily influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism. During the Heian period a huge emphasis was placed on art, aesthetics, and religion, which is prominently featured in The Diary of Lady Murasaki and The Tale of Genji. Poetry, music, and art were considered the most important human accomplishments in this time period , not only was poetry a valued art form it was also a source of expression. Lovers would use poetry as a means to communicate their love. These affairs would either be successful or not according to the sensitivity of the poem and the beauty of the writer’s handwriting. This is seen in The Diary of Lady Murasaki when Murasaki wrote a poem to a dear friend whom she

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