The Tale of Genji - Recitation and Lecture by SHIDU

***Regisitration for this online event is here: https://genji2.eventbrite.com

Join us for our follow up presentation on The Tale of Genji (源氏物語) with Sensei Shidu, this time focusing on the descriptions of scenery and how they convey emotional context in the work (景情一致).

This online talk can be enjoyed on its own or in sequence with the previous presentation. Whether you attended last time or not, this will be a special evening in the world of Tale of Genji where you will hear the original text in ancient Japanese, view artworks inspired by the story, and gain a deeper understanding of this essential work of world literature.

The instructor, Shidu Tomoie will wear a Heian-style kimono and present in Japanese (with English subtitles). She will also recite the original texts written in the ancient Japanese. She would like you to enjoy the beauty of the original texts.

In her previous lecture, she mainly talked about the child-parent relationships of the main character, Hikaru Genji (光源氏), covering chapters 1-33 of the story, which illustrates Genji’s most flourishing times. In this talk, she will cover the chapters 33-54, where Genji suffered unexpected misfortunes in his later life. Japanese literature often illustrates natural scenery as a way to describe emotion, a concept called keijo-icchi (景情一致). Genji and the ladies read poems about the flowers that they were looking at to tell what they were feeling and how they were suffering from the misfortune.

This event will include Shidu's presentation (about 50 minutes) and a Q&A session (max. 30 minutes). Both English and Japanese speakers are welcome. The presentation will be in Japanese, but a staff person will be interpreting Shidu's talk into English subtitles. Bilingual staff will facilitate the Q&A session.

What is SHIDU’s Genji Salon
Do you know The Tale of Genji? The 54-volume story, one of the oldest novels in the world, was written by Murasaki-Shikibu in 1008. It is not an exaggeration to say that this exceptional story is a literary treasure. However, it is not easy to understand because each sentence is very long and difficult for modern readers.

For this reason, Shidu wants to tell people this great story in a way that is easy to understand. She shows us the appeal of The Tale of Genji with her beautiful handmade Heian-costumes and humorous commentary.
She has given hundreds of lectures as part of SHIDU's Genji Salon(しづの源氏語り), not only at schools but also at libraries, churches, nursing homes, and public halls throughout Japan. A few years ago, she lectured at an elementary school and a university in Sydney, Australia. More than 5,000 people have seen her presentation so far.

Who is SHIDU?
Shidu Tomoie majored in Japanese literature, including The Tales of Genji, at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University. She has been teaching Japanese literature at Toyo Eiwa Junior and Senior High School and Tokyo Woman’s Christian University since 1977. She also works as a Study Consultant of Japanese Expression at Toyo Eiwa Woman’s University. She currently gives lectures on The Tale of Genji three times per month.

From SHIDU
Have you ever learned something from history? No matter how many years pass by, we are always asking ourselves, what are we living for? What is a family? What is love? This is a chance to dive into the world of Genji with me and think about these questions together. I will show you the various lovely characters and Heian costume to welcome you!

The lecture is easy to understand for beginners as well. I will read the story with pictures. Don’t hesitate! I am looking forward to seeing you.

Thank you,
SHIDU

This is a sliding-scale event. Please pay what you can and help us continue to provide culturally relevant community programming.

If you have questions, please contact us at info@encorepreneurcafe.com or (503) 954-2837.