Minneapolis Institute of Art

Accessories box with scenes from The Tale of Genji

Japan

Date

17th–18th century

Medium

Black lacquer with gold maki-e, silver flakes, sheet metal, and pictorial pearskin ground (e-nashiji), metal fittings

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Literary references permeated soaked into various aspects of society and daily life. This set would have likely belonged to a woman of the warrior class, gifted given to her as part of her wedding trousseau. Women of the elite class were expected to read The Tale of Genji as part of their education so they could participate in social activities, such as card games (karuta), shell games (kaiawase), and poetry composition. Beyond the elite circles, the novel was popular because textbooks for girls often featured the classic. Japan, Asia

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