In Women's Hand: Transmitting the Literature of Heian Japan

List of artworks & articles
Glossary
Bibliography
About

This website was designed by Emily Zieg in spring of 2022, for the class LIS 425: History of the Book at Simmons University.

An illustrated Buddhist sutra scroll written in Chinese in gold ink on indigo paper.

A painting of two women playing go in a palace. In the foreground, a man peeks through the screen, and in the background sits a shelf full of books and scrolls.

An early illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji, depicting several women in Heian-style robes inside a palace. One is reading a book, one is combing another's hair, and some are sitting behind a curtain.

An early illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji, depicting several women in Heian-style robes inside a palace. One is reading a book, one is combing another's hair, and some are sitting behind a curtain.

A black and white illustration from Keifukuin Kaoku Gyokuei's illustrated scroll of the Tale of Genji

A painting of the author Sei Shonagon in traditional Heian period dress, raising a window blind to look at the falling snow outside.

A section of calligraphy from a scroll of Kokin Wakashuu, the collection of old and modern Japanese poetry.

A woodcut portrait of the author Sei Shonagon lifting the brim of her red hat.

A color woodcut depicting the author Murasaki Shikibu, seated at a writing desk on the engawa (veranda) of Ishiyamadera Temple on Lake Biwa. She is holding a brush and gazing at the moon, which is faintly visible in the sky above.