The court life of Heian Japan from the tenth century into the eleventh century was rich with varied uses of poetry in the activities of the nobility. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is an interesting example of the literature of that time period. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the various uses of poetry among the Heian nobility and to provide examples of each from The Tale of Genji.
The uses of poetry in Heian society can be divided roughly into two groups--the personal and the intellectual. The most obvious use of poems was in romantic communication between men and women, examples of which are numerous in The Tale of Genji. Genji has many adventures with various types of women and all stages of these relationships are embroidered with careful, expressive rhymes.
"I think I need not ask whose face it is,
So bright, this evening face, in the
These types of personal rhymes, often written on decorative fans, were a primary form of communication between potential lovers of the Heian time period.
Sometimes lovers would convey a bit of flirting or disguised coquettish interest on a piece of paper delivered by messenger.
"Come a bit nearer, please. Then might you know.
The subtleties of Heian poetic communication were of no resemblance to a twentieth century excursion to a drug store to pick out a Hallmark card. All of the rhymes were original, personally penned for that particular occasion. The style of handwriting or "hand" revealed much of the writer's breeding and taste (32), even in the elegance of the folding of the paper (85). Genji was so skilled at giving and receiving poetry that he could even determine if the writer wrote in a disguised hand. The selection of paper communicated as much as the wording. Genji, on numerous occasions, chose papers to show a specific mood or sentiment. He chos
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