The Tale of Genji

Hello. I am a very old and special story. I feel like a soft whisper from a long, long time ago. I am made of soft paper, all rolled up in a special way called a scroll. A pretty silk ribbon holds me together, just like a little gift. On my pages, a kind lady drew beautiful pictures with dark, swirly ink. Her little brush danced and danced. She drew pictures of people in fancy, flowing clothes. They lived in a land with green gardens and big palaces. I am a story told in pictures and words. I am The Tale of Genji.

A very smart and kind lady made me. Her name was Murasaki Shikibu. A long, long, long time ago, around the year 1008, she lived in a big palace in Japan. She wanted to tell a wonderful story. It was about a handsome prince. His name was Genji, and everyone called him the 'Shining Prince' because he was so bright and special. She used her brush to write all about his fun adventures, his friends, and all the happy and sad feelings in his heart. I was one of the very first big storybooks in the whole wide world.

For many, many years, people have gently unrolled my soft paper to read about Prince Genji. They look at my pretty pictures and dream about what life was like so long ago. I help them imagine faraway places with princes and palaces. I show everyone that stories are like magic. They connect our hearts, even if we live far apart or a long, long time from each other. Stories help us share our dreams forever and ever.