FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS INTRODUCTORY LEVEL SURVEY OF

THE TALE OF GENJI, WE CONCENTRATE ON THE FIRST EIGHT

CHAPTERS OF THE TALE IN WHICH PRINCE GENJI, THE SON OF

THE REIGNING EMPEROR BY A MINOR COURT LADY, BEGINS TO

INHABIT HIS WORLD BY INITIATING A SERIES OF AMOROUS

ADVENTURES WHICH HELP TO SET THE THEME OF THE ENTIRE

NARRATIVE, THAT IS, THE RECAPTURING OF A NATIVE

BIRTHRIGHT. PRINCE GENJI, OR THE SHINING PRINCE, OR

HIKARU GENJI AS HE IS ALTERNATIVELY NAMED, DOES THIS

THROUGH A PROCESS OF TRANSGRESSION OF SOCIAL TABOO BY

WHICH HE INITIATES A HISTORY OF HIS PERFORMING THE

ADOPTED SOCIAL ROLE OF 'TRANSVESTITE MOTHER.'

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THE FIRST SEVERAL

CHAPTERS ARE INVOLVED WITH TRANSGRESSION, SEE MY

THE TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE OF THE TALE IS

DISCUSSED THERE.

FOR ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE TALE OF GENJI,

SEE THE SYLLABUS FOR THE INDEX ENTRY OF THAT NAME.