Illustration series inspired by Tale of Genji, exploring characters, relationships and symbols/themes. Fude de mannen, ink and watercolour. Started March 2018 and completed May 2022. You can read my thoughts on the various characters here, and see how these illustrations can be grouped in various combinations.
Characters depicted to date
The following list is in order of illustration completion.
- Falling Flowers 花散里 Hanachirusato/Lady of the Village of Falling Flowers
- His Highness of War 兵部卿宮 Hyobukyo no Miya/Prince Hyobu; 蛍兵部卿宮 Hotaru Hyobukyo no Miya/Prince Hotaru/His Firefly Highness of War; 匂宮 Niou no Miya/Prince Niou/the Third Prince/His Perfumed Highness of War
- Fragrance 薫中将 Kaoru Chujo/The Fragrant Captain
- Safflower 末摘花 Suetsumuhana
- Reflecting on Light 藤原惟光 Fujiwara no Koremitsu
- Bright Stone 明石君 Akashi no Kimi/Akashi lady
- Grass Beneath the Trees 源典侍 Gen no Naishinosuke
- Evening Mist 夕霧 Yugiri
- Paulownia Court 桐壺帝 Kiritsubo no Mikado and 桐壺更衣 Kiritsubo no Koi/Lady Kiritsubo
- Vermilion Bird 朱雀帝 Suzaku no Mikado
- One Who Loves Autumn 秋好 Akikonomu
- Cold Spring 冷泉帝 Reizei no Mikado
- Misty Moon Night 朧月夜 Oborozukiyo
- Drifting Boat 浮舟 Ukifune
- Oak Tree 柏木 Kashiwagi
- Wisteria Court 藤壷の宮 Fujitsubo no Miya
- Wild Geese in the Heavens 雲居の雁 Kumoi no Kari
- Tendril Wreath 玉鬘 Tamakazura
- Eightfold Clouds 八宮 Hachi no Miya/Eighth Prince
- Trefoil Knots 大君 Oigimi and 中君 Nakanokimi
- Lucky Dice 近江の君 Omi no Kimi
- Red Plum Blossoms 紅梅 Kobai
- Message Bearer 小君 Kogimi I; 右衛門佐 Uemonnosuke; 小君 Kogimi II; Kobai’s son
- Black Beard 髭黒 Higekuro
- Deity of the Sea 明石入道 Akashi no Nyudo/Akashi Novice
- Doll Without Emotion 女三宮 Onna San no Miya/Third Princess
- Fallen Leaf 落葉宮 Ochiba no Miya
- Secretary Captain 頭中将 To no Chujo
- Vanished into the Clouds 光源氏 Hikaru Genji
- Wanderer in the Dark Night of Spring 蔵人少将 Kurodo no Shosho
- Morning Glory 朝顔 Asagao (bellflower during the Heian period)
- Cicada Shell 空蝉 Utsusemi
- The Passed 前坊 Zembo (former/late Crown Prince)
- Present Day 今上帝 Kinjo no Mikado and 明石中宮 Akashi no Chugu/Akashi Empress
- Sixth Street 六条御息所 Rokujo no Miyasudokoro
- Evening Faces 夕顔 Yugao (moonflowers)
- Flower of Purple 紫上 Murasaki no Ue (Murasaki – plant with roots used to make a purple dye)
- The Things of Long Ago 源氏良清 Minamoto no Yoshikiyo
- Heartvine 葵上 Aoi no Ue (Aoi – heartvine, hollyhock, wild ginger)
- Hall of Beauty 弘徽殿 Kokiden I – Genji’s nemesis; Kokiden II – To no Chujo’s daughter
- Beloved Cypress Pillar 真木柱 Makibashira
- Dancer of Five Stanzas 五節舞姫 Gosechi no Maihime/Gosechi Dancer
- The Left and the Right 左大臣 Sadaijin/Minister of the Left and
右大臣 Udaijin/Minister of the Right - Reeds Beneath the Eaves 軒端荻 Nokiba no Ogi
- Chrysanthemum in Bloom 女二宮 Onna Ni no Miya/Second Princess – second daughter of the Kinjo Emperor
- A Heart That Knows Sadness 小宰相 Kosaisho/Kozaisho
- Moon Above the Gate 横川僧都 Yokawa no Souzu/Monk, Priest or Bishop of Yokawa
- Blessed Fortune 明石尼君 Akashi no Amagimi/Akashi Nun
- Mirror God Oath 大夫の監 Taifu no Gen/Audit Commissioner
- To See You in Full Bloom 中将の君 Chujo no Kimi
- Her Grand Highness 大宮 Omiya
- River of Tears 弁の君/弁の尼 Ben no Kimi/Ben no Ama
- Watchfulness – representing male cast of the Tale of Genji
- Resourcefulness – representing female cast of the Tale of Genji
- Nest of Protection 巣守 Sumori