Genji monogatari was considered the best and first novel in the world, completed in the early Heian period in 1008. Many people doubted that Murasaki Shikibu is the true authorship, but the evidence of Murasaki Shikibu Nikki and Sarashina Nikki proved that she is the author of this masterpiece. I personally think it is important to talk about some of the important events that happened in Murasaki's life before examining the ideal woman and man of the Heian court. “Shikibu was born into the Fujiwara family, the daughter of a provincial governor, who was also a well-known scholar. Always very intelligent, as a child she learned faster than her brother, which made her father lament: “If only you were a boy, how happy I would be!” » (Female Hero, 1996-2011). The importance of this will be discussed later in the essay. Murasaki was brought to the imperial court because of her brilliant mind and great writing skills. Present in court, “she went to great lengths to hide her knowledge of Chinese, fearing criticism from those who found it inappropriate to simply read this obscure language (Female Hero, 1996-2011)”. We can be sure that the majority of the characters in the novel are fictional, however, I believe that court life, way of thinking, human relationships and, most importantly, the opinions of a man and a woman ideals among members of the imperial court are truly consistent. to Murasaki's observance. Indigenous Japanese culture, arts, and literature flourished during Japan's Heian period. It can be said that the exchange of short poems and messages with each other was the most important means of communication for men and women at the time. Composing and exchanging poems and love messages was mainly us...... middle of paper ....... As mentioned above, Murasaki was smarter and more brilliant than her own brother, nevertheless, instead of receiving compliments from his father, his father said, "If only you were a boy, how happy I would be." » Due to the phenomenon of danson-johi, women are expected to pretend to be unintelligent in order to accelerate the status of men in society. In conclusion, through large quotas of Genji monogatari and my own interpretations, significant characteristics and traits of an ideal man and an ideal of the Heian court finally manifested. from Asia: Japan. Retrieved: February 28, 2011 from http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine9.html.Shikibu, Murasaki The Tale of Genji: The Broomstick Tyler, Royall. York. 2006.