Thursday 23 December 2010

Hikaru Genji: Sexy Hero



Noblemen in Heian period Japan had a tendency to wear certain, rather phallic, lacquered hats, & run around having fun with women (& sometimes men). They would then stop to compose poetry about the moon before being so moved that they would cry into their dried rice & make it swell up. The noblewomen did the same sort of thing, only with fewer hats & more robes.

The Heian period? Clearly the best historical period in Japan. This is Hikaru Genji, of the eponymous Tale, written by Murasaki Shikibu. Done on handmade paper with Japanese ink (sumi) & sharpie.

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