Ivan Morrisโs definitive and widely acclaimed portrait of the ceremonious and melancholy world of ancient Japan. โขย "A book which should delight anyone interested in Japan.โ โThe New York Times Book Review
Using The Tale of Genji and other major literary works from Japanโs Heian period as a frame of reference, The World of the Shining Prince recreates an era when women set the cultural tone. Focusing on the world of the emperorโs courtโa world deeply admired by Virginia Woolf, among othersโrenowned scholar of Japanese history and literature Ivan Morris explores the politics, society, religious life, and superstitions of the period.
Offering readers detailed portrayals of the daily lives of courtiers, the cult of beauty they espoused, and the intricate relations between the men and women of the age, The World of the Shining Prince has been a cornerstone text on ancient Japan for half a century.