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Referenced as 'the great Japanese classic' that was discussed in a previous episode, written around the same time as The Pillow Book. Multiple passages and scenes from this novel are discussed.

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The main subject of the episode - an 11th century Japanese novel described as 'the supreme, unchallenged, canonical classic of Japanese literature' and over 1,000 pages long in the Royal Tyler translation

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Described as 'the first kind of great novel from Asia' or 'the world's first psychological novel,' written by the aristocratic diarist and lady-in-waiting discussed as the first of the six chosen lives

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Murasaki's diary is mentioned as 'a kind of parallel to the Pillow book' that gives a darker portrait of court life and describes events like Empress Shoshi preparing to give birth.