The Tale of Genji offers the reader an understanding of another period in Japanese history that is often overshadowed by stories from the medieval period. It gives the contemporary reader a good insight into what Heian society considered the ideal man and woman and their complicated and intertwined relationships. First, I will discuss the ideal qualities of a Heian woman and her relationship with men as described in the novel. Then, I will discuss the description of Genji and the possible implications behind such descriptions. In chapter 2 of The Tale of Genji, Tō no Chūjō, the left chief squire, the ceremonial assistant Fujiwara, and Genji discuss the ideal woman. and the various types of women they encountered. According to Tō no Chūjō, the ideal woman is of middle rank because she is not overly pampered or shrouded in mystery like high-ranking women. An important skill that a Heian woman should possess is the ability to compose good poems with beautiful flowing handwriting. The chief squire observes that looks are of little value because, "as long as a girl has enough looks and youth, she avoids everything that might stain her name" (24). This implies that the more beautiful the woman, the more she will try to hide and play with her admirer. They then share their experiences regarding the defects of some women they have met. The first woman mentioned by the head squire was a devout but extremely jealous woman and the second woman was graceful and intelligent but was secretly seeing another man. After these two stories, he warns To no Chūjō and Genji about “easy and flexible women” because “any mistake she makes can make her husband look like a fool” (33). Tō n...... middle of sheet ......:Shining Genji: the name was imposing, but not so the many deplorable errors of its bearer; and considering how silent he kept his wild ways, lest, by reaching the ears of posterity, it should gain him unwelcome fame, anyone who divulged his secrets to all the world was a terrible gossip (18.) Like every Heian man, Genji is sensitive to mono no awareness of things. However, it is difficult not to see this description of Genji and his conduct as a social criticism of the typical aristocrat and his many love affairs. Many of the unforgivable things Genji did are often overlooked. This includes forcibly entering Utsusemi's room, kidnapping Murasaki after her father Prince Hyōbu told him he could not have her, and having an affair with her father's consort. Works Cited Murasaki Shikibu. The Tale of Genji: Abridged. Trans. Royall Tyler. New York: Penguin Books, 2006.