The First Novel Ever Written May Be Japanese

While epic poems and collections of tales are ancient, the novel as we know it—a long, unified prose narrative with deep psychological insight—arguably began in early 11th-century Japan. The Tale of Genji, penned by the court lady Murasaki Shikibu, is a monumental work that follows the life of a charismatic prince. Its narrative structure, focus on the inner lives of its characters, and sustained plot across more than 50 chapters are what lead many scholars to classify it as the world's first true novel, predating European counterparts like Don Quixote by over 600 years.

The book's creation was a product of the unique culture of Japan's Heian period. At the imperial court, men were educated to write in formal Chinese for official business and poetry. Women, however, used a new, phonetic Japanese script called kana. This script was perfectly suited for more personal and flowing forms of expression, like diaries and fiction. It allowed Murasaki to capture the subtle emotions, intricate social etiquette, and melancholy awareness of life's impermanence that defined her world, creating a literary form that felt startlingly new and profoundly human.