This November 2020 issue (No. 530) of Me no Me (目の眼), a respected Japanese monthly magazine dedicated to fine arts, antiques, and traditional craftsmanship, explores the elegant world of classical Japanese art and literature.
First published in 1977, Me no Me is well known among collectors and enthusiasts of Japanese antiques, featuring beautiful photography, historical research, and expert commentary on Japan's artistic heritage.
The main feature explores the artistic legacy of The Tale of Genji (源氏物語), one of Japan's most celebrated literary masterpieces, written by Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部) during the Heian period (794–1185).
Often considered one of the world's earliest novels, The Tale of Genji has inspired centuries of Japanese painting, lacquerware, textiles, and decorative arts.
Through the perspective of traditional Japanese antiques, this issue examines how the refined aesthetics of Heian court culture have been preserved and reinterpreted in historical artworks.
