The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki no Shikibu (c. 978 - c. 1014) around A.D. 1000 is one of the earliest romantic novels in the world. It has provided evocative subjects for painters of e-makimono and screens, lacquerware artists and even textile designers. The scenes depicted on this box include one from the Chapter 24, Kocho (Butterflies) where girls dressed as birds and butterflies dancing to the music of dadaiko and sho and another probably from the Chapter 35 Wakana no ge (New Herbs II) in which Genji makes a pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi Shrine accompanying the Crown Prince, represented here by an ox-drawn cart with the Imperial kiku mon