The central theme of the book is Prince Genji's love life. There is little violence or action. Human emotions and the beauties of nature are skillfully explored in the pages of Genji Monogatari . As the book proceeds through its various episodes, it takes on a religious tone by drawing attention to the vanity of life and the illusory nature of the world. Lady Murasaki was immersed in the Buddhism that had, by Heian times, taken a very firm grip on the Japanese mind. The cult of love has a dominant place in her novel, but the underlying theme of the book is unquestionably religious. Awareness
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