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Paper short abstract:

The news reports on the recently discovered Genji monogatari manuscript contained false information. This presentation will explain where exactly the news reports were wrong from the perspective of codicology and how this can influence research on the Genji monogatari text in the future.

Paper long abstract:

In October 2019, big news excited the public of Japan: a manuscript of the chapter "Wakamurasaki" of the Genji monogatari that was supposedly owned by the medieval classical scholar Fujiwara no Teika himself was newly discovered. Until then, only 4 chapters of the 54 chapter opus belonging to this manuscript had been discovered, making the new discovery the 5th chapter. Its whereabouts were unknown, even though its existence was mentioned in several early modern records. In 2019 it was finally discovered to have been stored by descendants of a daimyo family.

Unfortunately, the news reports partly stated false information. Articles from several newspapers and even television news claimed the manuscript to be the closest to the original Genji monogatari text, or to have been written by Teika himself. Both is supposedly not the case, but due to the repetition of this information in the media, it is now thought to be true by many people. This situation is symbolic for the bad state of the bibliographical study of the Genji monogatari, and it can be said that it also expresses how Japan underestimates bibliographical research. The copy of Genji monogatari owned by Teika is so important because it is thought to be a basis for the famous "Ōshima-bon"-manuscript, which has been used, not only in Japan, but worldwide, as the basis for reading this text. The news have reported wrong information on the newly discovered chapter "Wakamurasaki", as well as on the Ōshima-bon. The popularization of false information is a grave problem that could lead the world's Genji monogatari research into wrong directions.

What were the problematic points the news reported on? What is the truth about the Genji monogatari owned by Teika and its relation to the Ōshima-bon - and into which direction should Genji monogatari research move forward? Using the long-established discipline of bibliography thoroughly and in new ways, this presentation answers those questions. It will thereby underline the importance of bibliography in manuscript studies and beyond.