
Not speaking is the wiser part,
And words are sometimes vain,
But to completely close the heart
In silence, gives me pain
- Prince Genji, in The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji (Japanese: Genji Monogatari) by Murasaki Shikibu written during the late 10th century AD and finished in its present form by 1021 tells the tale of Prince Genji, the son of the emperor and his favourite concubine, Kiritsubo. Following the death of his mother, the emperor makes him a commoner, assigning him membership of the non-royal Genji clan.
As Genji grows up to become an uncommonly handsome and gifted young man, admired by all but feared by Lady Kokiden, mother of the heir-apparent and her family, The tale follows the amorous exploits with a variety of ladies, friendships, exile from royal court and then re-instatement of his position within the royal household.

The Tale of Genji - Suma
The complete story covers 54 chapters, all of which have been translated by Arthur Waley.
I have read the version indicated at the top of this page, translated by Kencho Suematsu, an abridged version originally published in Persian and Japanese Literature, by Colonial Press, London and New York, in 1900. Whilst it doesn’t contain the entire story (the last chapter is number 17 entitled Competitive Show of Pictures (E Awase)) it still has the rich poetry, narrative, dialogue, art criticism, romantic fantasy and jealously of the complete version. (Paraphrased from Terrence Barrow Ph.D.)

The Tale of Genji - Wakamurasaki (note the difference from this and the top image, it was generally the case that the pictures and accompanying text stayed the same on each wall scroll with littler variation
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