The very first fictional novel is a subject of debate among scholars, as the concept of a novel itself evolved over time. However, many consider "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu, written in the 11th century, as one of the earliest known novels. It was written in classical Japanese.
Was the novel written in hiragana?
"The Tale of Genji" was not written in hiragana. It was written in a combination of kanji (Chinese characters) and hiragana, which was common for works during that time. The use of kanji was prevalent for more formal or complex expressions, while hiragana was used for grammatical elements and to provide readings for difficult or less commonly used kanji characters.
The very first fictional novel known to have been written is "The Tale of Genji" or "Genji Monogatari" in Japanese. It was penned by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the Japanese imperial court, in the early 11th century.
