The grave of Murasaki Shikibu -- The Tale of Genji: Famous Places and Historic Sites in Kyoto
If you have the opportunity to visit Kyoto, you can see the grave of Murasaki Shikibu(紫式部). It is located in Kyoto's Kita Ward, 100 meters south of the intersection of Kitaoji-dori and Horikawa-dori. There are two ways to get there from Kyoto Station: 1. Take the subway from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji Station, then walk west along Kitaoji-dori for about 800 meters. 2. Take bus number 6 from the bus terminal in front of Kyoto Station; the ride takes about 30 minutes. Get off at "Kitaoji Horikawa" and walk 100 meters south.
According to a 14th-century commentary on "The Tale of Genji", Murasaki Shikibu's grave is located south of Unrin-in Byakugō-in Temple(雲林院白毫院) and west of the grave of Ono no Takamura(小野篁).
Indeed, the grave stands exactly where tradition places it, with Ono no Takamura's grave right next to it. Although he lived before Murasaki Shikibu's time and is not as famous as she is, those well-versed in Japanese occult lore might recognize his name.
Ono no Takamura was a brilliant government official who possessed mystical powers; he could freely travel between the mortal world and Hell. Consequently, he served the Emperor at court by day and performed duties in Hell by night.
According to medieval legend, Murasaki Shikibu was cast into hell after her death. Her crime was having written "The Tale of Genji" and captivated so many people with it. This may sound strange; why would a masterpiece of literature be considered a sin? Buddhism teaches the pursuit of truth and warns against falsehoods; fiction—being a construct of lies—was deemed equally culpable. It was believed that fiction diverted one's gaze from the truth and led the delusion.
Consequently, ardent fans of "The Tale of Genji" sought to plead her case before the King of Hell, hoping to secure her rebirth in paradise. They even held memorial services to this end—a practice known as "Genji Kuyō (源氏供養)".It is just like a campaign to clear the name of someone wrongly convicted and a petition for a retrial.
Why is the grave of Ono no Takamura located next to that of Murasaki Shikibu? There are no definitive records regarding this. However, there is a theory that people in later ages, wishing for the peace of Murasaki Shikibu's soul, asked Ono no Takamura to intercession and salvation her from hell.
Her grave is not merely a monument; it also embodies the wishes of fans of "The Tale of Genji".