Genji (character in The Tale of Genji)
Refers specifically to Hikaru Genji, the protagonist of the classic Heian-period novel Genji Monogatari.
The protagonist of The Tale of Genji is Hikaru Genji, commonly called 'Genji'.
Minamoto clan; Genji clan
One of the four great noble clans of the Heian period; often contrasted with the Taira (Heike) clan. In historical contexts, 源氏 refers to the entire lineage.
The Minamoto and the Taira clans fought at the end of the Heian period.
She read The Tale of Genji in college.
源氏物語 is the title of the classic novel itself, while 源氏 alone usually refers to its protagonist or, in history, the Minamoto clan.
Standard kanji spelling for both the Genji character and the Minamoto clan.
From 源 (gen, 'source, origin') + 氏 (shi, 'family, clan'). The character name derives from the clan name, as the protagonist is a fictional son of the Emperor who was given the Minamoto surname.
It's a story depicting the era when the Genji and Heike clans fought each other.