1.
Minamoto clan
One of the most powerful clans in Japanese history, prominent during the Heian and Kamakura periods. Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura shogunate.
源氏は武家の名門だ。
The Genji are a distinguished warrior family.
源氏と平氏の争いは有名だ。
The conflict between the Genji and the Heishi is famous.
源氏は鎌倉幕府を開いた一族として知られている。
The Genji are known as the clan that established the Kamakura shogunate.
2.
The Tale of Genji
Short for 源氏物語, the classic work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, widely considered the world's first novel.
源氏を読んだことがある。
I have read the Tale of Genji.
源氏は世界最古の長編小説と言われている。
The Tale of Genji is said to be the world's oldest full-length novel.
高校の古典の授業で源氏の一部を学んだ。
I studied part of the Tale of Genji in high school classics class.
USAGE:
When used alone, 源氏 can refer to either the Minamoto clan or the Tale of Genji depending on context. In historical contexts, it refers to the clan; in literary contexts, it is short for 源氏物語.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji)
- 源平 (Genji and Heishi — the Minamoto and Taira clans)
- 源平合戦 (the Genpei War)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 平氏: the Taira clan, rivals of the Minamoto in the Genpei War