Murasaki Shikibu was born around 973 in Heian-kyō, Japan, and hailed from the esteemed northern Fujiwara clan, which traced its lineage back to Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, the influential regent of the 9th century. During the period spanning the 11th century, the Fujiwara clan exerted significant control over court politics. This dominance was achieved through astute matrimonial alliances, as they strategically married their daughters into the imperial family.