| Character | Chapters | Notes |
| Akikonomu | 17, 21, 24, 28, 34 | Former high priestess of Ise, and ally of Genji in the court intrigue. |
| Aoi-no-Ue | 1, 9, 10 | First wife of Genji. She was the daughter of the Minister of the Left to Emperor Kuritsubo, and the mother of Yugiri . A unsympathetic character, she dies after insulting the Lady of Rokujo, who then sent her an evil spirit. |
| Asagao | 20, 32 | Princess Asagao rejected Genji advances. |
| Azechidainagon | 43, 49 | Eldest son of To-no-Chujo, later become Lord Inspector. Married Makebashira, who was his second wife. |
| Ben | 9 | Son of Shonagon. |
| Benn | 45, 49, 50 | Cousin of Kojiju, the servant of the Third Princess. She told Kaoru the true story of his birth. She was also the daughter of Kashiwagi's nurse. |
| Chujo | 4, 41 | Maid to the Lady of Rokujo, and later of Murasaki. |
| Eighth Prince | 45, 46, 47 | Father of Oigimi and Nakanokimi. |
| Fujitsubo | 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19, 33, 34 | The new ladyfriend of the old Emperor Kuritsubo. Aunt of Murasaki-no-Ue and sister of Prince Hyobu. She become a lover of Genji and gave birth to his child, who the Emperor thinks is his. |
| Hanachirusato | 11, 14, 21, 25, 41 | Lady with whom Genji had a couple of encounters, and who later lived with him in his house. Also known as the lady of the orange blossoms. |
| Higeguro | 29, 30, 31, 35 | A general and stepson of Prince Shikibukyo. He became enamored to Tamakazura, whom she married. This marriage caused his divorce from the daughter of Shikibukyo. Father of Makibashira. |
| Inuki | 5, 7 | Little girl, friend of Murasaki-no-Ue. |
| Kaoru | 36, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54 | Son of the illicit love of Kashiwagi and the Third Princess (wife of Genji). After being briefly attracted with the oldest daughter of Tamakazura, he becomes attracted to Oigimi, who wanted him to marry instead Nakanokimi, her younger sister. To clear his way he arranged for Nakanokimi to become Niou's wife. He then become attracted to her, and ended marrying the Second Princess, daughter of the Emperor. Unable to forget Oigimi he tried to meet her stepsister Ukifune. |
| Kashiwagi | 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 44, 45 | Son of To-no-Chujo, friend of Yugiri and husband of the Second Princess. He betrays Genji with the Third Princess, his wife. Of this illicit love a son, Kaoru, is born. Dies of shame. |
| Koi | 1 | Mother of Genji. Late wife of the emperor Kuritsubo. |
| Kojiju | 35, 45 | Cousin of Benn, and servant of the Third Princess. |
| Kokiden | 8, 10, 12, 17 | Wife of the old Emperor. Enemy of Genji in the court intrigue. |
| Kokimi | 2, 3, 16 | Younger brother of Utsusemi. Genji used him as a messenger to her. He later become Uemonsa. |
| Koshosho | 39 | Servant of the Second Princess. |
| Koremitsu | 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 15, 21 | Son of Genji's old nurse. He become one of Genji's closest servants. |
| Kumoinokari | 26, 33, 39 | Daughter of To-no-Chujo. |
| Lady Ichijo | 37, 39 | Mother of the Second Princess |
| Lady of Rokujo | 4, 9, 10, 14 | Lover of Genji. Insulted by Aoi-no-Ue, she sent her an evil spirit, causing her death. |
| Lieutenant | 44 | Son of Yugiri, he felt in love with the oldest daughter of Tamakazura. |
| Little Princess Akashi | 14, 18, 19, 22, 32 | Daughter of Genji and Princess Akashi. |
| Makibashira | 31, 43 | Daughter of Higeguro. Second wife of the Azechidainagon. |
| Murasaki-no-Ue | 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 24, 34, 35, 40 | Niece of Fujitsubo and daughter of Prince Hyobu. Genji takes her to his home when she was still a young girl. She later becomes his second wife, after the death of Aoi-no-Ue. |
| Myo-bu | 1, 5, 10 | Messenger between the old Emperor and his grandmother. |
| Naishi | 7 | Maid to the Emperor Kiritsubo. She become a lover of Genji. |
| Nakanokimi | 47, 48, 51 | Younger daughter of the Eighth prince. Her older sister Oigimi tried to make Kaoru marry her. At Kaoru's insistence Niou become attracted to her, who took her as his wife. She gave birth to a son. |
| Niou | 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54 | Third son of the Emperor. At the insistence of Kaoru he become attracted to Nakanokimi, whom he married. He later also married Rokunokimi, the sixth daughter of Yugiri. He become attracted to |
| Oborozukiyo | 8, 10, 12, 34 | Sixth daughter of the Minister of the Right. Become a lover of Genji in a fortuitous situation, while engaged to marry the crown prince. |
| Oigimi | 45, 47, 48, 49, 50 | Older daughter of the Eighth prince. Kaoru was attracted to her but he wanted him to marry Nakanokimi, her younger sister. |
| Omi-no-kimi | 26 | Daughter of To-no-Chujo. |
| Prince Hotaru | 12, 17, 25, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38 | Brother of Genji |
| Prince Hyobu | 5 | Father of Murasaki-no-Ue. Brother or Fujitsubo. |
| Princess Akashi | 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 32, 34, 35, 40, 41 | Daughter of a monk in Suma. Become Genji's lover. Mother of his daughter and, later, of his son. This son will then became Crown Prince. |
| Princess Hitachi | 6, 7, 15, 23 | Her name was Suetsumuhana. Also known as the Safflower princess. Genji was briefly attracted to her. He also felt sorry for her and helped support her. |
| Reikeiden | 11 | One of Emperor Kiritsubo ladies |
| Rokunokimi | 49 | Sixth daughter of Yugiri. Married Niou. |
| Second Princess | 36, 37, 39 | Daughter of former Emperor Suzaku and of Lady Ichizo. Wife of Kashiwagi. |
| Second Princess (II) | 49 | Daughter of the Emperor. Married Kaoru. |
| Shikibukyo | 31 | Father in law of Higeguro. |
| Shonagon | 5, 9, 12 | Nurse of Murasaki-no-Ue. Mother of Ben. |
| Taifunogen | 22 | Young gallant of Kyushiu. |
| Tamakazura | 2, 4, 21, 22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 43, 44 | Daughter of Yugao and To-no-Chujo. Raised by her nurse, she was later adopted by Genji. Later she married General Higeguro. His older daughter attracted both Kaoru and the lieutenant, son of Yugiri. |
| Tayu | 6 | Nun of Genji's old nurse. |
| Third Princess | 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 45 | Daughter of former Emperor Suzaku. Marries Genji and betrays him with Kashiwagi. Of this illicit love a son, Kaoru, is born. Ashamed, she then become a nun. |
| To-no-Chujo | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17, 22, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 43, 49 | Brother of Aoi-no-Ue, and so brother in law of Genji, of whom he was friend. Father of Azechidainagon, Kashiwagi, Kumoinokari, Omi-no-kimi and Tamakazura. |
| Tokikata | 51, 52 | Companion of Niou, helped him to contact Ukifune. |
| Ukifune | 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 | Stepsister of Oigimi. Both Kaoru and Niou become attracted to her and jostled for her love. Unable to stand the stress of the situation she threw herself to the river, and was given up for dead. She later reappeared and become a nun. |
| Ukon | 4, 22 | Maid to Yugao. |
| Ukon (II) | 51, 52 | Maid to Ukifume. |
| Utsusemi | 2, 3, 16 | Wife of the father of the governor of Kii in Kyoto. Older sister of Kokimi. Genji is attracted to her. |
| Yoshikiyo | 12, 13, 14 | Officer in Suma. Helped Genji when he was exiled. |
| Yugao | 2, 4, 22 | Lover of To-no-Chujo. Mother of Tamakazura. Later become lover of Genji. Killed by a spirit, Genji fell ill because her death. |
| Yugiri | 9, 12, 14, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 46, 47, 49 | Son of Genji and Aoi-no-Ue, born just before his mother's death. He is attracted by Kumoinokari, whom she marries. Friend of Kashiwagi. After his friend died he become attracted to his wife, the Second Princess, but the affair his folded by Kumoinokari. He had a son who become lieutenant, and a daughter,Rokunokimi, who married Niou. |