This paper focuses on the scenes where 'Kara' and 'Koma' examples in "Genjimonogatari" are written together, especially 'Kara' and 'Koma', and consideration of a part of the recognition of East Asian culture in the first half of the Heian period.
Recent studies on "Genjimonogatari" and the Heian era 'Kara' and 'Koma' tend to be regarded as 'Kara' in a broader sense without recognizing 'Koma' as a unique worthy cultural area. However, when attention is paid to the scene in "Genjimonogatari" where 'Kara' and 'Koma' are written together, 'Kara' and 'Koma' are shaped as contrasting cultural areas. There is also recognized the imported goods therefrom as having their own cultural value. Also, 'Koma' is commonly understood as 'Balhae' in "Genjimonogatari". However, it can also be thought of as referring to the Korean Peninsula-based countries including 'Goguryeo, Balhae' and 'Goryeo' from the analysis of examples before the Heian period and the foreign exchange of ancient Japan in the first half of the Heian period. Another thing to consider is that the image of 'Koma' goods, which has been recognized as the most valuable thing before the Heian period, is changing in "Genjimonogatari". Such a change in the recognition of East Asian culture in "Genjimonogatari" is that after the destruction of Balhae, the exchange with Goryeo was not going well, Japanese foreign trade exclusively depended on China, Important items from 'Kara' have become main streams may be considered as one factor.