Akiko YOSANO divided "The Tale of Genji" into two parts as before, but she proposed that the former part should be from 'Kiritsubo' to 'Fuji no Uraba,' which has a positive atmosphere mainly describing the success and advancement of Hikaru Genji, while the latter part should be from 'Wakana' to 'Yume no Ukihashi,' which has a negative atmosphere focusing on the agony of Genji and his offspring.
与謝野晶子は、それまでと同様に『源氏物語』全体を2つに分けたが、光源氏の成功・栄達を描くことが中心の陽の性格を持った「桐壺」から「藤裏葉」までを前半とし、源氏やその子孫たちの苦悩を描くことが中心の陰の性格を持った「若菜」から「夢浮橋」までを後半とする二分法を提唱した。