The common practice, since the old days, was to divide "The Tale of Genji" into two parts; 'The former part' or 'the main part' was "Hikarugenji's Tale," from the beginning to the chapter of 'Maboroshi' ('Kumogakure (Demise)'), in which Hikaru Genji is a main character, and 'the latter part' or 'sequel' was "Ujitaisho monogatari (The Tale of Uji General)" (or "Kaorutaisho monogatari (The Tale of General Kaoru)."
その後『源氏物語』全体を光源氏を主人公にしている「幻」（「雲隠」）までの『光源氏物語』とそれ以降の『宇治大将物語』（または『薫大将物語』）の2つに分けて「前編」、「後編」（または「正編」（「本編」とも）、「続編」）と呼ぶことは古くから行われてきた。