Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. Ive been meaning to give it a go ever since my friend becca blogged about it wow, that was three years ago. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. It was published by columbia university press and has a total of 419 pages in the book. In her mid20s, sei shonagon became a gentlewoman to empress teishi. Based loosely on the tenth century writings of the imperial court observer, sei shonagon, greenaway brings to the screen a rich visual amalgam that relies on stunning settings, the physical beauty of actors vivian wu and ewan mcgregor, and the joy of ancient and modern. A week of prompts from the pillow book transactions.
The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, sei. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon online at alibris. When the empress is given a bundle of paper, she asks sei shonagon what she should do with it. The pillow book, on the other hand, is a plain record of fact, and being at least ten times as long as murasakis diary, and far more varied in contents, it is the most important document of the period that we possess.
The two greatest works of literature in japans heian period 7941185 were both penned by women. Sei shonagon collected her writings a bundle of papers kept inside her pillow in the late 900s a. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. Like sometimes a person who is utterly devoid of charm will try to create a good impression by using very elegant.
The pillow book has been the platform with which japanese women have had the opportunity to express their feminism agendas through writer she shonagon. The author is sei shonagon, and she was given some notebooks that were lying around the palace that no one else wanted. Themakura no soshi, orthe pillow bookas it is generally known in english, is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes about life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the eleventh century by a woman known as sei shonagon. The pillow book by sei shonagon is of salient discussion given the case that it presents various segments that would help one to analyze her as woman. The language is beautiful and haunting sei shonagon s writings were both wholly alien and disturbingly familiar to a western man in the 21st century.
She is known as the author of the pillow book makura no soshi. These are just a few of the items on a list of refined and elegant things in the pillow book of sei shonagon. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. Apr 11, 2014 the pillow book is a genre which accommodates the full range of the writing spectrum, from idle jotting to highly disciplined poetic composition. Apr 20, 2019 the two greatest works of literature in japans heian period 7941185 were both penned by women.
The pillow book is a classical japanese book giving an honest and sometimes humorous glimpse into the life of a japanese noblewoman during the heian era. Unless you were the empress, in which case shed call it the most genius thing that had ever been written in the whole history of the world. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon alibris. Sei shonagon s the pillow book is one of the strangest and most delightful works of literature in the entire human history. Here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society. The pillow book is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi during the 990s and early s in heian japan.
The pillow book, makura no soshi is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort. Oct 02, 2018 this was one of sei shonagons talents. She spends much time recognizing the beauty in nature. Its a book where things such as calligraphy are important, as well as the sleeves of a gown and how they hang. Sei shonagon was a lady of the japanese imperial court. The pillow book classical literature which will not bore you. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris 9780231073370.
It is, more or less, the diary of the noblewoman sei shonagon, detailing her daily life in heiankyo. The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th century. The pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. Then there are things that make your heart beat fast, things that make you nostalgic, and. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them. The pillow book is her journal, and the topics she covers are varied. Mst japanese people can recite the famous opening lines of the pillow book by sei shonagon. The pillow book is the only real record of sei shonagon that exists and is therefore the only source for discovering her philosophy. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. It is also the best source of information on japanese court life in the heian period 7941185.
Sei shonagon, diarist, poet, and courtier whose witty, learned pillow book makura no soshi exhibits a brilliant and original japanese prose style and is a masterpiece of classical japanese literature. The pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. When one has been worrying about something and wants to tell a certain person about it, what a relief it is to put it all down in a letter. The striking thing about this book is that it really seems like sei shonagon the author wanted her work to be read by people of the future. One of the great classics of japanese literature, the pillow book of sei shonagon is by far our most detailed source of factual material on life in eleventhcentury japan at the height of heian culture. A writer such as sei shonagon has received much recognition due to her tireless effort to depict the rightful position of women in the japanese society. Overall, i am glad i started my classics club journey with the pillow book of sei shonagon. The pillow book, makura no soshi is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi during the 990s and early s in heian japan. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris figure 1 sei shonagon viewing the snow, utagawa yoshitora, from the series calligraphy and pictures for the fiftythree stations of the tokaido, woodblock print, ink and color on paper, 1872. And yes, she would have been deeply scornful of it. Sei shonagon is in fact still very much alive and asserting herself, at the very centre of her work.
Shaved ice with a sweet syrup, served in a shiny new metal bowl. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. The pillow book is a collection of reflections written by japanese gentlewoman sei shonagon as a kind of journal during the 990s and early s. The pillow book was written by a lady of the japanese court, sei shonagon, at the end of the 10th century, and comprised poetry, gossip, important happenings and other events in the court. This thousandyearold classic is taught in japanese schools. Haruwa akebono is a famous phrase from the pillow book that has been translated as how elegant is the dawn. It is almost like reading a blog from ancient japan. The pillow book the classic portrayal of court life in tenthcentury japan written by the court gentlewoman sei shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, the pillow book offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated. The pillow book, by sei shonagon the war on loneliness. A pillow book uncovers individuals life, and for this situation, sei depicts the kept yet gluttonous lifestyle of the honorability at the stature of the heian period in which women of high economic wellbeing had a lot of recreation time to spend perusing and composing, being a tease and tattling joe parker, 2008.
Without the vividness of her personality, the words turn to dust. She is the author of the pillow book, makura no soshi. Written by the court gentlewoman sei shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, the pillow book offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated, while harsh reality was kept firmly at a distance. It is the character of the writers manner of perceiving, the stamp of the personality, and the idiosyncrasy established by certain likes and dislikes, the fingerprints of the individual mind upon. Much of the pillow book is similarly personal, and the vibrant personality of the woman who wrote it makes the pillow book a delightful, fascinating, and important book to read. She is very funny, and her cutting wit is relentless.
Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c. Illustrated by jasper deane and translated by ivan morris. This book is an absolute treasure, and this paperback publication is nicely presented. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. The classic portrayal of court life in tenthcentury japan written by the court gentlewoman sei shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, the pillow book offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated, while harsh. It provides a perspective on imperial culture in all its luxury, privilege, and poetry and is considered a masterpiece of japanese literature. Jan 19, 2010 unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a.
Mar 10, 2011 the pillow book of sei shonagon is one of the earliest examples of diary literature whose passages chronicle the events of the court calendar, the ceremonies and celebrations specific to teishis court, and the vignettes that provide brilliantly drawn glimpses into the manners and foibles of the aristocracy. Sei shonagons the pillow book is one of the strangest and most delightful works of literature in the entire human history. The pillow book is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi during the 990s and early 11th century in heian japan. A contemporary of murasaki shikibu, who wrote the tale of genji, sei shonagon reflects the same concern with style and taste typical of the period. Her surname is not her actual name but refers to her role, or more likely the role of her. The pillow book study guide from litcharts the creators of. This pillow book is a blend of short narratives, personal musings, and many lists of observations and experiences which sei finds beautiful or interesting. Jun 11, 2018 the pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c.
Sei shonagon, court lady to empress teishi, was born 966 ce during the heian era. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even. Though her world would have been familiar to her audience, which experienced her reflections only after they were unintentionally released, parts of the pillow book may seem opaque to 21stcentury. The pillow book was compiled after teishi gifted sei shonagon a bundle of paper pillow book probably refers to a diary kept at ones bedside, perhaps wanting sei to capture the flavor of court culture. The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press.
The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. A pillow book is an openended and spontaneous collection of fragments, and as such may include lists, observations, poems, short personal essays and diary entries. The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th century, but its basically a modern day blog. Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Sep 17, 2017 here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society. In her book, she first discusses the different seasons and the significance beauty of each.
The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Though her world would have been familiar to her audience, which experienced her reflections only after they were unintentionally released. The pillow book is a rare film that transcends limitations of film and text in a unique handling by auteur peter greenaway. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyin waiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Apr 20, 2017 the pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Sei served her empress during the late heian period a particularly vibrant time for japanese arts and the beginning of japans feudal age and was a contemporary of. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. Sei shonagon 96610171025 was a japanese author and a court lady who served the empress consort teishi around the year. Jun 28, 2011 his pillow book is certainly excruciating reading for anyone who isnt a contemporary japanese girl, and reduces seis subtleties of perception and expression to tedious cliche, but it does capture the delight, and the vividness of voice and personality, that are the essential experience of reading the pillow book. And yet, when it came to translating the pillow book, the ironies of its classic status suddenly became acute. Introduction sei shonagon s pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Sei shonagon mostly tells us stories of her daily life, gossips about her peers, comments on fashion and the seasons. The pillow book is a book after my own heart, although it was written centuries before i was born. Also known as the author of the pillow book because of her accounts, and personal opinions she wrote down while she served the empress.
The pillow book summary from litcharts the creators of. While others may be more familiar with murasaki shikibus the tale of genji as an example of classic japanese literature of the time, i chose the pillow book instead i always lean towards bucking the trend and i was intrigued by what i had read of sei. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. What are the elements of humor in sei shonagons pillow book. For march i will complete the set of what is for me that trinity of great heian women writers who lived in the same world, in a sense dominated by the mystique of the tanka, but were so different from one another by adding to the legendary poet ono no komachi, and the incomparable novelist murasaki shikibu, the essayist or diarist sei shonagon, author of the pillow book. The pillow book, by sei shonagon i finally got around to reading this diary about courtly life in heian era right about the year japan. The pillow book is an extreme example of a work that has lived past its time, and attained the deathless status that writers dream of as they labour over their page or screen, transmuting their moment into momenttranscending language. Shonagon 9661017 was a ladyinwaiting serving the japanese empress sadako in the peaceful heian era. Your pillow book would be a very different animal from shonagons.
The book might also have been intended to serve as a catalogue of images or topics for poets. Pillow book history, translation, and facts britannica. Reviewing shintos influence in sei shonagons literary. The pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. The title of this book is the pillow book of sei shonagon and it was written by ivan morris translator. Written at the height of heian culture, it is a classic text of great literary beauty, full of lively anecdotes, humorous observations, and subtle impressions. The book is full of humorous observations okashi written in the style of a diary, an approach known as zuihitsu style. The pillow book by sei shonagon, 9780140448061, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. If letters did not exist, what dark depressions would come over one. It was unlike anything else i have read and i learned more about a culture about which i know very little. Written by a lady of the court at the height of heian culture, this book enthralls with its lively gossip, witty observations, and subtle impressions. The book is full of humorous observations okashi written in the style of a diary, an approach known as zuihitsustyle rambling of which the pillow book was the first and greatest example.
Through the pillow book, sei shonagon influenced the development of the genre known as zuihitsu literally following the pen, an anthology or miscellany whose elements lack a formal arrangement and that has an air of spontaneity and of having been composed on the inspiration of the moment. A major focus of her writing is about finding a beauty in all things. Lady shonagon was an erstwhile rival of lady murasaki. The literal title of the annotation written by kigin kitamura is the pillow book. Sei shonagon became popular through her work the pillow book, a collection of lists, gossip, poetry, observations, complaints written during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi during the 990s and early 11th century in heian japan. The pillow book, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon. The pillow book by sei shonagon and the tale of genji by murasaki shikibu. The ground to present such ideology is that ma y of the women within the ancient centuries were denied various rights since many of the men were opposed to the perspective of according rights to. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators.