Sei shonagon mostly tells us stories of her daily life, gossips about her peers, comments on fashion and the seasons. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris 9780231073370. 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. 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. Sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. 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. However, while the plot development is well worked out, the cast is competent, and greenaway shows off a dazzling array of cinematic techniques, he always seems to approach his material too intellectually to really engage the viewers emotions. The pillow book by sei shonagon and the tale of genji by murasaki shikibu. Sei shonagon 96610171025 was a japanese author and a court lady who served the empress consort teishi around the year. Buy the pillow book penguin classics translation by sei shonagon, meredith mckinney isbn. Like many of peter greenaways movies, pillow book features extensive nudity. 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, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon.
The book might also have been intended to serve as a catalogue of images or topics for poets. She is the author of the pillow book, makura no soshi. 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. Your pillow book would be a very different animal from shonagons. 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. 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. 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. Overall, i am glad i started my classics club journey with the pillow book of sei shonagon. The pillow book of sei shonagon translations from the oriental. 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. Its opening section, which beginsharu wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage in japanese. Like it was a clear, moonlit night a little after the tenth of the eighth month. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
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. 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. The pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c. The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. It is also the best source of information on japanese court life in the heian period 7941185. The pillow book classical literature which will not bore you. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. 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. She is known as the author of the pillow book makura no soshi.
Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyin waiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. 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. It was unlike anything else i have read and i learned more about a culture about which i know very little. The pillow book is the diary of sei shonagon, a courtesan at the imperial court of japan in the late 10th and early 11th century. Sei shonagons the pillow book is one of the strangest and most delightful works of literature in the entire human history. Jan 19, 2010 unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. Shonagon 9661017 was a ladyinwaiting serving the japanese empress sadako in the peaceful heian era. Wrote during heian era japan over a years ago its author sei shonagon, as she was known at the imperial court, wrote numerous musings about her life, recorded events that happened at the palace and documented the everyday. 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. The language is beautiful and haunting sei shonagons writings were both wholly alien and disturbingly familiar. In the tenth century, japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Sei shonagon, who may well have allowed herself such a dream from time to time as her brush moved over the page, despite the fact that what she was writing was. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to one.
Here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society. 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. Sei shonagon s pillow book is one of the greatest japanese literary works. Illustrated by jasper deane and translated by ivan morris. 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. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on sei shonagons the pillow book. The pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. 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. 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.
The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. The pillow book, by sei shonagon the war on loneliness. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Seis 11th century blog is remarkable for the way in which it records the ins and outs of daily life in japan of the year, but really, the main appeal of the pillow book is that sei is a. It is, more or less, the diary of the noblewoman sei shonagon, detailing her daily life in heiankyo. Sei shonagon was a lady of the japanese imperial court.
The pillow book of sei shonagon book wellington county. 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. 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. 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 pillow book of sei shonagon the diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan book. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a timely reminder that no matter what else is happening, the here and now is often quite delightful. Introduction sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides.
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. Apr 20, 2019 the two greatest works of literature in japans heian period 7941185 were both penned by women. Pillow book history, translation, and facts britannica. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like. It was begun casually as a sort of private notebook diary and only. The pillow book has been the platform with which japanese women have had the opportunity to express their feminism agendas through writer she shonagon. Her majesty, who was residing in the empresss office, sat by the edge of the veranda while ukon no naishi played the flute for her. The two greatest works of literature in japans heian period 7941185 were both penned by women. And yes, she would have been deeply scornful of it. 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.
The pillow book study guide from litcharts the creators. Sei shonagona young courtesan of the heian periodkept a diary, which provides a highly personal account of the. Sep 17, 2017 here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society. 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. It provides a perspective on imperial culture in all its luxury, privilege, and poetry and is considered a masterpiece of japanese literature. The pillow book of sei shonagon a journal of sorts really is a collection of thoughts, impressions, lists and daily events of her life as a courtesan in the imperial palace. Mst japanese people can recite the famous opening lines of the pillow book by sei shonagon. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. This thousandyearold classic is taught in japanese schools. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. Originally, sei shonagon would have been considered an existence that was not recorded within the throne of heroes as a servant.
Jun 11, 2018 the pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c. In her journal, sei shonagon describes events that happened in her daily life, e. 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, makura no soshi is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. 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 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 concise biography of sei shonagon plus historical and literary context for the pillow book. Her surname is not her actual name but refers to her role, or more likely the role of her. 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.
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. 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. This 54page guide for the pillow book by sei shonagon includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 297 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. She who completed the pillow book left behind her life within the imperial court, leaving without a blemish to her name. 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 pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. The pillow book by sei shonagon, 9780140448061, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Oct 02, 2018 this was one of sei shonagons talents. 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 of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. The other ladies in attendance sat together, talking and laughing. The pillow book of sei shonagon translations from the oriental classics ivan morris isbn.