Sei shonagon, quote from the pillow book sarusawa pond is a very special place, because the emperor paid it a formal visit when he heard how one of the palace maidens had drowned herself there. Sei reveals relatively little about her life and relationships within the pillow book itself. The pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. Mst japanese people can recite the famous opening lines of the pillow book by sei shonagon. The literal title of the annotation written by kigin kitamura is the pillow book. 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 read more. Mar 30, 2019 sei shonagon 966circa 1025 was a japanese author and poet. 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 11th century in heian japan. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics by sei shonagon, ivan morris, ivan morris isbn. This pillow book is a blend of short narratives, personal musings, and many lists of observations and experiences which sei finds beautiful or interesting. Sei shonagon is the author of the diary entries that comprise the pillow book. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyin waiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s.
The pillow book of sei shonagon translations from the oriental. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. Rare things a soninlaw whos praised by his wifes father. 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. 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. 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. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to one. This beautiful folio society edition was first published by them in 1979 and my copy is the 4th printing from 2015, it is bound in black artificial moire silk blocked in gold with the title in japanese characters. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. 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. A precursor of the genre zuihitsu random jottings the more literal meaning to proceed, or follow, with a brush, this literary form made its appearance under the title makura.
Whether the title was generic and whether sei shonagon herself used it is not known, but other diaries of the heian period 7941185 indicate that such journals may have. The pillow book of sei shonagon translations from the oriental classics ivan morris isbn. Jun 11, 2018 the pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. Feb 27, 2018 sei s 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. 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 of sei shonagon ramblings on my bookshelves. The pillow book summary from litcharts the creators of. 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. Shonagon, sei, mckinney, meredith, mckinney, meredith. Sei shonagon is in fact still very much alive and asserting herself, at the very centre of her work. The pillow book is a japanese classic written over years ago. It is, more or less, the diary of the noblewoman sei shonagon, detailing her daily life in heiankyo. The pillow book by sei shonagon, 9780140448061, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. 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. The pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. The pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature. The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th. Sei shonagon 966circa 1025 was a japanese author and poet.
She completed the pillow book in 1002, with the work consisting of observations of her time in court. 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. 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. 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. In it she included lists of all kinds, personal thoughts, interesting events in court, poetry, and some opinions on her. The pillow book of sei shonagon book wellington county. She is a gentlewoman in the service of empress teishi. 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. In the tenth century, japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world.
The pillow book of sei shonagon, an informal diary of the reminiscences of a ladyinwaiting at the court of a heian empress. The pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c. Sei shonagon was a contemporary and erstwhile rival of lady murasaki, whose novel, the tale of genji, fictionalized the court life. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Pillow book history, translation, and facts britannica. Jun 28, 2011 and yet, when it came to translating the pillow book, the ironies of its classic status suddenly became acute. Sei shonagon 96610171025 was a japanese author and a court lady who served the empress consort teishi around the year. Sei shonagon, quote from the pillow book a palmleaf carriage should move slowly, or else it loses its dignity. Here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society. 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 of sei shonagon the diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan book. Illustrated by jasper deane and translated by ivan morris. The pillow book classical literature which will not bore you.
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. Her voice comes from a years ago from japan to the present. It took me a while to figure out how awesome this is. Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c. She would have been in her late twenties when she became a courtier, and she remained in teishis court until the empresss death around the year c. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. A pair of silver tweezers that can actually pull out hairs properly. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. 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. The pillow book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Lady shonagon was an erstwhile rival of lady murasaki, whose novel, the tale of genji, fictionalized the elite world lady shonagon. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186.
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 character of sei shonagon in the pillow book from. 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. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. 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 professional moron. The pillow book by sei shonagon the 396th greatest. She is the author of the pillow book, makura no soshi. 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. To include a comma in your tag, surround the tag with double quotes. It is also the best source of information on japanese court life in the heian period 7941185. 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.
Ultratomio public domain, via wikimedia commons according to meredith mckinney, one of her later translators, sei shonagons writing in the pillow book was originally meant for her eyes only, but part of it was revealed to the court by accident when she inadvertently left it her writing on a cushion she put out for a visiting. 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 pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. 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. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. Haruwa akebono is a famous phrase from the pillow book that has been translated as how elegant is the dawn. 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. She is known as the author of the pillow book makura no soshi. Without the vividness of her personality, the words turn to dust. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. This thousandyearold classic is taught in japanese schools.