Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. Shrugging off praise, shonagon admits, i am the sort of person who approves of. Feb 22, 2014 written by japans original blogger, a mistress of wry observation and scalding wit, sei shonagons the pillow book retains its fresh, authentic appeal more than 1,000 years after its. 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. Poetry was a big deal then you would be justified in severing all contact with a lover if he sent you poor poetry. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. The pillow book is considered to be the first essay literature done in world literary history as the tale of genji by murasaki shikibu, which was written around the same time, is considered to be the first novel form writing ever done.
Yuko otomo february 2014 makura no soshi the pillow book a note on the pillow book. Sei shounagon and the pillow book the kyoto project. It rejects convention and asks the viewer to forget traditions and entrenched assumptions. As a member of the imperial court, she was known for her wit and poetry. The pillow book is an extreme example of a work that has lived past its. 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, 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 pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th. The pillowbook of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, 1929. The pillow book of sei shonagon the pillow book of sei shonagon classics minimum design loads for buildings and other structures, 3rd printing standard ascesei 710 comparing iso 9000, malcolm baldrige, and the sei cmm for software. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. 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 work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little. 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. Jan 19, 2010 unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. Chapter literature selection the pillow book 12 by sei shonagon. 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. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to one. 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 of sei shonagon, an informal diary of the reminiscences of a ladyinwaiting at the court of a heian empress. 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 pleasures of the flesh and the pleasures of literature. The pillow book is a collection of anecdotes and personal refl. Memoirs of a lady on the make 1,000 years ago in japan, a court ladyinwaiting, sei shonagon, kept a journal, her pillow book, of her life, loves and intense dislikes.
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. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. 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 reality was kept firmly at. The pillow book of sei shonagon the pillow book of sei shonagon classics minimum design loads for buildings and other structures, 3rd printing standard asce sei 710 comparing iso. A pillow book is a sort of diary filled with the days observations. 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. Excerpts from the pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. The pillow book, by sei shonagon various publishers. Ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. Its lyrical style and compelling images have captured the imagination of readers worldwide.
A folktale of china journey to the west 1942 commander of the order of the british empire 1952 queens gold medal for poetry 53 companion of honour 56. In her journal, sei shonagon describes events that happened in her daily life, e. In fact, although i didnt choose to do this, you could take a hint from the books title and read a little bit of it as you hit the pillow every night. It took place in the japanese classics course in my high school freshman class. Unlike the wistful and sometimes tragic mood of the tale of genji, however, the author of the pillow book expressed the feeling of. The pillow book summary from litcharts the creators of. When the first volume of the tale of genji appeared in english, the prevailing. Review the pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley. Nov 30, 2006 buy the pillow book penguin classics translation by sei shonagon, meredith mckinney isbn. This one was written by sei shonagon c9661017, a ladyinwaiting to the empress sadako during the last decade of the tenth century. Reviews of the the pillow book until now about the e book we have now the pillow book comments consumers havent still eventually left their particular overview of the action. It is not the complete pillow book of sei shonagon, but rather contains only a portion of the whole work. Sei shonagon 96610171025 was a japanese author and a court lady who served the empress consort teishi around the year.
Also, since it contains detailed descriptions of the life of heian nobility, the pillow book is. 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 pillow book of sei s honagon presentation by kenneth plank 2. 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 pillow book is a compendium of sei s thoughts on various subjects, in the form of. Many readers would be satisfied with a summary of the book and a sampling of representative passages, but i would encourage others to read it in its entirety.
The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. Sei shonagons pillow book, written by a court gentlewoman in 10th century japan, is thoroughly enjoyable. 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. Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them. Literature selection from the pillow book by sei shonagon sei shonagon was a ladyinwaiting to empress sadako during the last decade of the 10th century in japan.
Its opening section, which beginsharu wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage in japanese. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. The pillow book consists of about 200 short chapters. Sei shonagons penchant for lists happily reminds me of ibn hazm of cordoba, an andalusian writer from the 11th century whose the ring of the dove is a classificationhappy treatise on love and lovers with chapter titles like on those who, having fallen in love with a certain quality. If sei shonagon were alive today, she would be a livejournalist. Feb 27, 2018 the pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th century, but its basically a modern day blog. I am fascinated by the fact that two japanese female writers invented these new forms of writing in similar. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The quotes from the book can be seen in almost all of the literature textbooks in japanese high schools. Chapter literature selection the pillow book 12 by sei.
I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. 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. Satire in the pillow book there is no audience in sei shonagons pillow book, so even though her implications may be less apparent, the satire is still just as immanent.
The narrators personality is hard to pin down or predict. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. The pillow book is an experiment in the potential of film. Shonagon has an unbelievable talent to make readers aware of their own aggrandized responses while.
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. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The complex aural and visual style of the pillow book involves rectangular insets that flash back to sei shonagon a kind of windows 995 and illustrate the imperious little lists that made her sound like the diana vreeland of 10thcentury tastes. The pillow book, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon. Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Arthur waley orientalist and sinologist a hundred and seventy chinese poems 1918 the tale of genji 19211933 the pillow book 1928 monkey. 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 no soshi, or notes of the pillow, one thousand. Jul 30, 2008 sei shonagon s pillow book, written by a court gentlewoman in 10th century japan, is thoroughly enjoyable. It has achieved a high reputation for its lively description and expressive words. The pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. Introduction sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. The author is sei shonagon, and she was given some notebooks that were lying around the palace that no one else wanted.
This position afforded shonagon an ideal opportunity to observe the people and customs at the royal court in heian. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Inspired by the ancient japanese journal of sei shonagon, lady in waiting to empress teishi sadako, pillow book gallery is the chronicle of life and love. Like sometimes a person who is utterly devoid of charm will try to create a good impression by using very elegant language. Its the kind of book best read in small bits and pieces, kind of like a diary, although it isnt one, exactly. 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. 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. Jan 18, 2010 ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. The pillow book is her journal, and the topics she covers are varied. A contemporary of murasaki shikibu, who wrote the tale of genji, she reflects the same concern with style and taste. Sei shonagons the pillow book is one of the strangest and most delightful works of literature in the entire human history. The pillow book presents both a slice of life and a way of life. When the first volume of the tale of genji appeared in english, the prevailing comment of critics was that the book revealed a subtle and highly developed civilization, the very existence of which had hitherto remained unsuspected.
Images overview summary it begins with a poetic admiration of the four seasons, then a list of pet peeves called hateful things such as tiresome visitors, annoying inkstick mistakes sleepy priests performing exorcists, and random conversations. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud. This book was not intended as a key to happiness but it is. Sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. I wish this had been more clearly indicated in the product description. She is known as the author of the pillow book makura no soshi.
Excerpts from the pillow book by sei shonagon in spring it is the dawn in spring it the dawn that is most beautiful. 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. Sei shonagona young courtesan of the heian periodkept a diary, which provides a highly personal account of the intrigues, dalliances, quirks, and habits of japans late tenthcentury elite. In this 5 part program, karen lindsey reads professor ivan morris translation of the pillow book, 1967 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. This pillow book is a blend of short narratives, personal musings, and many lists of observations and experiences which sei finds beautiful or interesting. The pillow book is a compendium of seis thoughts on various subjects, in the form of. She was a gentlewoman in the imperial court known for her wit and clever poetry. Sei shonagon, a ladyinwaiting to empress teishi or sadako, left a journal of anecdotes, impressions, and commentary called the pillowbook covering the. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei shonagon, ivan morris, robin duke isbn. This study guide consists of approximately 32 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the pillow book of sei sh. Reviews of the the pillow book until now about the ebook we have now the pillow book comments consumers havent still eventually left their particular overview of the action, or you cannot make out the print still. Provides an observant sense of time and place with humor and specificity.
1614 888 232 822 262 978 176 221 437 1306 1447 61 1112 647 374 1355 53 163 356 196 748 1486 1177 1366 920 1116 1329 517 153 1228 236 333 1320