Thats the overall impression i got from this book it reads very much like a modern livejournal or blog, being a collection of random observations on whatever shonagon found interesting, lists of things she likes or dislikes, and snippets or scraps of poetry. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. Its opening section, which begins haru wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage in japanese literature. Lists of things from the pillow book 17 nov 1967 the. 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. In 1928 arthur waley published a slender volume that mixes in his own commentary with a translation of about a quarter of the original text. The pillow book, by sei shonagon various publishers. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are. She wrote her pillow book, or collection of personal reflections, dur ing her years of service as ladyinwaiting to the empress sadako.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. 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. This is the blog of leila raven, aka katt, welcome to the inside of my head. 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. Unlike the wistful and sometimes tragic mood of the tale of genji, however, the author of the pillow book expressed the feeling of. These are detective stories with sei shonagon as a principal character and feature many of her lists. Sei shonagon was a ladyinwaiting to empress sadako during the last decade of the 10th century in japan. Shrugging off praise, shonagon admits, i am the sort of person who approves of what others abhor and detests the things they like.
The pillow book of sei shonagon, reminding her that when she turns twentyeight, in 2000, the pillow book will be one thousand years old. Its lyrical style and compelling images have captured the imagination of readers worldwide. The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Pillow book of sei shonagon paper topics the pillow book. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue.
Its still mostly deadon accurate, over a thousand years later, and it always cheers me up when. Many of the translations are made readily available for the first time in this study. Her name her birthdeath date her relationships husbandchildren her life after the court what we know about sei shonagon. The story behind the pillow book is that when shonagon possible real name. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. These poems sadly are not translated in the film and this is your only chance to discover them. If sei shonagon were alive today, she would be a livejournalist. Shonagon sei shonagon was born in japan approximately one thousand years ago. They squeal and exclaim how unpleasant and absurd the behavior is as a form of their gathering and social activity gossip 39. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon online at alibris. Of course, few books in world literature are on a par with sei shonagons inadvertent masterpiece.
The pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. Arthur waley orientalist and sinologist a hundred and seventy chinese poems 1918 the tale of genji 19211933 the pillow book 1928 monkey. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like. Nagikos father was a calligrapher, and when she was a little girl he would write his birthday greetings on her face. This position afforded shonagon an ideal opportunity to observe the people and customs at the royal court in heian. 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. The work, which is regarded as being of the greatest importance in japanese literature, is almost unknown in the west. Shrugging off praise, shonagon admits, i am the sort of person who approves of. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon alibris. A fat person with a great amount of hair looks hot someone whos. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei shonagon, ivan morris, robin duke isbn. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke.
Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even. 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. Jan 19, 2010 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 ebook written by sei shonagon. Thats the overall impression i got from this bookit reads very much like a modern livejournal or blog, being a collection of random observations on whatever shonagon found interesting, lists of things she likes or. 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.
Review the pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley. 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. Written during the heian period by sei shonagon, ladyinwaiting of empress teishi, it is an impressionistic compendium of hundreds of things classified by categories rare. Mar 11, 2012 the pillow book is a collection of anecdotes and personal reflections on life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the 11th century by a woman known as sei shonagon.
Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. Because children invest their birthdays with enormous importance, its no wonder that when nagiko grows up she. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. The pillow book is her journal, and the topics she covers are varied. The pillow book sei shonagon poems, translated into engliish. 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. Its a sort of mishmash memoir gossip, reflections, lists, and personal recollections are all mingled together, with a light, poetic delicacy that still is striking today. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics by sei shonagon, ivan morris, ivan morris isbn. Reviews the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated. In the tenth century, japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Oct 30, 2007 the pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. Introduction sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s.
Her mother would read aloud from a 1,000yearold manuscript, italics the pillow book of sei shonagon, unital which dealt among other things with the arts of love. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. 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. In the preliminary notes to his delightful pillow book of sei. These poems sadly are not translated in the film and this is. Ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. As with the tale of genji, there are currently three important english versions of the pillow book. She was a contemporary and acquaintance of the wellknown courtesan murasaki shikibu, author of the japanese masterpiece the tale of genji. Apr 11, 2014 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. Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. Jan 18, 2010 ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. The women are astounded at the lecherous behavior of men imposing themselves on women. 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, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon. Jul 12, 2011 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. Chapter literature selection the pillow book 12 by sei shonagon. 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. Sei shonagon uses a similar tactic in her pillow book. Sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. The pillow book is also the name of a series of radio thrillers written by robert forrest and broadcast on bbc radio 4 s womans hour drama. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. 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 one of the masterpieces of japanese literature. 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.
The author is sei shonagon, and she was given some notebooks that were lying around the palace that no one else wanted. 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, or you cannot make out the print still. The pillow book of sei shonagon, translated and edited by ivan morris. 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.
Shonagon cannot bear men who believe that women serving in the palace are bound to be frivolous. 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. It is still a shrewd guide to sex, snobbery and political. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. 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. 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. 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. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Women essential questions the author what we dont know about sei shonagon. Her observations are contained in a loosely organized collection of 185 sketches, lists, and anecdotes known as the pillow. 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. Worlding sei shonagon guides the reader through the remarkable translation history of the pillow book in the west, gathering almost fifty translations of the spring, dawn passage, which span onehundredandthirtyfive years and sixteen languages. Hateful things by sei shonagon hateful things is an excerpt from sei shonagon s pillow book. Feb 22, 2014 the pillow book, by sei shonagon various publishers.
Aug 17, 2009 of course, few books in world literature are on a par with sei shonagons inadvertent masterpiece. 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. 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. Chapter literature selection the pillow book 12 by sei. The pillow book of sei shonagon paper topics women behavior 28. 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. In her journal, sei shonagon describes events that happened in her daily life, e. Hateful things by sei shonagon hateful things is an excerpt from sei shonagons pillow book. She was a tremendously witty lady of the court in 10th century japan who kept a private diary of various lists and commentaries, and this is one of them. 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 pillow book of sei shonagon the penguin classics by shonagon, sei and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Excerpts from the pillow book by sei shonagon in spring it is the dawn in spring it the dawn that is most beautiful. 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.
1334 246 42 599 200 781 365 1121 1664 257 96 726 655 293 1567 1376 529 802 927 751 1343 812 1393 1010 1054 1274 585 213 322 247 1223 1426 1175 1499 1194 1587 1335 765 968 773 62 841 1125 219 733 1384