The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris 9780231073370. In the tenth century, japan was both physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed the liveliest and most endearing of heian writers, and the one who gives the most intimate and vivid picture of life at court. Her pillow book is a mixture of diary, gossip, poetic musing and observations about daily life. She authored the pillow book, a collection of lists, gossip, poetry, observations, complaints and anything else.
It is actually a personal diary of a woman who explains all the things she likes and displeases her in the daily life of a court lady. It was published by columbia university press and has a total of 419 pages in the book. Shonagon 9661017 was a ladyinwaiting serving the japanese empress sadako in the peaceful heian era. 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. Describing the womens apartments, she says, of course we must always be on the alert.
The diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan book book details. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. 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. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. A contemporary of murasaki shikibu, the author of the tale of genji, sei shonagon s commentary brings an added dimension to that timeless and seminal work. Sei shonagon mostly tells us stories of her daily life, gossips about her peers, comments on fashion and the seasons. 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 diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan ebook published may 27th 2014 by tuttle publishing ebook, 144 pages.
Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. A perfect companion to that work, the pillow book of sei shonagon brings an added dimension to murasakis timeless and seminal novel and further illuminates japanese court life in all its ritualistic glory. The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. 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. Unlike the latters fictionalized view of the heianera court, shonagons journal provides a lively miscellany of anecdotes, observations, and gossip, intended. The pillow book is filled with sei shonagon s appreciative observations of the world around her. Lee the pillow book por sei shonagon disponible en rakuten kobo. Meredith mckinney, sei shonagon download the pillow book sei shonagonmeredith mckinney ebook. Sei shonagons pillow book is one of the greatest japanese literary works. The pillow book is inspired by the writings of sei shonagon, a poet and ladyinwaiting to the empress of the 10thcentury japanese court. These are just a few of the items on a list of refined and elegant things in the pillow book of sei shonagon. That desire to be sensible to things that move or fascinate is a key part of sei s experience in the heian court.
The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. 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, edited by ivan morris. Sei shonagon project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. Written in the kamakura period in theth century, and therefore three centuries after the pillow book the essays in idleness even have a reference to sei shonagon s literacy work ei, 3. Gender issues in the pillow book and the essays in. She is best known as the author of the pillow book, makura no soshi. The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris overdrive. Pillow book history, translation, and facts britannica.
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. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, sei shonagon s private writings give the reader a charming and intimate glimpse into a time of. Gender issues in the pillow book and the essays in idleness. 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 by sei shonagon penguin books australia we use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience on our website. Specifically, sei was a gentlewoman in the service of the empress teishi, from roughly the year 993 until c.
The pillow book ebook por sei shonagon 9780141906942. 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 teishi during the 990s and early s in heian japan. They may be a thousand years old and from a land half a world away at least from where im sitting, but i should not have been in the least surprised to be told that they were.
The title of this book is the pillow book of sei shonagon and it was written by ivan morris translator. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to. A new translation of the idiosyncratic diary of a c10 court lady in heian japan. Unlike the latters fictionalized view of the heianera court, shonagons journal provides a lively miscellany. Then there are things that make your heart beat fast, things that make you nostalgic, and, on the other hand, infuriating things or things. 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 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. Shaved ice with a sweet syrup, served in a shiny new metal bowl. 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 been kept by both men and women in their sleeping quartershence. The pillow book pb by sei shonagon and the essays in idleness ei by yoshida kenko are both considered classic japanese literature. The pillow book of sei shonagon and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. A pair of silver tweezers that can actually pull out hairs properly.
Rare things a soninlaw whos praised by his wifes father. Sei shonagon was a contemporary and erstwhile rival of lady murasaki, whose novel, the tale of genji, fictionalized the court life. Sei shonagon s pillow book is one of the greatest japanese literary works. Extracts from the pillow book of sei shonagon, which contains the daily musing of a lady of the imperial court in tenth century japan the remarkable thing about these beautiful passages is that they seem so fresh. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, arthur waley perfectly conveys sei shonagon s girlish temperament and quirky. The pillow book themes from litcharts the creators of. The book was completed in the year in it she included lists of all kinds, personal thoughts, interesting events in court, poetry, and some. The work of the reallife sei shonagon consists of essays, lists, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages about her daily life.
The pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. Sei herself was born in an outlying province where her father served as a governor. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Sei shonagon was a contemporary of murasaki shikibu, who wrote the wellknown novel the tale of genji. The pillow book recaptures this lost world with the diary of a young court lady. This very enlightening book came from sei shonagon who was a court lady in tenthcentury japan. 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 is a diary composed by sei shonagon, a young woman who served in the imperial court at kyoto during japans heian period. Unlike the wistful and sometimes tragic mood of the tale of genji, however, the author of the pillow book expressed the feeling of. Whether it be plants, trees, birds or insects, i can never be insensible to anything that on some occasion or other i have heard about and remembered because it moved or fascinated me. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c. The pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi.
714 413 142 162 1100 49 402 1194 1199 637 752 966 1320 71 234 1146 1197 947 1295 1096 499 511 929 802 1498 416 75 614 122 660 190 440 981 1161 221