The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. The pillowbook of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, 1929. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to one. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. 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 of sei shonagon, translated and edited by ivan morris. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a. Women essential questions the author what we dont know about sei shonagon.
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 classical literature which will not bore you. 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. In the tenth century, japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world.
Sei shonagon was a lady of the japanese imperial court. The film is a melding of dark modern drama with idealised chinese and japanese cultural themes and settings, and centres on body painting. A fat person with a great amount of hair looks hot someone whos. 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. 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. The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris ivan translated. Also, since it contains detailed descriptions of the life of heian nobility, the pillow book is. 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. If sei shonagon were alive today, she would be a livejournalist. The pillow book, by sei shonagon various publishers. The quotes from the book can be seen in almost all of the literature textbooks in japanese high schools. The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris, ivan translated and edited by and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan dennis washburn. The women are astounded at the lecherous behavior of men imposing themselves on women.
Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei shonagon, ivan morris, robin duke isbn. Shonagon sei shonagon was born in japan approximately one thousand years ago. Sei shonagon real given name unknown daughter of kyohara no motosuke midrank, poor noble married at 16, first child at 27 served empress teishi, consort of emperor ichijo rivalry with lady murasaki, author of genji who served empress shoshi contemporary image of sei as fun and playful as opposed to demure murasaki hyakunin isshu one hundred people. Murasaki shikibus the tale of genji and sei shonagons the pillow book. The pillow book of sei shonagon paper topics women behavior 28. 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.
Shonagons writing in the pillow book was originally meant for her eyes only, but part of it was revealed to the court by accident. Reviews the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated. Sei shounagon and the pillow book the kyoto project. 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 summary from litcharts the creators of. Her name her birthdeath date her relationships husbandchildren her life after the court what we know about sei shonagon. 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. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. These poems sadly are not translated in the film and this is your only chance to discover them. This is the blog of leila raven, aka katt, welcome to the inside of my head. In her journal, sei shonagon describes events that happened in her daily life, e. The pillow book, makura no soshi is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon. The striking thing about this book is that it really seems like sei shonagon.
This the pillow book by sei shonagon lesson plan is suitable for 11th 12th grade. The work, which is regarded as being of the greatest importance in japanese literature, is almost unknown in the west. She is the author of the pillow book, makura no soshi. Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a.
The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. The pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. Its the kind of book best read in small bits and pieces, kind of like a diary, although it isnt one, exactly. Get everything you need to know about sei shonagon in the pillow book. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even. This pillow book reflects the confident aesthetic judgments of shonagon and her ability to create prose that. They squeal and exclaim how unpleasant and absurd the behavior is as a form of their gathering and social activity gossip 39. 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. In the edo period this literature genre rose to mainstream popularity and it.
The pillow book by sei shonagon lesson plan for 11th. In the preliminary notes to his delightful pillowbook of sei. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. If you are interested in books that shed light on life in the old world, this book is for you. 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 culture. The pillow book by sei shonagon, 9780140448061, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The pillow book consists of about 200 short chapters. 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. Sei shonagons pillow book, written by a court gentlewoman in 10th century japan, is thoroughly enjoyable. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, sei. These poems were written by sei shonagon, a ladyin waiting at the japanese heian dynastyimperial court at the very end of the 10th century and they were the core of directors peter greeenaway film the pillow book.
The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. It has achieved a high reputation for its lively description and expressive words. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. When the horses in the procession reared wildly, i shrank into the back of my. 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. The pillow book sei shonagon poems, translated into engliish. It is still a shrewd guide to sex, snobbery and political. A brief summary, historical context, and discussion questions are provided on the first two pages. Review the pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley.
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. Shrugging off praise, shonagon admits, i am the sort of person who approves of what others abhor and detests the things they like. Unlike the wistful and sometimes tragic mood of the tale of genji, however, the author of the pillow book expressed. The pillow book is a 1996 erotic drama film written and directed by peter greenaway, which stars vivian wu as nagiko, a japanese model in search of pleasure and new cultural experience from various lovers. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, arthur waley perfectly conveys sei shonagons girlish temperament and quirky. Pillow book of sei shonagon paper topics the pillow book. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. First drafted in the year 996, the pillow book contains reflections of those met by a ladyinwaiting in the japanese court. 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.
Sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. 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. She wrote her pillow book, or collection of personal reflections, dur ing her years of service as ladyinwaiting to the empress sadako. This lesson is intended to use literature of its time to help students understand heian court culture. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon online at alibris. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon alibris. Without a doubt, she is no peoplepleaser and not one to hold back her opinions even if they might grate on modern ears she was no fan of the commoner.
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. 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. Shonagon cannot bear men who believe that women serving in the palace are bound to be. How far has this text travelled since sei shonagon took up her brush, let her mind hover on the elegant and intriguing question of what moment of. Heian court culture the pillow book of sei shonagon zuihitsu miscellany and waka 31 syllable poetry concepts. Sei shonagon is known to have been rivals with the other great writer of the heian court, murasaki shikibu the tale of genji. The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. The pillow book of sei shonagon, an informal diary of the reminiscences of a ladyinwaiting at the court of a heian empress. 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. 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. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c.
In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. Heian literature and japanese court women east asian studies center, the ohio state university. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. The character of sei shonagon in the pillow book from litcharts.