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. 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. In her journal, sei shonagon describes events that happened in her daily life, e. Chapters 19 summary chapter 1 begins with lyrical descriptions of the sky in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Sei shonagon is a ladyinwaiting for the empress of japan in the late10th century a. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed. Though her world would have been familiar to her audience, which experienced her reflections only after they were unintentionally released. 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. 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. The title of this book is the pillow book of sei shonagon and it was written by ivan morris translator. Sei shonagon 96610171025 was a japanese author and a court lady who served the empress consort teishi around the year. Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book ebook written by sei shonagon. Much of the pillow book is similarly personal, and the vibrant personality of the woman who wrote it makes the pillow book a delightful, fascinating, and important book to read.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The pillow book quotes from the creators of sparknotes. Sei shonagon often wrote about peeping from behind a curtain or screen. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris 9780231073370. Sei shonagon uses a similar tactic in her pillow book. The pillow book quotes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. It rejects convention and asks the viewer to forget traditions and entrenched assumptions. Sei begins filling the book with those things she finds delightful or impressive, never intending it.
The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little connection to one. Its a book where things such as calligraphy are important, as well as the sleeves of a gown and how they hang. She is known as the author of the pillow book makura no soshi. Sei shonagon opens her diary with the first of many listslists of things that bring her delight. Jan 19, 2010 unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. The heian period is the last division of japanese history 97941185.
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 shonagon isnt it odd to think a dog would have such fine feelings. 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. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more.
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 theme of beauty runs throughout the pillow book. 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. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Shonagon 9661017 was a ladyinwaiting serving the japanese empress sadako in the peaceful heian era. The pillow book, by sei shonagon the war on loneliness. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. 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 is also the name of a series of radio thrillers written by robert forrest and broadcast on bbc radio 4 s womans hour drama. The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Jun 28, 2011 his pillow book is certainly excruciating reading for anyone who isnt a contemporary japanese girl, and reduces seis subtleties of perception and expression to tedious cliche, but it does capture the delight, and the vividness of voice and personality, that are the essential experience of reading the pillow book.
The tld name was inspired by lady sei shonagon s classic diary the pillow book containingcontinue reading. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. The pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. Without the vividness of her personality, the words turn to dust. Jan 18, 2010 ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. Hateful things by sei shonagon hateful things is an excerpt from sei shonagon s pillow book. 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. The pillow book is a book after my own heart, although it was written centuries before i was born. Shaved ice mixed with liana syrup and put in a new silver bowl. Sei shonagons the pillow book is one of the strangest and most delightful works of literature in the entire human history. Shaved ice with a sweet syrup, served in a shiny new metal bowl. 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. The two greatest works of literature in japans heian period 7941185 were both penned by women. The question and answer section for the pillow book film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
These works offer us great insight into both the literary culture of the. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. Aug 07, 2014 sei shonagons the pillow book translated by meredith mckinney is one of the earliest, and bestknown, works of classic japanese literature. A very warm welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the pillow book, shis blog of random ramblings and recollections, chronicling her daily life as a desert diva. Introduction sei shonagon s pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. In her book, shonagon illustrates the trivial, daily minutiae of the world, highly alien to us, and that of the wholly isolated heian court. The pillow book is a classic of japanese literature, completed in c. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. 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. Throughout the book, she will return to the idea of delight, or okashi, a traditional japanese emotional and aesthetic sensibility based on observations of ones surroundings. The pillow book, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon. When the first volume of the tale of genji appeared in english, the prevailing.
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. Shonagon fixates on the blazing sun and its low position very close to the mountain rim, or the unutterably delightful sight of snow in the winter morning 3. Murasaki shikibus the tale of genji and sei shonagon s the pillow book. 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. 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. Nov 12, 2014 the pillow book completed in 1002 is a book of observations, anecdotes and stories of sei shonagon as a court lady to empress teishi during the heian period. 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. This period was named after the capital city of heiankyo or modern day kyoto. Sei shonagon collected her writings a bundle of papers kept inside her pillow in the late 900s a.
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. Nagikos father was a calligrapher, and when she was a little girl he would write his birthday greetings on her face. Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. This pillow book is a blend of short narratives, personal musings, and many lists of observations and experiences which sei finds beautiful or interesting. Gender issues in the pillow book and the essays in. The domain was purchased on 27 march 2020 and online since 12 april 2020. 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.
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. And yet, when it came to translating the pillow book, the ironies of its classic status suddenly became acute. There are stories, lists, and characters that all revolve around this theme. 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 ends with a possible explanation of the diarys origin. These are just a few of the items on a list of refined and elegant things in the pillow book of sei shonagon. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. The pillow book by sei shonagon the 396th greatest. The pillow book ramblings and recollections of a desert diva. 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 is an experiment in the potential of film. Her writings are her observations to life around her.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. Translation by arthur waley of classic japanese essays by a ladyinwaiting to the empress. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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. Moonlight shining into such houses is also a great shame. Pillow book sample essay essay homework writing help. The pillow book reveals some facets of the personality of shonagon, who apparently was a highly intelligent, acutely observant, and wellinformed woman whose position as sadakos ladyinwaiting afforded unparalleled access to the activities, opinions, attitudes, and concerns of the heian aristocracy. Find the quotes you need in sei shonagons the pillow book, sortable by theme, character, or section. These are detective stories with sei shonagon as a principal character and feature many of her lists. Because children invest their birthdays with enormous importance, its no wonder that when nagiko grows up she. The pillow book summary from litcharts the creators of. 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.
A week of prompts from the pillow book transactions. Then there are things that make your heart beat fast, things that make you nostalgic, and, on the other hand, infuriating things or things. 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. 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 shonagon writing styles in the pillow book of sei sh. She spent most of her time in a dimly lit room, protected from the eyes of males by silken hangings.
The film is a melding of dark modern drama with idealised chinese and japanese cultural themes and settings, and centres on body painting. Sei shonagon, a gentlewoman serving in the imperial court of empress teishi in japan in the 990s c. The translation with all the helpful hints by ivan morris is excellent i was never at a loss to what was happening. 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. The pillow book, by sei shonagon i finally got around to reading this diary about courtly life in heian era right about the year japan. 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 pb by sei shonagon and the essays in idleness ei by yoshida kenko are both considered classic japanese literature. Less a novel than a series of musings and anecdotes, shonagons work is a description of life at the imperial court around the turn of the millennium, giving the reader an insight into how the rich.
The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. At this point in her life, she has a great deal of experience in the court and is very familiar with the other courtiers. The pillow book by sei shonagon and the tale of genji by murasaki shikibu. For march i will complete the set of what is for me that trinity of great heian women writers who lived in the same world, in a sense dominated by the mystique of the tanka, but were so different from one another by adding to the legendary poet ono no komachi, and the incomparable novelist murasaki shikibu, the essayist or diarist sei shonagon, author of the pillow book. The the pillow book film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and.
With ivans help sei brings back to life years ago in japan. 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 pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. She was about thirty years old at the time of writing this journal. The book is full of humorous observations okashi written in the style of a diary, an approach known as zuihitsu style.
It is, more or less, the diary of the noblewoman sei shonagon, detailing her daily life in heiankyo. The pillow book by sei shonagon is one of the strangest as well as one of the most enchanting pieces of literature. She has opinions about everything from the length of sleeves to which flowers and insects are most beautiful and therefore most acceptable. The pillowbook of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, 1929. The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. 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. Find the quotes you need in sei shonagon s the pillow book, sortable by theme, character, or section. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. 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. 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 also the best source of information on japanese court life in the heian period 7941185. Ive been meaning to give it a go ever since my friend becca blogged about it wow, that was three years ago.
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. She refers to herself as an old woman at thirty years of age. You must take great care of this snow mountain, and make sure no children climb on it and destroy it. 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. Gender issues in the pillow book and the essays in idleness. The pillow book completed in 1002 is a book of observations, anecdotes and stories of sei shonagon as a court lady to empress teishi during the heian period. Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. During the hot months it is a great delight to sit on the veranda, enjoying the cool of the evening.
871 919 629 533 993 290 1270 197 666 199 78 1203 1210 849 1376 805 1308 308 797 62 64 67 820 828 697 477 1468 801 737 353 372 605 378 916