Many of the translations are made readily available for the first time in this study. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. All about the pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon. 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. A fat person with a great amount of hair looks hot someone whos. The insightful and oft poetic musings of late 10th and early 11th century court lady, sei shonagon, attendant to empress consort teishi in heian japan. School library journal top 100 childrens novels, 2010 poll. The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris ivan translated and. The pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon librarything. The pillow book of sei shonagon folio society 1980 hc books.
Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Sei shonagon is currently considered a single author. Sei shonagon collected her writings a bundle of papers kept inside her pillow in the late 900s a. 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. The author is sei shonagon, and she was given some notebooks that were lying around the palace that no one else wanted. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris translated and edited by, robin duke intro. In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. Sei shonagon, author of the pillow book of sei shonagon, on librarything librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers home groups talk zeitgeist.
The pillow book of sei shonagon book by sei shonagon 2. Shonagon was a ladyinwaiting to empress teishi as well as a contemporary and rival of murasaki shikibu, the author of the tale of genji and a ladyinwaiting who served empress shoshi. Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book ebook written by sei shonagon. The pillow book presents both a slice of life and a way of life. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an unpredictable curator. 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 language is beautiful and haunting sei shonagon s writings were both wholly alien and disturbingly familiar to a western man in the 21st century. Mar 10, 2011 the pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei shonagon, ivan morris, robin duke isbn. 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 common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. The pillow book of sei shonagon classics by sei shonagon and a great selection of related.
The pillow book is a collection of anecdotes, lists, and assorted writings that is one of the best sources of information concerning the court society of the tenth century and is considered an influential landmark in the history of japanese literature penny and matthew. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke. It was guessed that so curious a state of society, with its rampant. 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 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. You cannot add the pillow book of sei shonagon folio society 1984 to the basket because the product is out of stock. The pillow book 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 11th century in heian japan. 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 is her journal, and the topics she covers are varied. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. The pillow book of sei shonagon is an immensely detailed account of court life in eleventhcentury japan. 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. The pillowbook of sei shonagon by sei shonagon, 1929. Here is the pillow book of sei shonagon from the folio society.
It is still a shrewd guide to sex, snobbery and political. 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. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Long time no see, but i came back to show you the beautiful books i picked up during the summer sale at the folio society. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. Women essential questions the author what we dont know about sei shonagon. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Make sure to subscribe to my channel if you want to see more. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, arthur waley perfectly conveys sei shonagon s girlish temperament and quirky. The selections in this anthology are meant to showcase the variety of shonagon s musings and anecdotes 457 the pillow book.
Jan 18, 2010 ive been hearing a lot about the pillow book lately, emily, but these choice excerpts really seal the deal. Pillow book by sei shonagon, first edition abebooks. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume. The pillow book of sei shonagon is an important eleventhcentury work that provides a glimpse into heian society, especially that of the court and higher classes. 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. 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.
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. But her essence leaps from the pages of the pillow book so vividly that the reader becomes lost in that distant and alien world, in such a way that rarely happens with works written so long ago. 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 of sei shonagon a journal of sorts really is a collection of thoughts, impressions, lists and daily events of her life as a courtesan in the imperial palace. Her name her birthdeath date her relationships husbandchildren her life after the court what we know about sei shonagon. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. 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. Welcome to hc books online at hc books online we specialise in selling beautifully presented collections of premiumquality preowned volumes. 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 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. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei.
She was a contemporary and acquaintance of the wellknown courtesan murasaki shikibu, author of the japanese masterpiece the tale of genji. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. 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 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 of sei shonagon by arthur waley overdrive. 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. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon alibris. These are detective stories with sei shonagon as a principal character and feature many of her lists. Giphy finding a large number of tales that one has not read before.