Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Penguin Classics (1977), Paperback
Description
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 eleventh-century Japan at the height of Heian culture.
User reviews
LibraryThing member zakvreeland
This is what I love. She wrote one book, one short, trivial unorganized book. But it's so...I'd like to say perfect, but it's totally imperfect...it's so true that for thousands of years people have read and loved it. She doesn't think men should shift their legs around when they sit. She hates it
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when the commoners get in front of the Buddha. She hates it when her lover closes her door too loudly on his way out. I love her. Show Less
LibraryThing member camillahoel
The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon is a collection of remarks, observations, memories and lists written down by a lady in waiting to the Japanese Empress Sadako in the Heian period in Japan. It is a thousand years old. And it is lovely.
Sei Shonagon is not the real name of the author. Shōnagon means
Her real name may have been Kiyowara Nagiko, but no one really knows. Nor is it known what became of her. The Pillow Book therefore has the strange air of providing an intimate opening into a life that is otherwise inaccessible -- the exact opposite of what history normally provides: the dates and facts are missing, but the everyday observations, the preferences, dislikes and passing thoughts are somehow there to be read.
It is also not clear to what extent the Pillow Book was originally intended to be circulated -- Murasaki Shikibu suggests that it was, but the explanation given in the text (and supported by the writer of the introduction to my edition) is that it started as a private journal which then became public.
It is not structured as a coherent story, and in that lies much of its charm. In fact, there does not appear to be a consensus as to how it should be ordered. The anecdotes of court life are interspersed with lists of "depressing things", "splendid things", "things without merit", "things that fall from the sky" and a number of others. And I do like the lists. They not only provide an (albeit randomly structured) insight into the preferences of a woman who lived a millennium ago on the other side of the world, they are also strangely lyrical. And I confess I am very fond of a random structure.
But the anecdotes are what I love. They are moments in a life. That bit of the past that history books do not provide. In fact, it makes sense to me to see this book as the antithesis of conventional history. It does not provide the coherent sequence of pivotal events and orderly presentation of their connection which one would get from a history book. Instead the book focuses on the moments, with a lot of space dedicated to the colours and cuts of clothes, witty repartee and good and bad behaviour. Because I am a history nut I found the hints of court intrigue and power shifts fascinating, but they are always in the background.
No explanation is provided, for example, for why Sei Shōnagon would support Michinaga, the man who not only made the life of the Empress she served hell, but was also the main rival of a man I would swear was one of her lovers: the Empress' brother, Korechika. They certainly flirt shamelessly
She seems to have had a number of lovers. She never specifies who they are, but some of her finest episodes are on the proper way for a man to leave his lover in the morning (before sunrise, to appreciate the dew). And while the extensive end-notes of my edition offered some opinions as to who had been these lovers, I felt quite free to speculate, and ascribed the position to all the marvellous men who flirted with her over poetry and visited her at night.
You see, the poetry is central to all this. Sei Shōnagon is obsessed with it, and I believe the whole culture was (albeit to a lesser extent). They send each other a middle line from a poem, and the recipient is expected to respond with a first and a last line; when confronted with a tricky situation, the highest praise follows an apt allusion to a famous poem; men send poetry to lovers, the women respond. Mixed with a real fondness for puns in the extreme, there is a genuine love for language, and mixed up with it a love for men who love language and can use it right.
It is observant, intelligent, poetic and haughty. I would catch myself nodding along with her rants on the bad manners of people in general (although I must admit our particular grievances are different: I have never had cause to be annoyed that someone referred to themselves in the first person singular while in the company of the Japanese Emperor and Empress). The illusion that people are the same everywhere and everywhen is powerful, but does sometimes shatter. Her treatment and views of "commoners" are occasionally shocking to modern sensibilities. But I remain fascinated by a book that allows me to observe the things taken as universally understood, as obvious, by someone so far from my own time and place.
The endnotes helped, of course. Ivan Morris' edition is from the 60s, and belongs to the tradition where notes could include very subjective positions. He speaks of the "vile" tradition of tying paper flowers to trees, for example. But I enjoy that. And they are in general very enlightening.
I recommend the book without reservations.
Sei Shonagon is not the real name of the author. Shōnagon means
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"Minor Councillor", which I think must have been her father's position (from what I understand, ladies at court were known by nicknames and the positions of their father rather than their actual name); Sei refers to the family of Kiyowara, apparently. She was the daughter of a poet (Kiyowara no Motosuke) and a contemporary of the more famous Murasaki Shikibu (author of Tales of Genji, whose name, incidentally, is the name of a flower plus her father's position), who did not like her one bit (she thought her arrogant, frivolous and presumptuous). The rivalry may be founded in the fact that they served two different Empresses: when Sadako's father (Michitaka) died, his position at court was taken by his brother (Michinaga), who had the Emperor marry one of his daughters as well in order to secure his position -- court intrigues are fun. Shikibu served the second Empress. Her real name may have been Kiyowara Nagiko, but no one really knows. Nor is it known what became of her. The Pillow Book therefore has the strange air of providing an intimate opening into a life that is otherwise inaccessible -- the exact opposite of what history normally provides: the dates and facts are missing, but the everyday observations, the preferences, dislikes and passing thoughts are somehow there to be read.
It is also not clear to what extent the Pillow Book was originally intended to be circulated -- Murasaki Shikibu suggests that it was, but the explanation given in the text (and supported by the writer of the introduction to my edition) is that it started as a private journal which then became public.
It is not structured as a coherent story, and in that lies much of its charm. In fact, there does not appear to be a consensus as to how it should be ordered. The anecdotes of court life are interspersed with lists of "depressing things", "splendid things", "things without merit", "things that fall from the sky" and a number of others. And I do like the lists. They not only provide an (albeit randomly structured) insight into the preferences of a woman who lived a millennium ago on the other side of the world, they are also strangely lyrical. And I confess I am very fond of a random structure.
But the anecdotes are what I love. They are moments in a life. That bit of the past that history books do not provide. In fact, it makes sense to me to see this book as the antithesis of conventional history. It does not provide the coherent sequence of pivotal events and orderly presentation of their connection which one would get from a history book. Instead the book focuses on the moments, with a lot of space dedicated to the colours and cuts of clothes, witty repartee and good and bad behaviour. Because I am a history nut I found the hints of court intrigue and power shifts fascinating, but they are always in the background.
No explanation is provided, for example, for why Sei Shōnagon would support Michinaga, the man who not only made the life of the Empress she served hell, but was also the main rival of a man I would swear was one of her lovers: the Empress' brother, Korechika. They certainly flirt shamelessly
She seems to have had a number of lovers. She never specifies who they are, but some of her finest episodes are on the proper way for a man to leave his lover in the morning (before sunrise, to appreciate the dew). And while the extensive end-notes of my edition offered some opinions as to who had been these lovers, I felt quite free to speculate, and ascribed the position to all the marvellous men who flirted with her over poetry and visited her at night.
You see, the poetry is central to all this. Sei Shōnagon is obsessed with it, and I believe the whole culture was (albeit to a lesser extent). They send each other a middle line from a poem, and the recipient is expected to respond with a first and a last line; when confronted with a tricky situation, the highest praise follows an apt allusion to a famous poem; men send poetry to lovers, the women respond. Mixed with a real fondness for puns in the extreme, there is a genuine love for language, and mixed up with it a love for men who love language and can use it right.
It is observant, intelligent, poetic and haughty. I would catch myself nodding along with her rants on the bad manners of people in general (although I must admit our particular grievances are different: I have never had cause to be annoyed that someone referred to themselves in the first person singular while in the company of the Japanese Emperor and Empress). The illusion that people are the same everywhere and everywhen is powerful, but does sometimes shatter. Her treatment and views of "commoners" are occasionally shocking to modern sensibilities. But I remain fascinated by a book that allows me to observe the things taken as universally understood, as obvious, by someone so far from my own time and place.
The endnotes helped, of course. Ivan Morris' edition is from the 60s, and belongs to the tradition where notes could include very subjective positions. He speaks of the "vile" tradition of tying paper flowers to trees, for example. But I enjoy that. And they are in general very enlightening.
I recommend the book without reservations.
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LibraryThing member keigu
The idea of listing things (物尽mono-wa-tsukushi in japanese) goes back to china (find egs in The Art of Writing trans. T. Barnstone + C. Ping) but, it took seishonagon to raise it into a literary artform. This book should be in all courses of world classics, for taste is at the heart of
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literature and sassy sei shonagon will not let you forget it. i think of oscar wilde as her reincarnation -- what a pity he did not know of her work, for he could have continued it in english. Show Less
LibraryThing member missizicks
Sei Shōnagon was a terrible snob! I enjoyed the passages describing events at court, conversations, and love affairs. The lists of what is and isn't good were dull. Shōnagon's attitude to those of lower rank grated on me. She seems to embody all that is worst in the rich and vacuous. Perhaps
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something was lost in translation, but I didn't see how she came to have a reputation as a wit. I preferred the Diary of Lady Murasaki for its observations on court life and for its intelligence. Show Less
LibraryThing member endlessforms
A lovely book full of detail about Heian Japan. I do get the persisent feeling, however, of reading an ancient form of a livejournal. I swear if Sei Shonagon lived on my campus, she'd be catting about the sorority girls with their sweatpants tucked into their Uggs.
I think the interpretation of
Obviously a must read for anyone interested in the literature of the era, or the history of women's writing in general.
I think the interpretation of
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Shonagon as a bit full of herself, which is the impression I get from the various interpreters, leaves out the sad aura of vulnerability I got from the Pillow Book.Obviously a must read for anyone interested in the literature of the era, or the history of women's writing in general.
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LibraryThing member maboeln
A beautiful read - like scanning through the blog from hundreds of years and a whole world away.
LibraryThing member piemouth
It's a scrapbook of observations and lists kept near the writer's pillow, not a book of erotica. Sei Shonagon was a lady in waiting at the Heian court of Imperial Japan (not a courtesan, as some editions say - I'm outraged by this and think she would be too.) She's a snob, can't stand poor people,
With a lot of footnotes and several appendices about Heian court life, which add a lot.
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old people, incorrectly dressed people, and is vain about her ability to quote classical poetry and make witty retorts. None of that made me dislike her at all - she's like the bitchy friend you sit in the corner with to make snide remarks at all the other partygoers - and it's all the more astonishing that she wrote this around the year 990 - 1000. She's a great writer. Her descriptions of weather, court ceremonies, court attire, etc., are beautiful. The descriptions of clothes and the flowers or seasons they evoke, especially, fascinated me. The details of the clothes are like Story of O without the spankings. With a lot of footnotes and several appendices about Heian court life, which add a lot.
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LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This book is basically the author's collection of notes about life in the Imperial Court of Japan. It is comprised of opinions regarding good and bad behaviors, pleasures & dislike, and the minutiae of day-to-day life for a noblewoman who lived early in the 1st century. Sometimes witty, sometimes
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absurd, and often condescending. However, she knew no other life. Fascinating! Show Less
LibraryThing member tronella
The first book I read on my Kindle! Possibly not a great choice, considering the (unnecessarily) large number of footnotes, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This book was written in Heian Japan, by one of the Empress's serving women. It contains lists of poetic placenames, good colour combinations and
Some quotes I apparently felt the need to highlight while reading:
"Everything that cries in the night is wonderful. With the exception, of course, of babies."
"Embarrassing things – The heart of a man."
"It’s terribly depressing to discover some quite worthless person blithely reciting a poem that you yourself had particularly liked and carefully copied down in a notebook."
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things which are better at night ("Someone whose appearance is rather unattractive but who has a pleasant personality."), anecdotes mostly about people apparently conversing entirely in witty references to poems, accounts of festivals and a whole jumbled collection of other things. Sei Shonagon is pretty sarcastic and things very poorly of anyone of "low rank", and I feel like I know a lot about her personality just from her descriptions of court life.Some quotes I apparently felt the need to highlight while reading:
"Everything that cries in the night is wonderful. With the exception, of course, of babies."
"Embarrassing things – The heart of a man."
"It’s terribly depressing to discover some quite worthless person blithely reciting a poem that you yourself had particularly liked and carefully copied down in a notebook."
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LibraryThing member WinterFox
Reading a book written over a thousand years ago always has its challenges and its rewards. This isn't the first time I've tackled some Heian Japan literature, having read some of Genji before, along with a number of poetry compilations for classes. Still, this was one that had never really showed
The book is rather a diary of events and lists compiled by Sei Shonagon during her stay in the court of Empress Teishi, at the end of the tenth century. The lists can be amusing when they're not just place names, as they prove a good point for both displaying Sei's wit and also the timelessness of some of her entries. When it comes to things that are pleasant or things that look stiflingly hot or such, some things have changed over the centuries and some haven't, and that makes for an interesting read. And much of the sense of her personality, a bit vain, a bit prickly, but warm and challenging all the same, comes through here, too.
The parts that shine the most to me are the little anecdotes about court life, her interactions with the other court ladies, the Emperor and Empress, the appointed court nobles, and the like. These are tales of little day to day events, along with trips to temples and festivals and the like, and they give you a real sense for what life was like then. Sei has a very good eye for details, particularly in fashion, and has a good memory for the poetry and dialogue.
I think to really appreciate the book does require the background reading; I had the McKinney translation, which I found quite good, and the historical and biographical information at the beginning really put the text in perspective. Much of the time in court, Sei was writing after her particular lady's star had begun to fall, and you only get a sense of it in the narrative in a few places, but if you hold it in mind as you read it, you definitely get a different view on the story.
All in all, I found this enjoyable, if a bit tedious at the points you have to read through several lists in a row. It's a good window on a different time, and not nearly so frivolous as I'd been led to believe. If you're interested in the time period, give it a shot.
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up in anything I'd tried reading before, and I'd always held that to be due to its reputation as being relatively frivolous. This one's also a classic, though, and it seemed like rather a hole to have in my knowledge.The book is rather a diary of events and lists compiled by Sei Shonagon during her stay in the court of Empress Teishi, at the end of the tenth century. The lists can be amusing when they're not just place names, as they prove a good point for both displaying Sei's wit and also the timelessness of some of her entries. When it comes to things that are pleasant or things that look stiflingly hot or such, some things have changed over the centuries and some haven't, and that makes for an interesting read. And much of the sense of her personality, a bit vain, a bit prickly, but warm and challenging all the same, comes through here, too.
The parts that shine the most to me are the little anecdotes about court life, her interactions with the other court ladies, the Emperor and Empress, the appointed court nobles, and the like. These are tales of little day to day events, along with trips to temples and festivals and the like, and they give you a real sense for what life was like then. Sei has a very good eye for details, particularly in fashion, and has a good memory for the poetry and dialogue.
I think to really appreciate the book does require the background reading; I had the McKinney translation, which I found quite good, and the historical and biographical information at the beginning really put the text in perspective. Much of the time in court, Sei was writing after her particular lady's star had begun to fall, and you only get a sense of it in the narrative in a few places, but if you hold it in mind as you read it, you definitely get a different view on the story.
All in all, I found this enjoyable, if a bit tedious at the points you have to read through several lists in a row. It's a good window on a different time, and not nearly so frivolous as I'd been led to believe. If you're interested in the time period, give it a shot.
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LibraryThing member stillatim
It's always nice to find a classic that's entertaining; consider Don Quixote. It's even nicer when that classic can be read in ten minute increments just before bed, and I recommend that everyone do precisely that with The Pillow Book. There are plenty of novels out there, plenty of poetry
185: Nothing in all the world could be worse than a man or woman who turns out to use words vulgarly... it's actually not a bad thing to use vulgar or unseemly words intentionally, knowing them for what they are. What's astonishing is when someone produces a word from their private store without pausing to consider its nature.
243: I particularly despise people who express themselves poorly in writing.
Amen, Sei, Amen.
I'd also like to recommend that everyone get this newer Penguin edition, translated by Meredith McKinney. Even if you knew nothing of Heian Japan (and I know very little), you'd still be able to enjoy the writing and wit thanks to McKinney's translation and notes. A model of scholarship for the common reader.
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collections, popular philosophy books, essay collections, lots of literary criticism, memoirs and so on. This combines all of those things, and does all of them well. I could quote at great length, but won't. Here's a couple of bits that I enjoyed: 185: Nothing in all the world could be worse than a man or woman who turns out to use words vulgarly... it's actually not a bad thing to use vulgar or unseemly words intentionally, knowing them for what they are. What's astonishing is when someone produces a word from their private store without pausing to consider its nature.
243: I particularly despise people who express themselves poorly in writing.
Amen, Sei, Amen.
I'd also like to recommend that everyone get this newer Penguin edition, translated by Meredith McKinney. Even if you knew nothing of Heian Japan (and I know very little), you'd still be able to enjoy the writing and wit thanks to McKinney's translation and notes. A model of scholarship for the common reader.
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LibraryThing member elmyra
This is not easy to read (which is why I never got all the way through) but it is utterly delightful and really does open a window into a different world.
The language of this book is beautiful, even in translation. The tone of the translation conveys a lot of the formality and and attention to
Shonagon herself is a delightfully witty character, and that, combined with the beauty of the language, more than makes up for the cultural gap which makes the book a bit of a tricky read for Western readers.
The language of this book is beautiful, even in translation. The tone of the translation conveys a lot of the formality and and attention to
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words associated with Japanese. There are a large number of foot-notes, but they are not necessary to understand the book - they merely provide additional information.Shonagon herself is a delightfully witty character, and that, combined with the beauty of the language, more than makes up for the cultural gap which makes the book a bit of a tricky read for Western readers.
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LibraryThing member kencf0618
I've held "The Pillow Book" in special affection ever since I first read it two decades ago. Sei Shonogan being as idiosyncratic as she is perspicacious and astute, she's a hyper-articulate and formidable court lady worthy of an Eric Rohmer film. What fascinates me is that although hers is an alien
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culture from another century (the book perforce is footnoted up the wazoo), human nature is human nature -one feels that you know these people! Along those lines, I've often reflected that Sei Shonagon and Pliny the Younger would enjoy comparing notes. Perhaps they are! Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
This is the version of Sei Shonagon I reread most often; the complete too volume is a bit unwieldly, and the Waley selections are only a little taste, but this is usually enough to satisfy me. As I said in my review of Waley, I think Shonagon at her best gives the most vivid picture of Heian Japan,
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superior even to the Genji. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
For those (like myself) who cannot get enough of Sei Shonagon, this is the complete translation. I must admit I have read through it completely only once, but it was well worth it, though the shorter 1 volume version is probably enough for the average reader.
LibraryThing member antiquary
Much shorter than the Morris version--only short extracts, really, and not as modern in its scholarship, but still this is the version that first made me fall in love with Sei Shonagon -- "a snob and a slut, but a great, great, writer" as I once told a class. No one, even Murasaki, brings the Heian
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more vividly to life. Show Less
LibraryThing member catarina1
Written by a member of the court in Heien-kyo (present-day Kyoto) about 990-1000 AD. Sei Shonagon is more of a title than it is her actual name. She was a "lady-in-waiting" to Empress Sadako who was a member of the Fujiwara clan.
The book consists of her observations of court life, descriptions of
One of her pleasing things - "finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed."
The book consists of her observations of court life, descriptions of
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nature, and many lists of things - embarrassing things, depressing things, elegant things, things worth seeing, etc. Sometimes she is peevish and petty. And she doesn't hide her scorn for the lower classes. But she writes wonderful descriptions of court life, of the clothing they wore, their carriages, even the traffic jams in Kyoto.One of her pleasing things - "finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume one has enjoyed."
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LibraryThing member Czrbr
Book Description: Penguin Books Ltd 19711101. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon Penguin Classics 01 November 1971 Paperback (B Format), 416 pages, Illustrations, Maps, Plan, Bibliography Penguin Books Ltd London, UK ISBN 0140442367 Dimensions in millimeters: 198 x 129 x 25 Dimensions in inches: 7.8 x
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5.08 x 0.98 By Sei Shonagon Translated by Ivan Morris English language Grade A. Brand new - never been read. Show Less
LibraryThing member clfisha
[The pillow book] by Sei Shonagon
Fascinating 11th century Japan diary
(3.5 of out 5)
Sei is a terrible snob, highly intelligent and idealistic and much fun and this is her 'pillow' book. Private musings and observations of court life. Mixed in with descriptions of clothes, gossip and romantic tales
This skill of this particular translation (Penguin classics) makes all this accessible and interesting to the laymen. Puns on obscure Chinese poetry can be ignored or followed with no impact on enjoyment. The multiple appendices on Heian court are well worth a look though, adding much more depth to Sei's diary.
I feel bad for rating this so low. Its a fascinating and interesting read, translated well, packed with notes appendices and written by an engaging author. It is what it is though, a series of lists and vignettes of Japanese court life in the Hein period. Whether you like this book depends how interested you are in the period.
Fascinating 11th century Japan diary
(3.5 of out 5)
Sei is a terrible snob, highly intelligent and idealistic and much fun and this is her 'pillow' book. Private musings and observations of court life. Mixed in with descriptions of clothes, gossip and romantic tales
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we get brief lists of beautiful words for use in art of poetry. For Sei poetry was a deeply important, much admired skill. So from a quick witty response referencing a famous poem, to artful courtship of letters or just entertaining the empress with word games, poetry could enhance ones reputation and standing.This skill of this particular translation (Penguin classics) makes all this accessible and interesting to the laymen. Puns on obscure Chinese poetry can be ignored or followed with no impact on enjoyment. The multiple appendices on Heian court are well worth a look though, adding much more depth to Sei's diary.
I feel bad for rating this so low. Its a fascinating and interesting read, translated well, packed with notes appendices and written by an engaging author. It is what it is though, a series of lists and vignettes of Japanese court life in the Hein period. Whether you like this book depends how interested you are in the period.
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LibraryThing member niquetteb
A collection of writings by a woman from the Heian period in Japan. She served as a lady in the court for Empress Sadako.
LibraryThing member thatotter
I really enjoyed this book--it made Heian Japan seem so wonderful, like a never-ending cycle of poetry, practical jokes, and love affairs. Shonagon has a very witty, edgy voice, and the lists she makes are brilliant.
This specific edition of the book was slightly irritating because it used endnotes
This specific edition of the book was slightly irritating because it used endnotes
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rather than footnotes, so the nearly 600 times the editor had something to say, you had to flip all the way to the end of the book to find it. Show Less
LibraryThing member devafagan
This took me a long time to work through, but I am glad to have read it! I also switched translations partway through, from Morris to McKinney. I think overall I preferred McKinney. There are heaps and heaps of annotations, which was what made this a slow read for me, but the notes are really
My favorite sections were the lists, and the shorter vignettes. And my favorite aspect of the book overall is the way it humanizes the past. Sei Shonagon is such a STRONG personality, so flawed and interesting and real. As others have said, reading The Pillow Book is a bit like reading a blog, full of humor and snark and beauty all at once.
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helpful and elucidating. My favorite sections were the lists, and the shorter vignettes. And my favorite aspect of the book overall is the way it humanizes the past. Sei Shonagon is such a STRONG personality, so flawed and interesting and real. As others have said, reading The Pillow Book is a bit like reading a blog, full of humor and snark and beauty all at once.
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LibraryThing member gibbon
Fascinating diary of social and literary life in tenth-century upper-class Japan by a lady-in-waiting to the young Empress Sadako.
LibraryThing member le.vert.galant
A classic that needs no recommendation from me. The level of worldliness of Heian Japan is vastly superior to any other civilization of the time. It was an age when a slight variation in sleeve length or color crossed the abyss between the exquisite and the crude. It was also a time when the
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subtleties of the natural world, especially flowers, where minutely observed and celebrated. A beautiful and refined work, marred only by the snobbishness that often accompanies such a sensibility. Show Less
LibraryThing member cakecop
Sei Shōnagon is sensitive to people's manners. She carefully describes her taste, likes and dislikes. She is excellent describing behaviour that repules her and other items that bring her joy. She has a candid style that is charming and entertaining.
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1002
Physical description
411 p.; 6.93 inches
ISBN
0140442367 / 9780140442366
Local notes
fiction