The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon6/25/2023 ![]() ![]() Sei Shonagon’s book would have caused a stir when it first circulated. Such books were called pillow books because they were kept under pillows for adding entries at the end of the day. ![]() The book contains reminiscences about court happenings, her opinions, her comments, sketches, and various lists. Sei Shonagon’s book was designed to be read by others while still appearing personal. Sei Shonagon’s P illow Book isn’t the only of its kind. ![]() Legends include marrying or dying as an impoverished nun. We don’t know what happened to her later in life. Throughout her Pillow Book, she references various poems and other literature. He helped compile imperial poetic anthology, which explains Sei Shonagon’s literary education. Her father, Motosuke (908-990) was a scholar and a bureaucrat. The name passed down to us combines the first character (Sei) of her clan name, Kiyowara, and her role at court as a Lesser Counselor (Shonagon). Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book offers a look at the Imperial court from around 993 to the end of 1000, when she served as a lady-in-waiting for Empress Teishi. ![]()
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