Pillow Book Sei Shonagon Kira Aarestad Feb 25
Pillow Book Sei Shonagon Kira Aarestad Feb. 25 th, 2009
Sei Shonagon • • • Sei Shonagon wrote The Pillow Book shortly before and after the year 1000 CE. She served as a lady-in-waiting in the court of an older, retired Empress Sadako, who evidently conducted a more relaxed court. Sei Shonagon has the reputation of being the most natural wit in the history of Japanese literature. Her most interesting characteristic is her strong personality and character; she is not afraid to write what she thinks and sees. Translator Ivan Morris explains that the book "reveals a complicated, intelligent, well-informed woman who was quick, impatient, keenly observant of detail, highspirited, witty, emulative, sensitive to the charms and beauties of the world and the pathos of things, yet intolerant and callous about people whom she regarded as her social or intellectual inferiors. "
The Pillow Book • The Empress received a "bundle of notebooks" that she didn't know what to do with, so she gave them to Shonagon, who particularly liked to make lists of things. • There are 164 lists in the book's "1098 closely printed pages, " but, beyond this, "Shonagon's collection contains nature descriptions, diary entries, character sketches, and anecdotes. ” • The textual history is such that no one can be sure that the order of items even approximates either the original order or that finally intended by the author.
Japanese Pillow Box At the time, most Japanese women slept on wooden pillow boxes because these pillows helped keep their hairdos neatly arranged. The pillows were hollow and both men and women occasionally kept notebooks in the pillow box drawers. Hence, the title Pillow Book comes from the place the journal was kept.
The Ancient Heian Capital During Akitada’s time, the capital of Japan was Heian Kyo, the modern Kyoto. Founded in 794, it remained the capital until the 13 th century and the seat of the emperor until 1869. They also needed rivers to the west and east, and a large pond to the south. The reasons for these geographic features were based on fears of evil influences which could approach a city from all sides. Beyond these considerations, the layout of Heian Kyo followed strict rules of order. It was to be rectangular, bisected by a major north-south avenue, intersected at precise distances by north -south and east-west roads forming a grid pattern, and the seat of government had to occupy the northernmost center, forming a walled rectangular imperial city within the capital. Such orderliness of planning pervaded much of the political thought of the time, and Akitada is thoroughly versed in the teachings of Confucian order and harmony. He strongly disapproves of disorder. from Ivan Morris, The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagon
What do you notice about the image? What might we know about life as a “lady-in -waiting”?
The Pillow Book excerpts From “Depressing Things” From “Hateful Things” • One is telling a story about old times when someone breaks in with a little detail that he happens to know, implying that one’s own version is inaccurate– disgusting behavior. • With much bustle and excitement a young man has moved into the house of a certain family as the daughter’s husband. One day he fails to come home, and it turns out that some high-ranking court lady has taken him as her lover. How depressing! “Will he eventually tire of the woman What do these excerpts tell us and come back to us? ” his wife’s family wonder ruefully. about Shonagon’s message AND life in Japan?
The Pillow Book readings • Read about Sei Shonagon on p. 306 in your literature book. • Read In Spring It Is the Dawn p. 308. • Read The Cat Who Lived in the Palace pp. 309311. • Read Things that Arouse a Fond Memory of the Past and I Remember a Clear Morning p. 312.
The Big Questions • Based on the text, how would you describe the life of the upper class in Japan during the Heian Age? • What can you conclude about the Japanese nobility as evidenced by Shonagon’s descriptions?
• www. anthropologieenligne. com/images/Sei. jp g • http: //www. washburn. edu/reference/bridge 2 4/Shonagon. html • thepillowbookoftom. wordpress. com/. . . / • http: //www. ijparker. com/images/AW%20 city %20 plan 1. jpg
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