The Pillow Book (Penguin Classics)

Sometimes as a good book comes to an end you know you'll miss the authors voice..In this case in true Japanese fashion, I am enjoying the last pages as slowly as possible with real Japanese plum wine from Wakayama, capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of (central) Japan 🇯🇵.The book from the Heian period, a time of relative peace is not for everyone. Needing 3 bookmarks to cover glossary and notes/appendices its an interesting look at a senior gentlewomens mind in the empresses service. Common to the period, some sections are simply random thoughts and lists of related events. But much of traditional japanese culture and its subtleties, is shown. From correctness of address those of other ranks to dress codes and the showing of sleeves. Replies to any message must be suitably and carefully aligned with the wealth of known Chinese and Japanese poetry, much of which I have now learnt and will continue to follow.The book, regardless of title is not erotic, although it hints at love affairs and moonlight to dawn visits. The pillow book, means papers kept by the bed for recording random thoughts upon waking, and book as in bound loose leaf pages.Farewell dear Sei Shōnagon. I shall miss your often observant, sometimes judgemental and cruel but always intelligent and witty commentary. May it forever be havest and festival time where you lie.

How recent can a life lived 1000 years ago seem to be? Sei Shonagon (c. 966–1017) wrote down her thoughts and observations while she was a lady-in-waiting to empress Teishi. Today those notes read as if one of us had written them down (also thanks to Meredith McKinney's translation) except for the strangeness of customs and the foreignness of living arrangements but this only adds to the adventure of reading the Pillow Book. Sei speaks to the reader in a familiar voice. She makes lists of pleasant things and those that are disagreeable. She likes everything that cries in the night, be it a bird or a cricket, but NOT babies. She finds women without interest who lead dull lives and rejoice in their petty little pseudo-pleasures despicable. She derides men who fall asleep and snore during a romantic visit at night. She loves a good sermon, as one would an interesting presentation, also for the fun of the outing to a temple, but complains about parking problems and the behavior of some carriage owners.In Sei's world, what people wore, how they combined the colors of their clothing was very complicated and most important for men and women so we get detailed descriptions of who wore what and how he or she looked in it (there was a Bureau of Clothing in the imperial palace). She has strong opinion about style and taste but she hardly mentions facial features and body types. In the love affairs and romantic interests, it was taste and sensibility, not physical appearance, that were the focus. She sights that the man you love and the same man once you've lost all feelings for him seem like two completely different people. It was a joy to read Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book in Meredith McKinney's translation.

I mentioned to an acquaintance that I was reading this classic, having seen it mentioned several times in other reading. His reaction made it clear that he was surprised that I would take an interest in antique risqué literature; but this book is not that. The pillow in the title is a figure of speech, but is not a glancing way of referring to bed or sex. Marshmallows and dumplings are sometimes described as pillows, but those foods are not, so far as I know, considered especially sexy. And though it was not mentioned in the book, the pillow that Sei Shonagon might have been using wasn't even necessarily very soft. You've seen pictures, I'm sure, of pillow blocks which elevate the head but aren't stuffed with down or anything like it. The pillow in this case is a support, a rest, an accessory of taking it easy. The book very much reminds me of certain miscellany blogs, where the blogger notes down all manner of stuff as it occurs to her or him. In this case it is a blog with comments turned off, save for the extremely valuable explanatory footnotes. One amazing thing is the great variety of textiles. Another, less noticeable at first, is the amazing absence of almost all food. The occasional illustrations are interesting so far as they go, but could have been more informative. On my little Kindle they expand, but expanding degrades the resolution so it is counterproductive. I am now wading through The Tale of Genji, a rather different sort of book, and a little later, but reading The Pillow Book was a pleasant introduction to that world.

A wonderful careful translation filled with beauty and stories. An entrancing portrait of a clever woman living in another time and succeeding in a culture where knowing the classics and poetry meant everything. I first read this book in college and now find myself returning to it when I’m stressed by the petty politics of our society for a reminder that every society has strengths and limitations, mine and that of Sei Shonongon alike

I already have the book, and I love it. It’s such an interesting subject to find out how life was in japan’s imperial courts. History is one of my favorite subjects.

There she is, Sei Shonagon, with her inkpen, scrawling hilarious and pithy comments when no one is looking. She didn't live long enough to see gossip sites, so the world lost a great snark before her time. Best segments: her 3-star review of bad boyfriends, her lists of random pretty poetical crap she liked, and her funny critique of middle-aged married couples taking afternoon "naps." As much as I like her work, Sei Shonagon scares me. I was not one of the cool kids in high school. ;) Murasaki seems s little bit less point-and-laugh, which I find appealing (although Lady Sarashina trumps them all. Long live sparkle-girl!)If you could wish for world peace or Sei Shonagon writing a blog, what would her first post be about?

How was life in the royal court of ancient Japan? Read this book and find out.