The Pillow Book (枕草子 Makura no Sōshi) is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Teishi (定子) during the 990s and early 1000s in Heian Japan. The book was completed in the year 1002.
In it she included lists of all kinds, personal thoughts, interesting events in court, poetry and some opinions on her contemporaries. While it is mostly a personal work, Shōnagon's writing and poetic skill makes it interesting as a work of literature, and it is valuable as a historical document. Part of it was revealed to the Court by accident during Shōnagon's life. The book was first translated into English in 1889 by T. Purcell and W. G. Aston. Other notable translations into English were by Ivan Morris in 1967 and in 2006 by Meredith McKinney.
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Other pillow books
More generally, a pillow book is a collection of notebooks or notes which have been collated to show a period of someone or something's life. Eleanor Bron and Heather Mallick have both used this form to collect essays. Aidan Chambers' novel This Is All, the Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn is based on the concept of the pillow book. In the case of the fictional character Cordelia Kenn, it shows her life and thoughts so that her daughter can relive her past.
There is a 1996 film of the same name by writer/director Peter Greenaway, which tells a modern story but references Sei Shōnagon's literary work. The film stars Vivian Wu and Ewan McGregor.
See also
References
- Sei Shōnagon; McKinney (translator), Meredith (2006), The Pillow Book, London, UK: Penguin Books, ISBN 0-140-44806-3
- Sei Shōnagon; Morris (translator), Ivan (1971), The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon, London, UK: Penguin Books, ISBN 0-140-44236-7. Originally published in 1967 by Columbia University Press.
External links
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