Picture of author.

Sei Shōnagon (966–1025)

Author of The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon

21+ Works 2,803 Members 41 Reviews 14 Favorited

About the Author

This woman is known only by her sobriquet at court. She was in the service of an empress, about whom she writes with adulation, but, apart from what she records in The Pillow Book (c.975), which is autobiographical, little is known of her life. Her writing does, however, reveal an educated, show more sensitive, and vivacious woman who held herself in high esteem and was popular at court. Written with wit, The Pillow Book includes lists of things that the author liked or disliked, spontaneous observations, anecdotes of court life, and miscellaneous tales, some of her own invention. It is a classic of the zuihztsu or miscellany genre. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Kikugawa Eizan, woodblock print circa 1820

Works by Sei Shōnagon

Associated Works

The Art of the Personal Essay (1994) — Contributor — 1,371 copies
One Hundred People, One Poem Each (1235) — Contributor — 569 copies
Women Poets of Japan (1977) — Contributor — 133 copies
The Faber Book of Gardens (2007) — Contributor — 45 copies
Pathetic Literature (2022) — Contributor — 24 copies

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Canonical name
Sei Shōnagon
Birthdate
966
Date of death
1025
Gender
female
Nationality
Japan
Places of residence
Kyoto, Japan
Occupations
lady-in-waiting
Noblewoman

Members

Reviews

An unexpectedly lovely book. Full of details about life at the Japanese imperial court more than a thousand years ago, beautiful imagery, court gossip, anecdotes, poetry. Sei Shōnagon must have had an amazing visual memory - the descriptions of clothes are wonderfully detailed.
At times the author comes across as an obnoxious snob. A few pages later, there is a paragraph that is personal and poignant.
My favourite part of the book: the lists! Did I mentions the lists? "Things that make the heart beat faster". "Things that give a comfortable feeling." Etc... Give me more, please.… (more)
 
Flagged
Alexandra_book_life | 40 other reviews | Dec 15, 2023 |
Los pensamientos de un diario privado de una dama de la corte japonesa del siglo X, que mas se puede pedir?

No solo eso sino que leyendolo te das cuenta lo poco que hemos cambiado en todos estos siglos. Aunque algunas cosas como esperar a que los criados hagan cosas no se corresponde a mi experencia personal pues no soy mega-rico, en general los sentimientos que expresa son similares a los mios, y no puedo mas que estar de a cuerdo con la mayoria de sus listas de cosas que deben ser grandes, pequeñas, etc.… (more)
 
Flagged
trusmis | 40 other reviews | Aug 7, 2022 |
Los pensamientos de un diario privado de una dama de la corte japonesa del siglo X, que mas se puede pedir?

No solo eso sino que leyendolo te das cuenta lo poco que hemos cambiado en todos estos siglos. Aunque algunas cosas como esperar a que los criados hagan cosas no se corresponde a mi experencia personal pues no soy mega-rico, en general los sentimientos que expresa son similares a los mios, y no puedo mas que estar de a cuerdo con la mayoria de sus listas de cosas que deben ser grandes, pequeñas, etc.… (more)
 
Flagged
trusmis | 40 other reviews | Nov 28, 2020 |

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Statistics

Works
21
Also by
7
Members
2,803
Popularity
#9,174
Rating
4.0
Reviews
41
ISBNs
84
Languages
15
Favorited
14

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