The Pillow Book (revelations Of A Japanese Lady-in-waiting)

Known for its refined style, sharp wit and observational detail, The Pillow Book is a masterpiece of Japanese literature that introduces the reader to the musings of lady-in-waiting Sei Shōnagon, who spent her life inside the Japanese imperial court in the early 11th century.

“A preacher ought to be good looking. For if we are to properly understand his worthy sentiments, we must keep our eyes on him while he speaks … ”

“Hateful things: one has been foolish enough to invite a man to spend the night in an unsuitable place – and then he starts snoring.”

“Things that give a clean feeling: the play of light on w ater as one pours it into a vessel.”

Known for its refined style, sharp wit and observational detail, The Pillow Book is a masterpiece of Japanese literature that introduces the reader to the musings of lady-in-waiting Sei Shōnagon, who spent her life inside the Japanese Imperial court in the early 11th century. Bold, funny and highly perceptive, Sei Shōnagon offers a deeply personal view of court life – including the ceremony, the pomp and the elegance – but most of all, provides an intimate view of human foibles and behaviour. If Sei Shōnagon was alive today, she would be a social media phenomenon.

The Pillow Book is a classic example of zuihitsu, a genre of loosely connected essays, lists and diary entries that reflect the author’s spontaneous thoughts. This abridged edition offers hundreds of stories, poems and aphorisms from the original, exploring themes as wide-ranging as tales of annoying lovers who make too much noise on leaving a room in the early morning; through a court scene where a misbehaving cat disrupts a royal visit; to the delights of pinching a plump baby or seeing a garden covered in fresh snow.

Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding, The Pillow Book is an utterly delightful collection that will amuse, entrance and surprise at turns.

Introduction (2500 words)

Opening Passage (500 words)

On Nature & the Seasons (3500 words) 1. In Spring It Is the Dawn 2. On the Third Day of the Third Month 9. On the First Day of the First Month 27. Trees 28. Birds 30. Insects 42. Herbs and Shrubs 43. 73. On the Last Day of the Fourth Month 84. I Remember a Clear Morning 118. Winds 122. In the Fifth Month 123. During the Hot Months 137. Clouds 178. It Is Noon on a Summer Day

On Things & Aesthetics (3500 words) 13. Depressing Things 14. Hateful Things 16. Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster 17. Things That Arouse a Fond Memory of the Past 29. Elegant Things 32. Unsuitable Things 43. Poetic Subjects 44. Things That Cannot Be Compared 47. Rare Things 54. Things That Give a Pathetic Impression 57. Splendid Things 62. Annoying Things 63. Embarrassing Things 64. Surprising and Distressing Things 75. Things That Look Better in Paintings 78. Things That Give a Hot Feeling 80. Things That Have Lost Their Power 97. Things That Give a Clean Feeling 98. Things That Give an Unclean Feeling 99. Adorable Things 101. Squalid Things 104. Things That One Is in a Hurry to See or to Hear 109. Things That are Distant Though Near 110. Things That are Near Though Distant 126. Things That Should Be Large 127. Things That Should Be Short 136. Things That Fall from the Sky 148. Pleasing Things 183. Things That are Unpleasant

On Etiquette & Form (3500 words) 128. Nothing Annoys Me So Much 134. Letters are Commonplace 143. To Feel That One is Disliked by Others 144. Men Really Have Strange Emotions 145. Sympathy is the Most Splendid of All Qualities 146. It is Absurd of People to Get Angry 149. One Day, When Her Majesty Was Surrounded by Several Ladies 153. On One Occas