The Pillow Book – Sei Shōnagon

S$87.00

The Pillow Book – Sei Shōnagon

S$87.00

Title: The Pillow Book
Author: Sei Shōnagon, Translated & edited by Ivan Morris, with an introduction by Robin Duke & illustrations by Jasper Dean
ISBN: –
Publisher: The Folio Society, 1979
Condition: Hardcover, black silk cloth. Book in very good condition, slipcase in average condition.

SKU: pillow-book-folio Categories: , , , Tag:

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 Consort Teishi (定子) during the 990s and early 11th century 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work, Shōnagon’s writing and poetic skill makes it interesting as a work of literature, and it is valuable as a historical document.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 English translations were by Arthur Waley in 1928, Ivan Morris in 1967, and Meredith McKinney in 2006.