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A review by paul_cornelius
The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon
4.0
This collection of tales, observations, poetry, lists, gossip, and personal reveries comes from the writings of Sei Shonagon, a lady at the court of the Japanese empress from the years 993 to 1000. They range from the comic to the moving, from the exasperating to the joyful. And they are intensely intimate, providing a glimpse into the world of the Japanese palace and its manners and customs entirely unmatched by other works, including the The Tale of Genji.
Reading it, I believe, should not be done at one or two settings. Its musings are best appreciated in 10-20 page passages, so as to linger over the imagery and wordplay, rather than gobbling it all down at once. This particular edition is greatly aided by Meredith McKinney's first rate translation as well as her extensive introduction, appendices, and notes, all of which should be incorporated into a close reading of the subject matter.
Personal observation: I read The Pillow Book while simultaneously reading several other works of Japanese literature, including everything from old folk tales to modern and contemporary mysteries. It was a coincidence. But it was remarkable to see how the manners and customs of this era of Japanese history, the Heian period, were trickling down into the popular culture of the immediate times on until today. In fact, I strongly recommend reading the older folk tales along with The Pillow Book to get a well rounded appreciation for the force and might of cultural attitudes over an entire civilization.
Reading it, I believe, should not be done at one or two settings. Its musings are best appreciated in 10-20 page passages, so as to linger over the imagery and wordplay, rather than gobbling it all down at once. This particular edition is greatly aided by Meredith McKinney's first rate translation as well as her extensive introduction, appendices, and notes, all of which should be incorporated into a close reading of the subject matter.
Personal observation: I read The Pillow Book while simultaneously reading several other works of Japanese literature, including everything from old folk tales to modern and contemporary mysteries. It was a coincidence. But it was remarkable to see how the manners and customs of this era of Japanese history, the Heian period, were trickling down into the popular culture of the immediate times on until today. In fact, I strongly recommend reading the older folk tales along with The Pillow Book to get a well rounded appreciation for the force and might of cultural attitudes over an entire civilization.