Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris ed. Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book ebook written by sei shonagon. Everything you need to teach the pillow book of sei sh. If you chose ivan morris s which means probably the paperback edition, which is abridged, well, you can still get the penguin version and go around again. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, arthur waley perfectly conveys sei shonagons girlish temperament and quirky. Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. It is almost like reading a blog from ancient japan. What a pleasure it is to see them all offer their congratulations to the emperor. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. These extracts are taken from the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated and edited by ivan morris, to be published by the oxford university press on 23 november at 55s. The beauty of the seasons in spring it is the dawn that is most beautiful. Lists of things from the pillow book 17 nov 1967 the.
The pillow book of sei shonagon has not only amply filled the longfelt need for a full english translation, but has also made a contribution to heian studies. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. Reviews the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated and. The pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. Henitiuk and her colleagues also translated all this is very interesting. Many of the translations are made readily available for the first time in this study. The pillow book by sei shonagon was written in the 11th. Its opening section, which begins haru wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage in japanese literature. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics by sei shonagon, ivan morris, ivan morris isbn. She is very funny, and her cutting wit is relentless. Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. A critique of arthur waleys translation of the japanese classic the pillow book of sei shonagon. Sei shonagon, who may well have allowed herself such a dream from time to time as her brush moved over the page, despite the fact that what she was writing was. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed accou.
Translated and edited by ivan morris columbia university press new york. The title of this book is the pillow book of sei shonagon and it was written by ivan morris translator. Of course, few books in world literature are on a par with sei shonagons inadvertent masterpiece. The author used an academic course to investigate as many as possible of the translations of the first entry in sei shonagons pillow book into other languages, including russian, french, spanish, english, german, chinese, italian, romanian, czech, dutch, danish. This study guide consists of approximately 32 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the pillow book of sei sh. Sei shonagon s pillow book is definitely work that bears rereading, whether you go from beginning to end or just pick entries at random. Journal of the royal asiatic society of great britain and ireland, the pillow book of sei shonagon has not only amply filled the longfelt need for a full english translation, but has also made a contribution. Reviews the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated and edited. Everyone pays great attention to his appearance and dresses with the utmost care. Unlike the wistful and sometimes tragic mood of the tale of genji, however, the author of the pillow book expressed the feeling of.
One day lord korechika, the minister of the centre, brought the empress a bundle of. The book is full of humorous observations okashi written in the style of a diary, an approach known as zuihitsustyle rambling of which the pillow book was the first and greatest example. In the preliminary notes to his delightful pillowbook of sei shonagon, first published in. The pillow book is a collection of anecdotes, memories of court and religious ceremonies, character sketches, lists of things the a. The pillow book of sei shonagon, translated and edited by ivan morris. In the tenth century, japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. The pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley translation presentation by kenneth plank. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. Its opening section, which beginsharu wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage in japanese.
A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. Sei shonagon was a contemporary and erstwhile rival of lady murasaki, whose novel the tale of genji fictionalizes the court life shonagon describes. Every now and then she provides a list of things, which are like tiny exhibitions organised by an. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon twentyninth printing by sei shonagon, ivan morris, robin duke isbn. The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Ivan morris 19251976 was considered the most versatile japanese. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them. If you chose ivan morriss which means probably the paperback edition, which is abridged, well, you can still get the penguin version and go around again. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris isbn. Mar 10, 2011 the pillow book of sei shonagon was a product of a tenthcentury courtiers experiences in the palace of empress teishi. Giphy finding a large number of tales that one has not read before. His books include translations of lady sarashinas as i crossed a bridge of. While others may be more familiar with murasaki shikibus the tale of genji as an example of classic japanese literature of the time, i chose the pillow book instead i always lean towards bucking the trend and i was intrigued by what i had read of sei. The pillow book is a collection of anecdotes, memories of court and religious ceremonies.
Apr 21, 2016 sei shonagon real given name unknown daughter of kyohara no motosuke midrank, poor noble married at 16, first child at 27 served empress teishi, consort of emperor ichijo rivalry with lady murasaki, author of genji who served empress shoshi contemporary image of sei as fun and playful as opposed to demure murasaki hyakunin isshu one hundred people, one poem. Sei shonagon often wrote about peeping from behind a curtain or screen. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris figure 1 sei shonagon viewing the snow, utagawa yoshitora, from the series calligraphy and pictures for the fiftythree stations of the tokaido, woodblock print, ink and color on paper, 1872. The film is a melding of dark modern drama with idealised chinese and japanese cultural themes and settings, and centres on body painting. The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris, ivan translated and edited by and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
In her pillow book, she gives an account of the things she saw and her feelings. Lady shonagon was an erstwhile rival of lady murasaki, whose novel, the tale of genji, fictionalized the elite world lady shonagon so eloquently relates. She spent most of her time in a dimly lit room, protected from the eyes of males by silken hangings. The pillow book by sei shonagon penguin, 1981 translated by dr ivan morris as we can.
Morriss translation maintains a high quality throughout. Written by a lady of the court at the height of heian culture, this book enthralls with its lively gossip, witty observations, and subtle impressions. The pillow book of sei shonagon edition 1 by ivan morris. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon online at alibris. Morris s translation maintains a high quality throughout. The pillow book of sei shonagon by sei shonagon alibris. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris ivan translated and. The pillow book of sei shonagon translated and edited by ivan morris. This book is an absolute treasure, and this paperback publication is nicely presented. The classic portrayal of court life in tenthcentury japan written by the court gentlewoman sei shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, the pillow book offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated, while harsh reality was kept firmly at. Translated from the japanese and edited by ivan morris. Apr 20, 2017 the pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Jan 19, 2010 unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. Mar 11, 2012 henitiuk and her colleagues also translated all this is very interesting. A perfect companion to that work, the pillow book of sei shonagon brings an added dimension to murasakis timeless and seminal novel and further illuminates japanese court life in all its ritualistic glory. Review the pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley.
The film is narrated by nagiko, a japanese born model living in hong kong. The pillow book is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi during the 990s and early 11th century in heian japan. The pillow book is an extreme example of a work that has lived past its time, and attained the deathless status that writers dream of as they labour over their page or screen, transmuting their moment into momenttranscending language. The pillow book of sei shonagon asia for educators. Aug 17, 2009 of course, few books in world literature are on a par with sei shonagons inadvertent masterpiece. Translated and edited by ivan morris columbia university press new york 1967. Heian court culture, as portrayed in the pillow book by a ladyinwaiting to. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. The films title, the pillow book, refers to an ancient japanese diary written by sei shonagon, actual name believed to be kiyohara nagiko, from whence the protagonists name in the film.
The pillow book of sei shonagon columbia university press. It is still a shrewd guide to sex, snobbery and political. The pillow book of sei shonagon by morris ivan translated. Or acquiring the second volume of a tale whose first volume.
In 1928 arthur waley published a slender volume that mixes in his own commentary with a translation of about a quarter of the original text. The pillow book is also the name of a series of radio thrillers written by robert forrest and broadcast on bbc radio 4 s womans hour drama. The work, which is regarded as being of the greatest importance in japanese literature, is almost unknown in the west. Themakura no soshi, orthe pillow bookas it is generally known in english, is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes about life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the eleventh century by a woman known as sei shonagon. Pillow book by sei shonagon, first edition abebooks.
Apr 11, 2014 notes of the pillow or the pillow book, as it is more commonly rendered provides the following account of the origin of its name, in an entry which according to ivan morris, in the introduction to his 1967 english translation can be dated to 994. Reviews the pillow book of sei shonagon, translated. Children at the stationsparken day care center wash their hands under adult. The pillow book of sei shonagon by ivan morris 9780231073370. The pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics 01 november 1971 paperback b format, 416 pages, illustrations, maps, plan, bibliography penguin books ltd london, uk isbn 0140442367 dimensions in millimeters. Ivan morris one of the great classics of japanese literature, the pillow book of sei shonagon is by far our most detailed source of factual material on life in eleventhcentury japan at the height of heian. The pillow book of sei shonagon, edited by ivan morris chapter 8. Sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. The pillow book of sei shonagon has not only amply filled the longfelt need for a full english translation, but has also made a contribution to heian studies a mine of information. The pillow book is a 1996 erotic drama film written and directed by peter greenaway, which stars vivian wu as nagiko, a japanese model in search of pleasure and new cultural experience from various lovers.
Sei shonagona young courtesan of the heian periodkept a diary, which provides a highly personal account of the intrigues, dalliances, quirks, and habits of japans late tenthcentury elite. The pillow book best translationedition showing of 3. There are some notable translations of the pillow book in english. A contemporary of murasaki shikibu, who wrote the tale of genji, sei shonagon reflects the same concern with style and taste typical of the period. Worlding sei shonagon guides the reader through the remarkable translation history of the pillow book in the west, gathering almost fifty translations of the spring, dawn passage, which span onehundredandthirtyfive years and sixteen languages. The pillow book, written about 1002, is a collection of impressions of court life by the court lady sei shonagon. Aug 01, 2009 sei shonagon was born in japan around the year 965 ce and served as a lady in waiting to empress sadako. Book of sei shonagon, edited and translated by ivan morris, the. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics by sei shonagon, ivan morris isbn. For some reasons, all of them could not capture the internal music of her writing. As with the tale of genji, there are currently three important english versions of the pillow book. In the preliminary notes to his delightful pillow book of sei shonagon, first published in. Notes of the pillow or the pillow book, as it is more commonly rendered provides the following account of the origin of its name, in an entry which according to ivan morris, in the introduction to his 1967 english translation can be dated to 994.
640 1264 861 1378 591 1245 674 870 644 674 692 666 738 103 632 613 1302 209 1501 927 722 1429 507 211 97 825 727 715 994 1233 899 507