World Literature

1. THE PILLOW BOOK
AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND OF THE WORK
Sei Shōnagon – was a diarist, poet, and courtier whose
witty, learned Pillow Book (Makura no sōshi) exhibits a brilliant
and original Japanese prose style and is a masterpiece of
classical Japanese literature. It is also the best source of
information on Japanese court life in the Heian period (794–
1185). Sei Shōnagon’s ready wit and intelligence secured her
place in Teishi’s court. Those qualities also won her enemies,
according to the diary of her contemporary Murasaki Shikibu,
who herself declared Sei Shōnagon conceited. Though capable
of great tenderness, Sei Shōnagon was often merciless in the
display of her wit, and she showed little sympathy for those
unfortunates whose ignorance or poverty rendered them
ridiculous in her eyes. Her ability to catch allusions or to
compose in an instant a verse exactly suited to each occasion
is evident throughout her Pillow Book.
Title of a book of reminiscences and impressions by the 11th-century
Japanese court lady Sei Shōnagon. Whether the title was generic and
whether Sei Shōnagon herself used it is not known, but other diaries of
the Heian period (794–1185) indicate that such journals may have been
kept by both men and women in their sleeping quarters—hence the
name. The entries in Makura no sōshi, although some are dated, are not
in chronological order but rather are divided under such headings as
“Amusing Things” and “Vexatious Things.” A complete English translation
of Makura no sōshi by Ivan Morris appeared in 1967 (The Pillow Book of
Sei Shōnagon). The Pillow Book belongs to the genre of zuihitsu
(“random jottings”). Tsurezuregusa, by Yoshida Kenkō, is an outstanding
14th-century example of this genre.

2. II. Things That Arouse a Fond Memory of the Past
Reflection:
Upon reading the “Things That Arouse a Fond Memory of the Past” , it made
me realize how memory is important, and important memories should always be
remembered, sometimes we can only remember things when we feel nostalgic on the
places we visit or the things we do. A line caught my attention, and this was it, “It is
a rainy day and one is feeling bored. To pass the time, one starts looking through
some old papers”. This line for me, somehow talks about the memories, and
somewhat the author wanted to feel the nostalgia of the old memories that she had,
and we humans tend to look back at the past and once we feel it again, we feel
euphoric and contented of what we have from the past.
Dried hollyhock. To find a piece of deep violet or grape-coloured material that has
been pressed between the pages of a notebook.
It is a rainy day and one is feeling bored. To pass the time, one starts looking
through some old papers. And then one comes across the letters of a man one
used to love.
Last year's paper fan. A night with a clear moon.

3. I. In Spring It Is the Dawn
Reflection:
The passage shows that Sei Shonagon describes the beauty of every season.
And she discerned each of the season from winter, summer, fall and spring. I can tell
that Shonagon really appreciates the exquisiteness of nature. The same with the real
life, we must appreciate everything, the calming ambiance produced by the nature
and the color it has given to ourlives. “In summer the nights. Not only when the moon
shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even when it rains,
how beautiful it is!” ,this line for me tells that sadness, happiness, every events that
may come to our lives will just passed by, and we just have to appreciate these events
of our lives in order for us to find the real beauty in it.
In spring it is the dawn that is most beautiful. As the light creeps over the hills,
their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them.
In summer the nights. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as
the fireflies flit to and fro, and even when it rains, how beautiful it is!
In autumn the evenings, when the glittering sun sinks close to the edge of the hills
and the crows fly back to their nests in threes and fours and twos; more charming
still is a file of wild geese, like specks in the distant sky. When the sun has set,
one’s heart is moved by the sound of the wind and the hum of insects.
In winter the early mornings. It is beautiful indeed when snow has fallen during the
night, but splendid too when the ground is white with frost; or even when there is
no snow or frost, but it is simply very cold and the attendants hurry from room to
room stirring up the fires and bringing charcoal, how well this fits the season’s
mood! But as noon approaches and the cold wears off, no one bothers to keep the
braziers alight, and soon nothing remains but piles of white ashes.