The Pillow book completed in 1002 is a book of observations, anecdotes and stories of Sei Shonagon as a court lady to Empress Teishi during the Heian Period. The Heian Period is the last division of Japanese history (9794-1185). This period was named after the Capital City of Heian-kyo or modern day Kyoto. This period is also considered the peak of the Japanese Imperial Court and noted for its art especially in poetry and literature. Like a journal, this book list topics of all kinds, personal thoughts, Interesting events in court, poetry and some opinions on her peers. In Class, we would like to discuss the following:
1) In the Pillow Book Sei Shonagon wrote her personal thoughts, interesting events in her lifetime, poetry, observations, etc – Do you have any particular topic, poem or quote in the story that you find interesting? Why?
2) Is there a gender bias in Sei Shonagon assessment of people?
3) What literary device are displayed throughout the text?
We will also briefly discuss, Watching Commoners, Performing Class: Images of the Common People in “The Pillow Book” of Sei Shonagon by Jeffrey Angles. This article talks about how the lower class registered in the imagination of Sei Shonagon. How does the Pillow Book portray people of the lower classes?
See you guys in Class!
1 response so far ↓
Mel Gili Zhu // Nov 13th 2014 at 10:08 pm
Both of you did a great job in the discussion. It was interesting in how you guys gave examples and pointed out about the gender bias. I didn’t really think of that. I noticed more on the social structure or social classes in the reading. I though it was great in how you guys pointed out about the nun and its relation in treatment of lower classes.