history question essay ( only who is good in history make shake hand )

The Pillow-Book of Sei Shonagon

Translated by Ivan Morris

Figure 1 Sei Sh onagon Viewing the Snow, Utagawa Yoshitora, from the series Calligraphy and Pictures for the Fifty -

three Stations of the Tôkaidô, woodblock print, ink and color on paper, 1872

Introduction

Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book (Makura no Soshi ) is the private journal of a lady- in-waiting to the Empress

of Japan written during the 990’s . Sei served her empress during the late Heian Period (a particularly

vibrant time for Japanese arts and the beginning of Japan’s feudal age) and was a contemporary of

another lady -in -waiting, Murasaki Shikibu , author of the Tale of Genji (also in this anthology). Both Sei

and Murasaki wrote about court life, but unlike Murasaki’s epic romance, Sei’s journal entries offer a

more personal and informal glimpse into the life of a woman at court. The selections in this anthology are

meant to showcase the variet y of Sei’s musings and anecdotes.

RLK

Especially Delightful Is the First Day

Especially delightful is the first day of the First Month, when the mists so often shroud the sky. Everyone

pays great attention to his appearance and dresses with the utmost car e. What a pleasure it is to see them

all offer their congratulations to the Emperor and celebrate their own new year!

This is the day when members of the nobility who live outside the Palace arrive in their magnificently

decorated carriages to admire the b lue horses. As the carriages are drawn over the ground -beam of the

Central Gate, there is always a tremendous bump, and the heads of the women passengers are knocked

together; the combs fall out of their hair, and may be smashed to pieces if the owners are not careful. I

enjoy the way everyone laughs when this happens.

I remember one occasion when I visited the Palace to see the procession of blue horses. Several senior

courtiers were standing outside the guard- house of the Left Division; they had borrowed bows from the

escorts, and, with much laughter, were twanging them to make the blue horses prance. Looking through

one of the gates of the Palace enclosure, I could dimly make out a garden fence, near which a number of

ladies, several of them from the Offi ce of Grounds, went to and fro. What lucky women, I thought, who

could walk about the Nine -Fold Enclosure as though they had lived there all their lives! Just then the

escorts passed close to my carriage, remarkably close, in fact, considering the vastness of the Palace

grounds, and I could actually see the texture of their faces. Some of them were not properly powdered;

here and there their skin showed through unpleasantly like the dark patches of earth in a garden where

the snow has begun to melt. When th e horses in the procession reared wildly, I shrank into the back of my

carriage and could no longer see what was happening.

It is fascinating to see what happens during the period of appointments. However snowy and icy it may

be, candidates of the Fourth a nd Fifth Ranks come to the Palace with their official requests. Those who are

still young and merry seem full of confidence. For the candidates who are old and white -haired things do

not go so smoothly. Such men have to apply for help from people with influence at Court; some of them

even visit ladies -in -waiting in their quarters and go to great lengths in pointing out their own merits. If

young women happen to be present, they are greatly amused. As soon as the candidates have left, they

mimic and deride t hem, something that the old men cannot possibly suspect as they scurry from one part

of the Palace to another, begging everyone, "Please present my petition favourably to the Emperor" and

"Pray inform Her Majesty about me." It is not so bad if they finally succeed, but it really is rather pathetic

when all their efforts prove in vain.

Things That Have Lost Their Power

A woman who has taken off her false locks to comb the short hair that remains. A large tree that has been

blown down in a gale and lies on its side with its roots in the air. The retreating figure of a sumo wrestler

who has been defeated in a match. A man of no importance reprimanding an attendant.

A woman, who is angry with her husband about some trifling matter, leave s home and goes somewhere to

hide. She is certain that he will rush about looking for her; but he does nothing of the kind and shows the

most infuriating indifference. Since she cannot stay away forever, she swallows her pride and returns.

Adorable Things

The face of a child drawn on a melon.

A baby of two or so is crawling, rapidly along the ground. With his sharp eyes he catches sight of a tiny

object and, picking it up with his pretty little fingers, takes it to show to a grown -up person.

A baby sparrow that comes hopping up when one imitates the squeak of a mouse; or again, when one has

tied it with a thread round its leg and its parents bring insects or worms and pop them in its mouth:

delightful!

One picks up a pretty baby and holds him for a while in one's arms; while one is fondling him, he clings to

one's neck and then falls asleep.

Pretty, white chicks who are still not fully fledged and look as if their clothes are too short for them;

cheeping loudly, they follow one on their long legs, or walk close to the mother hen.

When I Make Myself Imagine

When I make myself imagine what it is like to be one of those women who live at home, faithfully serving

their husbands, women who have not a single exciting prospect in life yet who believe that they are

perfectly happy, I am filled with scorn. Often they are of quite good birth, yet have had no opportunity to

find out what the world is like. I wish they could live for a while in our society, even if it should mean

taking service as Attendants, so that they might come to know the delights it has to offer.

I cannot bear men who believe that women serving in the Palace are bound to be frivolous and wicked. Yet

I suppose their prejudice is understandable. After all, women at Court do not spend their time hiding

modestly behind fans and screens, but walk about, looking openly at people they chance to meet. Yes, they

see everyone face to face, not only ladies -in -waiting like themselves, but even Their Imperial Majesties

(whose august names I hardly dare mention), H igh Court Nobles, senior courtiers, and other gentlemen of

high rank. In the presence of such exalted personages, the women in the Palace are all equally brazen,

whether they be the maids of ladies -in -waiting, or the relations of Court ladies who have come to visit

them, or housekeepers, or latrine -cleaners, or women who are of no more value than a roof -tile or a

pebble. Small wonder that the young men regard them as immodest! Yet are the gentlemen themselves

any less so? They are not exactly bashful when i t comes to looking at the great people in the Palace. No,

everyone at Court is much the same in this respect.

Women who have served in the Palace, but who later get married and live at home, are called Madam and

receive the most respectful treatment. To be sure, people often consider that these women, who have displayed their faces to all and sundry during their years at Court, are lacking in feminine grace. How

proud they must be, nevertheless, when they are styled Assistant Attendants, or summoned to the Palace

for occasional duty, or ordered to serve as Imperial envoys during the Kamo Festival! Even those who stay

at home lose nothing by having served at Court. In fact they make very good wives. For example, if they

are married to a provincial governor and their daughter is chosen to take part in the Gosechi dances, they

do not have to disgrace themselves by acting like provincials and asking other people about procedure.

They themselves are well versed in the formalities, which is just as it should be.

Depressing Things

A dog howling in the daytime. A lying -in room when the baby has died. A cold, empty brazier. An ox -

driver who hates his oxen.

A letter arrives from the provinces, but no gift accompanies it. It would be bad enough if such a letter

reached o ne in the provinces from someone in the capital; but then at least it would have interesting news

about goings -on in society, and that would be a consolation.

One has written a letter, taking pains to make it as attractive as possible, and now one impatien tly awaits

the reply. "Surely the messenger should be back by now," one thinks. Just then he returns; but in his hand

he carries, not a reply, but one's own letter, still twisted or knotted as it was sent, but now so dirty and

crumpled that even the ink -ma rk on the outside has disappeared. "Not at home," announces the

messenger, or else, "They said they were observing a day of abstinence and would not accept it." Oh, how

depressing!

Again, one has sent one's carriage to fetch someone who had said he would d efinitely pay one a visit on

that day. Finally it returns with a great clatter, and the servants hurry out with cries of "Here they come!"

But next one hears the carriage being pulled into the coach -house, and the unfastened shafts clatter to the

ground. " What does this mean?" one asks. "The person was not at home," replies the driver, "and will not

be coming." So saying, he leads the ox back to its stall, leaving the carriage in the coach -house.

With much bustle and excitement a young man has moved into th e house of a certain family as the

daughter's husband. One day he fails to come home, and it turns out that some high -ranking Court lady

has taken him as her lover. How depressing! "Will he eventually tire of the woman and come back to us?"

his wife's family wonders ruefully.

The nurse who is looking after a baby leaves the house, saying that she will be back presently. Soon the

child starts crying for her. One tries to comfort it by games and other diversions, and even sends a

message to the nurse telling her to return immediately. Then comes her reply: "I am afraid that I cannot

be back this evening." This is not only depressing; it is no less than hateful. Yet how much more distressed

must be the young man who has sent a messenger to fetch a lady friend a nd who awaits her arrival in

vain!

It is quite late at night and a woman has been expecting a visitor. Hearing finally a stealthy tapping, she

sends her maid to open the gate and lies waiting excitedly. But the name announced by the maid is that of

someone with whom she has absolutely no connection. Of all the depressing things this is by far the worst.

One has sent a friend a verse that turned out fairly well. How depressing when there is no reply -poem!

Even in the case of love poems, people should at leas t answer that they were moved at receiving the

message, or something of the sort; otherwise they will cause the keenest disappointment. Someone who lives in a bustling, fashionable household receives a message from an elderly person who is

behind the times and has very little to do; the poem, of course, is old -fashioned and dull. How depressing!

One needs a particularly beautiful fan for some special occasion and instructs an artist, in whose talents

one has full confidence, to decorate one with an appropri ate painting. When the day comes and the fan is

delivered, one is shocked to see how badly it has been painted. Oh, the dreariness of it!

A man has moved in as a son -in -law; yet even now, after some five years of marriage, the lying -in room

has remained as quiet as on the day of his arrival.

An elderly couple who have several grown -up children, and who may even have some grand - children

crawling about the house, are taking a nap in the daytime. The children who see them in this state are

overcome by a forlorn feeling, and for other people it is all very depressing.

Persistent rain on the last day of the year.

One has been observing a period of fast, but neglects it for just one day: most depressing.

Hateful Things

One is in a hurry to leave, but one's visitor keeps chattering away. If it is someone of no importance, one

can get rid of him by saying, "You must tell me all about it next time"; but, should it be the sort of visitor

whose presence commands one's best be haviour, the situation is hateful indeed.

A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as

though he knew everything.

A man with whom one is having an affair keeps singing the praises of some woman he used t o know. Even

if it is a thing of the past this can be very annoying. How much more so if he is still seeing the woman! (Yet

sometimes I find that it is not as unpleasant as all that.)

The sound of dogs when they bark for a long time in chorus is ominous an d hateful.

A lover who is leaving at dawn announces that he has to find his fan and his paper. "I know I put them

somewhere last night," he says. Since it is pitch dark, he gropes about the room, bumping into the

furniture and muttering, "Strange! Where on earth can they be?" Finally he discovers the objects. He

thrusts the paper into the breast of his robe with a great rustling sound; then he snaps open his fan and

busily fans away with it. Only now is he ready to take his leave. What charmless behaviour! Hateful is an

understatement.

Equally disagreeable is the man who, when leaving in the middle of the night, takes care to fasten the cord

of his head -dress. This is quite unnecessary; he could perfectly well put it gently on his head without tying

the cord. And why must he spend time adjusting his cloak or hunting costume? Does he really think

someone may see him at this time of night and criticise him for not being impeccably dressed?

A good lover will behave as elegantly at dawn as at any other time. He d rags himself out of bed with a look

of dismay on his face. The lady urges him on: "Come, my friend, it's getting light. You don't want anyone

to find you here." He gives a deep sigh, as if to say that the night has not been nearly long enough and that

it is agony to leave. Once up, he does not instantly pull on his trousers. Instead he comes close to the lady and whispers whatever was left unsaid during the night. Even when he is dressed, he still lingers, vaguely

pretending to be fastening his sash.

Presently he raises the lattice, and the two lovers stand together by the side door while he tells her how he

dreads the coming day, which will keep them apart; then he slips away. The lady watches him go, and this

moment of parting will remain among her most ch arming memories.

Indeed, one's attachment to a man depends largely on the elegance of his leave -taking.

Things That Make One's Heart Beat Faster

Sparrows feeding their young. To pass a place where babies are playing. To sleep in a room where some

fine incense has been burnt. To notice that one's elegant Chinese mirror has become a little cloudy.

To see a gentleman stop his carriage before one's gate and instruct his attendants to announce his arrival.

To wash one's hair, make one's toilet, and put on scente d robes; even if not a soul sees one, these

preparations still produce an inner pleasure.

It is night and one is expecting a visitor. Suddenly one is startled by the sound of raindrops, which the

wind blows against the shutters.

Things That Arouse a Fond M emory of 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.

An d then one comes across the letters of a man one used to love.

Last year's paper fan. A night with a clear moon.

Splendid Things

Chinese brocade. A sword with a decorated scabbard. The grain of the wood in a Buddhist statue. Long

flowering branches of beau tifully coloured wisteria entwined about a pine tree.

Despite his low station, a Chamberlain of the Sixth Rank is a splendid thing. To think that he is allowed

yellowish -green robes of figured material and cloth that even young noblemen of the finest famil ies are

forbidden to wear! A mere Assistant or Subordinate Official in the Emperor's Private Office, who is the

son of a commoner and who has gone completely unnoticed while serving under gentlemen of rank with

official posts, becomes splendid beyond words after being appointed Chamberlain.

Awkward Things

One has gone to a house and asked to see someone; but the wrong person appears, thinking that it is he

who is wanted; this is especially awkward if one has brought a present. One has allowed oneself to speak badly about someone without really intending to do so; a young child

who has overheard it all goes and repeats what one has said in front of the person in question.

Someone sobs out a pathetic story. One is deeply moved; but it so happens that not a sin gle tear comes to

one's eyes, most awkward. Though one makes one's face look as if one's going to cry, it is no use: not a

single tear will come. Yet there are times when, having heard something happy, one feels the tears

streaming out.

Things That Give a Clean Feeling

An earthen cup. A new metal bowl. A rush mat. The play of the light on water as one pours it into a vessel.

A new wooden chest.

Things That Give an Unclean Feeling

A rat's nest. Someone who is late in washing his hands in the morning. White s nivel, and children who

sniffle as they walk. The containers used for oil. Little sparrows.

A person who does not bathe for a long time even though the weather is hot. All faded clothes give me an

unclean feeling, especially those that have glossy colours .