The Pillow Book
The Pillow Book (枕草子, Makura no sōshi) is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Sadako during the 990s and early 1000s in Heian Japan. The book was completed in the year 1002.
In it she included lists of all kinds, personal thoughts, interesting events in court, poetry and some opinions on her contemporaries. While it is mostly a personal work, Shōnagon's writing and poetic skill makes it interesting as a work of literature, and it is valuable as an historical document. Part of it was revealed to the Court by accident during Shōnagon's life. The book has been translated into English by Ivan Morris.
There is a film of the same name by director Peter Greenaway, which deals with a contemporary story but references the literary work.
Other pillow books that have been written include Aidan Chambers' This Is All, the Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn. A pillow book is a collection of notebooks or notes which have been collated to show a period of someone or something's life, in the case of Cordelia Kenn, it showed her life and thoughts so that her daughter could relive her past.
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