Worlding sei shonagon the pillow book in translation

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. The pillow book of sei shonagon, the diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan. It is also the best source of information on japanese court life. Arthur waleys elegant translation of the pillow book of sei shonagon captures the beauty of its prose and the vitality of shonagons narrative voice, as well as her quirky personality traits. Focusing on how they underpin or resist orientalizing themes and attitudes, i consider the multiple and. Mar 10, 2011 arthur waleys elegant translation of the pillow book of sei shonagon captures the beauty of its prose and the vitality of shonagon s narrative voice, as well as her quirky personality traits. In this 5 part program, karen lindsey reads professor ivan morris translation of the pillow book, 1967 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. Short stories by women writers from odisha athabasca university press 2016. The pillow book in translation university of ottawa press, 2012. 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 author is sei shonagon, and she was given some notebooks that were lying around the palace that no one else wanted. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, arthur waley perfectly conveys sei shonagons girlish temperament and quirky.

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. Mar 11, 2012 the pillow book is a collection of anecdotes and personal reflections on life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the 11th century by a woman known as sei shonagon. Sei shonagon as depicted in a midedo woodblock print. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even. A translation from an old and resistant language must read as easily and well. Sei shonagons pillow book makura no soshi is the private journal of a ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan written during the 990s. Its lyrical style and compelling images have captured the imagination of readers worldwide. Without the vividness of her personality, the words turn to dust. Read the pillow book of sei shonagon classics ebook online.

Composed around by a ladyinwaiting at the imperial court, the work holds an unassailable. This article examines sei shonagons pillow book as an eastern text that. The work of shonagon consists of a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems, and descriptive passages that have little. In this collaborative volume, henitiuk excavates the culture of modern literary translation by unearthing, charting, and cataloging virtually every known translation, into a european language, of the opening passage of sei shonagons pillow book. The pillow book, makura no soshi is a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon. A critique of arthur waleys translation of the japanese classic the pillow book of sei shonagon slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Valerie henitiuk the makura no s shi, or the pillow book as it is generally known in english, is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes on life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the. Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186. 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. The pillow book in translation university of ottawa press 2012. The pillow book, makura no soshi 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 s in heian japan. The pillow book in translation perspectives on translation bigexe.

The pillow book is an extreme example of a work that has lived past its time, and. Valerie henitiuk the makura no sshi, or the pillow book as it is generally known in english, is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes on life in the japanese. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, sei shonagons private writings give the reader a charming.

The pillowbook of sei shonagon translated by ivan morris. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, sei shonagon s private writings give the reader a charming. This article examines sei shonagons pillow book as an eastern text that, from a western perspective, acquires meaning only when articulated by the west, albeit in forms that would prove unrecognizable to its author or her contemporaries. I call it a diary but the pillow book is so much more. Sei shonagon, the author of the pillow book, was born in 966 or 967, the daughter of kiyohara no motosuke.

The pillow book of sei shonagon, the diary of a courtesan in tenth century japan, tr. The iohp aimed to preserve inuit cultural traditions and knowledge through a total of 400 taped interviews with elders in the community, capturing. In this 5 part program, karen lindsey reads professor ivan morris translation of the pillow book, 1967 a book of observations and musings recorded by sei shonagon during her time as court lady to empress consort teishi. In the west, frequent references to thousandyearold masterpieces such as the tale of genji and the pillow book suggest that although born in a particular national context, such works now possess a new life as international cultural artefacts. 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 is a collection of anecdotes and personal reflections on life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the 11th century by a woman known as sei shonagon. Review the pillow book of sei shonagon arthur waley. Our languages say fundamentally the same sorts of things about world and experience. Ebook the pillow book of sei shonagon free online video. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating look at japanese court culture during the 11th century heian period 794 to 1186.

Valerie henitiuk born 1963 in manning, alberta is an awardwinning scholar researching aspects of the intersection of translation studies, world literature, inuit literature, japanese literature, and womens writing. Buy the pillow book of sei shonagon penguin classics by sei shonagon, ivan morris, ivan morris isbn. Sei shonagon views the snow in yamato province, by utagawa. The pillow book in translation perspectives on translation 9780776607283. Valerie henitiuk the makura no sshi, or the pillow book as it is generally known in english, is a collection of personal reflections and anecdotes on life in the japanese royal court composed around the turn of the. Sei served her empress during the late heian period a particularly vibrant time for japanese arts and the beginning of japans feudal age and was a contemporary of. Sei shonagon, diarist, poet, and courtier whose witty, learned pillow book makura no soshi 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 7941185. Valerie henitiuk the makura no soshi, or the pillow book as 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 pillow book is a journal written by a tenthcentury ladyinwaiting to the empress of japan. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them.

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. Isbn 9780776607283 full text not available from this repository. 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. In it she included lists of all kinds, personal thoughts, interesting events in court, poetry and some opinions on. 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. Annual glendon graduate conference in translation studies. The pillow book is her journal, and the topics she covers are varied. Jun 16, 2012 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. Nov 30, 2006 the pillow book ebook written by sei shonagon. 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. He wishes he had had time to complete the whole work personal communication, but in any case has opted to reorder these fourteen translated postings as he sees fit. The pillow book is a collection of anecdotes and personal. The pillow book in translation, by valerie henitiuk 2011 unbinding the pillow book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Unfortunately, the pillow book is the only remaining text by sei shonagon, and her life after she left court in a. The pillow book in translation perspectives on translation author henitiuk, valerie formatbinding paperback book condition used good binding paperback isbn 10 0776607286 isbn 9780776607283 publisher university of ottawa press place of publication ottawa date published 2012 keywords japanese literature heian japan. Sei shonagon is in fact still very much alive and asserting herself, at the very centre of her work. 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. Embodied boundaries, on liminal metaphor in womens writing in english, french and japanese gateway press, 2007. All too often, however, the globalization of japanese literature reveals a quite astonishing persistence of orientalist and otherwise. The pillow book in translation perspectives on translation at. In this collaborative volume, henitiuk excavates the culture of modern literary translation by unearthing, charting, and cataloging virtually every known translation, into a european language, of the opening passage of sei shnagons pillow book. Shop amongst our popular books, including 14, the pillow book, the pillow book of sei shonagon and more from sei shonagon. The pillow book makura no soshi is a personalised account of life at the japanese court by sei shonagon which she completed c. Henitiuk has been a visiting scholar at both harvard and. Its opening section, which beginsharu wa akebono, or spring, dawn, is arguably the single most famous passage. The pillow book, on the other hand, is a plain record of fact, and being at least ten times as long as murasakis diary, and far more varied in contents, it is the most important document of the period that we possess.

Worlding sei shonagon guides the reader through the remarkable translation history ofthe pillow bookin the west, gathering almost fifty translations of the spring, dawn passage, which span onehundredandthirtyfive years and sixteen languages. Worlding sei shonagon by valerie henitiuk overdrive. Sorry, we are unable to provide the full text but you may find it at the following locations. Short stories by women of orissa for the indian publisher rupantar 2010, she has published the following books. The pillow book in translation, by valerie henitiuk 2011. Apr 21, 2016 a critique of arthur waleys translation of the japanese classic the pillow book of sei shonagon slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the pillow book. The pillow book of sei shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of japanese court life in the eleventh century.