The Pillow Book

In spring, the dawn — when the slowly paling mountain rim is tinged with red, and wisps of faintly crimson-purple cloud float in the sky.

The Pillow Book is a work of medieval Japanese literature from the Heian period, roughly 800-1200. Written by Sei Shonagon, a woman in the lower level court that served Empress Consort Teishi (定子). This isn't so much of a book per se, and definitely not a novel in the traditional sense, never mind the fact that the idea of a traditional novel didn't exist back then. However, her contemporary was Murasaki Shikibu, author of the famous Tale of Genji, a contemporary, woman serving in the court. Both of these works are studied in Japanese high school to this day. In fact, when Japanese study classical Japanese, it is the Heian period that they go to. 

The book is full of essays, lists, anecdotes, and personal thoughts. When I first started reading it I thought it was all over the place, and it really is. The Pillow Book reads like a conversation from Heian Japan. You get a sense of the character of Sei Shonagon, which is what Meredith McKinney focused on. She wanted to get the voice of the character done in a certain way, that is relatable some thousand years later. Did she get it right? I would say yes. Reading this book is somewhat of personal experience. I found myself smiling at things that were funny and likable, and likewise demurred when Sei said mean girl things. You feel like you are getting to know Sei and how she lives in Heian Japan, ultimately alien, foreign soil for me. Because of that, it is a true work of art, literature. 

In the McKinney translation, Sei comes across as personable but somewhat thorny. Basically, she isn't perfect. There's a mean girls vibe to some of the statements she makes but it doesn't dominate the text. But when you see it you do take notice. Were women really like that back then in Japan? Women are like that today! It's funny in a way how natural Sei comes across in the McKinney translation. Rather than translate the language in a dramatically different way, McKinney decided to change the voice of the character herself in her own inimitable way, that is personable, relatable. It's like listening to a Heian period woman, talks about her life, like a diary but better, much better because she comes across as likable and engaging rather than boring and nonstop. 

My favorite element of the Pillow Book is the anecdotes and stories. Stories of men who are clumsy with poetry, or retreat into hiding if they've walked in a woman's room. What festivals were like as the season changed. What it was like serving an Empress, whom you greatly loved and admired, despite you being of lesser rank, and never having the chance to be like her.  

If I were to compare the Tale of Genji [review here] to the Pillow Book, I would say the Pillow Book is breezy and personable, and that the Tale of Genji is more elusive and poetic. Both great works, vastly different. Sei has a way of explaining her world like a diary, that is in invaluable in respect to Japanese history. In short, its something of a masterpiece. 

"In autumn, the evening — the blazing sun has sunk very close to the mountain rim, and now even the crows, in threes and fours or twos and threes, hurrying to their roost, are a moving sight. Still more enchanting is the sight of a string of wild geese in the distant sky, very tiny. And oh how inexpressible, when the sun has sunk, to hear in the growing darkness the wind, and the song of autumn insects."