Sei Shōnagon

Quotes

• “Splendid Things / Chinese brocade. A sword with a decorated scabbard. The grain of the wood in a Buddhist statue. Long flowering branches of beautifully coloured wistaria entwined about a pine tree.”

• “Things That Lose by Being Painted / Pinks, cherry blossoms, yellow roses. Men or women who are praised in romances as being beautiful.Things That Gain by Being Painted / Pines. Autumn fields. Mountain villages and paths. Cranes and deer.”

• “A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses all sorts of subjects at random as though he knew everything.”

Books by Sei Shōnagon in order

Books by Sei Shōnagon in the order they were published, from The Pillow-book of Sei Shōnagon (1917) to Sankanbon Makura No Soshi Honbun Shusei (1999).

1. 1The Pillow-book of Sei ShōnagonThe Pillow-book of Sei Shōnagon1917
2. 2The Sketch Book of the Lady Sei ShōnagonThe Sketch Book of the Lady Sei Shōnagon1930
3. 3Makura No Soshi ShuchuMakura No Soshi Shuchu1931
4. 4Les notes de chevet de Séi Shonagon. ThèseLes notes de chevet de Séi Shonagon. Thèse1934
5. 5Les Notes De Chevet De Séi Shōnagon', Dame D'honneur Au PaLes Notes De Chevet De Séi Shōnagon', Dame D'honneur Au Palais De Kyōto1934
6. 6Makura no sōshi hyōshakuMakura no sōshi hyōshaku1940
7. 7Das KopfkissenbuchDas Kopfkissenbuch1952
8. 8Skai Bon Makura No SoshiSkai Bon Makura No Soshi1956
9. 9Zenko Makura No SoshiZenko Makura No Soshi1965
10. 10The Pillow BookThe Pillow Book1967
11. 11The Pillow Book of Sei Sh*onagonThe Pillow Book of Sei Sh*onagon1971
12. 12Makura no sōshi shōMakura no sōshi shō1972
13. 13Sei Shōnagon shūSei Shōnagon shū1972
14. 14Kōchū Makura no sōshiKōchū Makura no sōshi1975
15. 15Makura No Sōshi NukigakiMakura No Sōshi Nukigaki1981
16. 16Lointain et procheLointain et proche1991
17. 17Sankanbon Makura No Soshi Honbun ShuseiSankanbon Makura No Soshi Honbun Shusei1999