History Assignment

The Pillow Book is a collection of obervations
recorded by Sei Shonagon during her time as a
court lady in the 990's and early 1000's in Heian
Japan. The Pillow Book is one of the great
classics of Japanese literature and is by far our
most detailed source of factual material on life in
eleventh-century Japan at the height of Heian culture. In class we have discussed Japanese etiquette and aesthetics, and in The Pillow Book, it clearly stands out as you observe the elegant court life move about.