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Sei Shōnagon

Type Figure Region Japan Time c. 966–1025 Also known as Sei Shōnagon (Kiyohara no Nagayo)

Sei Shōnagon was a court lady and essayist of the mid-to-late Heian period, born around 966 and dying around 1025, famed for The Pillow Book and the …

Timeline

  1. c. 966–990Heian-kyō · Kyoto PrefectureSei Shōnagon was born into the Kiyohara clan; her father, Kiyohara no Motosuke, was a renowned waka poet. Raised on waka and Chinese learning from childhood, she later entered court service as a lady-in-waiting, becoming known for her learning and wit.
  2. c. 991–1000Inner quarters of Emperor Ichijō · Kyoto PrefectureWhile serving Empress Fujiwara no Sadako as Lesser Secretary, she recorded the court's seasonal scenery, affairs, and personal feelings, compiled as The Pillow Book. Famous lines such as 'In spring, it is the dawn that is most beautiful' embody Heian aesthetics, and her prose style is free and agile.
  3. c. 1000–1025Japan · JapanAfter Sadako's death, Sei Shōnagon left the court; she may have remarried or lived in seclusion, and records of her later years are scarce. The Pillow Book was widely transcribed in later ages and became a model of classical Japanese essay writing.

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