枕草子(まくらのそうし)

まくらのそうし
noun
The Pillow Book (c. 1000), by Sei Shōnagon
proper-nounwork-nameculturehistory
1. The Pillow Book
A collection of essays, lists, and anecdotes written around the year 1000 by 清少納言(せいしょうなごん), a lady-in-waiting at the Heian court. With its sharp observations of court life and nature, it is regarded as the first great work of the Japanese essay form, 随筆(ずいひつ).
枕草子(まくらのそうし)は随筆(ずいひつ)だ。
The Pillow Book is a collection of essays.
枕草子(まくらのそうし)は「春(はる)はあけぼの」で始(はじ)まる。
The Pillow Book begins with "In spring, the dawn."
古典(こてん)の授業(じゅぎょう)で枕草子(まくらのそうし)の冒頭(ぼうとう)を暗記(あんき)させられたのを覚(おぼ)えている。
I remember being made to memorize the opening of The Pillow Book in classical Japanese class.

Note the reading: 枕(まくら)の草子(そうし), with an unwritten の.

Common expressions

  • 春(はる)はあけぼの: "In spring, the dawn" — the famous opening line, which names the best time of each season
  • 清少納言(せいしょうなごん): the author
  • 三大随筆(さんだいずいひつ): the three great classical essay collections, with 方丈記(ほうじょうき) and 徒然草(つれづれぐさ)

Cultural note

It is often paired with 源氏物語(げんじものがたり), and its author with that tale's author, 紫式部(むらさきしきぶ), who served a rival empress. Its lists of "things that are delightful" and "things that are annoying" still inspire modern imitations.

general
Added 2026.9.23 15:51 · Revised 2026.9.23 15:54
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