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(★)(The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan)(1.Japan in the 10th century stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Inside this cultural bubble, a subtle and beautiful world was in operation, and its inhabitants were delicately tied to the moment, having no interest in the future and disdain for the past. In a small diary, a young courtesan of the Heian period gives her account of the Japanese courts of the day, providing personal perspective on a unique time in Japanese history. Sei Shonagon was a contemporary of the author of ´The Tale of Genji´, murasaki Shikibu, so her story brings an added dimension to Murasaki´s timeless and seminal work. It was in this small diary that Sei Shonagon kept notes on the intrigues, foibles, and habits of Japan´s 10th century court life. Waley´s elegant translation reflects Sei Shonagon´s girlish temperament and her quirky personality traits. In a place and time where poetry was an important as knowledge, and beauty was highly revered, Sei Shonagon´s private writings gives the reader a charming and intimate glimpse into a time of isolated innocence and pale beauty. 2.´The Pillow Book´ was a product of a tenth century courtier´s experiences in the palace of Empress Teishi. The title refers to a custom common among courtiers of keeping notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. Shonagon´s genius lay in her confident aesthetic judgments and her ability to create prose that many times crossed into the realm of the poetic. ´The Pillow Book´ is one of the earliest examples of diary literature whose passages chronicle the events of the court calendar, the ceremonies and celebrations specific to Teishi´s court, and the vignettes that provide brilliantly drawn glimpses into the manners and foibles of the aristocracy. Waley´s classic English translation of ´The Pillow Book´ captures the beauty of its prose and the vitality of Shonagon´s narrative voice. 3.Arthur Waley [1889-1966] taught himself Chinese and Japanese after being appointed Assistant Keeper of Oriental Prints and Manuscripts at the British Museum in order to help catalog the paintings in the museum´s collection. He went on to renown as one of the most respected translators of Asian classics into English of his time. His long list of translated works includes ´The Tale of Genji´,´Monkey [The Journey to the West]´,´The Noh Plays of Japan´, and ´The Analects of Confucius´.) |
BASE de DATOS, Biblioteca del Centro Cultural de la Embajada de Japon
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