Sei Shonagon (dates unknown) was a Japanese poet and essayist of the mid-Heian period. The daughter of the poet Kiyohara no Motosuke, she was well versed in both Japanese and Chinese literature. Around 993, she entered the service of Empress Teishi, consort of Emperor Ichijo. Her best-known work, “Makura no Soshi” (“The Pillow Book”), records court life, personal encounters, seasonal scenes, and observations of everyday things. Combining memoir, character sketches, lists, and reflections, the work preserves a vivid account of the wit, taste, and aesthetic values of the Heian court.
