Sei Shōnagon
Videos
Sei Shōnagon, or Seijo, was a Japanese author, poet, and court lady who served the Empress Teishi around the year 1000, during the middle Heian period. She is the author of The Pillow Book.
Sei Shōnagon, illustration from an issue of Hyakunin Isshu (Edo period)
Sei Shōnagon in a later 13th-century drawing
Sei Shōnagon in a later 17th-century drawing
Sei Shōnagon, drawing by Kikuchi Yosai (1788–1878)
Murasaki Shikibu
Videos
Murasaki Shikibu, or Shijo, was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court in the Heian period. She was best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, widely considered to be
Sei Shōnagon
…them by calling him her big brother and her his little sister." Shōnagon is also known for her rivalry with her contemporary, writer and court lady Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji who served the Empress Shoshi, second consort of the Emperor Ichijō. Murasaki Shikibu wrote about Shōnagon – somewhat…
Designated one of the One Hundred Poets, Murasaki is shown dressed in a violet kimono, the color associated with her name, in this Edo period illustration.
Fujiwara no Michinaga (19th century monochrome illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai) became extremely powerful during Murasaki's lifetime.
A Tosa-school mid- to late 17th century yamato-e of Heian courtiers by Tosa Mitsuoki, shows women dressed in jūnihitoe and with floor-length hair.
A Tosa Mitsuoki illustration of Heian court women in the winter, late 17th century