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Sei Shonagon (清少納言, ~965-10??)
was a Japanese
author. Sei (清) comes from the
Kiyohara (清原) clan and Shonagon was a government post. Her real name
is unknown.
She was a daughter of
Kiyowara no Motosuke, was a
Court lady at the time of
Emperor Ichijo and served
Empress Sadako.
Shonagon is famous through her major work,
The Pillow Book (Makura no Soshi). The Pillow Book is a
collection of lists, gossip, poetry, observations, complaints and anything
else she found of interest during her years in the court during the
Heian Period.
She is known for her rivalry with her contemporary
Lady Murasaki, the author of
The Tale of Genji.
There are no details about Shonagon's life after the death during
childbirth of Empress Sadako in
1000, though The Pillow Book is thought to have been finished
sometime between
1001 and
1010.
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