Diaries of Court Ladies of Old JapanBecause women in ancient Japan enjoyed high status, they were well-educated and reasonably independent. They also produced much of the country's best literature. Three of these amazing ladies wrote these diaries, among them the highly skilled writer Murasaki Shikibu (ca. 973-1025 a.d.). A lady-in-waiting to the Japanese Empress, she became very adept at observing the daily activities and attitudes of the upper classes. Her diary is a remarkable record of events staged with rare and exquisite taste. The Sarashina Diary, filled with an appreciation of nature, begins with a nine-year-old girl's dreams and ends with the grown woman's account of her husband's funeral (1009-1059 a.d.). Izumi Shikibu's diary is a delicately written work, with poetic thoughts characteristic of the lady's shy reserve. Brimming with poetry and understated social observations, all three provide an extraordinary glimpse of court life in old Japan. Unabridged republication of the edition originally published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1920. 2 color illustrations. 12 black-and-white illustrations. Appendix. |
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Common terms and phrases
answer Autumn beautiful bright brocade Buddha called ceremony Chinese colour corridor court nobles Dainagon dance dark daughter dawn door dream dress feeling felt flowers Fujiwara Fujiwara family garden gazing Genji Genji Monogatari Governor GUSTAV STICKLEY hair heard heart Heian Period honourable illustrations Inari god Izumi Shikibu Japan Japanese Kamo shrine karaginu King King's Kioto Lady Dainagon Lady Koshosho Lady Saisho Lake Biwa leaves letter Lieutenant-General live Lord Prime Minister Majesty messenger Mikado mind misu month moon morning mountain Murasaki Shikibu Murasaki Shikibu Diary Nara Period never night palace palanquin passed person poem priest Prime Minister's Prince Prince's Princess Province Queen rain romances Royal City Sarashina Diary saying seemed sent Shōguns shrine silk sleep sleeves song sorrow sudaré sutras Tachibana talk tears temple things thought translation uchigi veranda waiting wind wish words wore write young