The Pillow Book is famous for its opening line, "In spring, the dawn." Its author, Sei Shōnagon, had long dreamed of serving at the imperial court. When that dream finally came true, it brought her as much anxiety as it did joy. She gradually earned the trust of those around her by making the most of her natural talents — but life at court was far from perfect, and she faced her share of gossip and unkindness. The Pillow Book is the diary in which she recorded the events of that court life and t...
