
The author of The Pillow Book mastered the trending hashtag and the snarky tweet ten centuries before anyone had ever heard of Twitter…
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@seishonagon One has gone to bed and is about to doze off when a mosquito appears, announcing himself in a reedy voice #hatefulthings
@seishonagon One has been foolish enough to invite a man to spend the night in an unsuitable place – and then he starts snoring #hatefulthings
@seishonagon One is telling a story when someone breaks in with a detail he happens to know, implying that one’s own version is inaccurate #hatefulthings
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@seishonagon When the ornamental comb one has ordered turns out to be pretty #pleasingthings
@seishonagon I look for an object that I need at once, and I find it #pleasingthings
@seishonagon Finding a large number of tales that one has not read before #pleasingthings
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@seishonagon A man recites his own poems (not especially good ones) and tells one about the praise they have received #embarrassingthings
@seishonagon Lying awake at night, one says something to one’s companion, who simply goes on sleeping #embarrassingthings
@seishonagon To have spoken about someone not knowing that he could overhear #embarrassingthings
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@seishonagon A very cold winter scene #thingsthatgainbybeingpainted
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@seishonagon Cherry blossoms #thingsthatlosebybeingpainted
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@seishonagon The inside of a cat’s ear #squalidthings
@seishonagon The back of a piece of embroidery #squalidthings
@seishonagon Darkness in a place that does not give the impression of being very clean #squalidthings
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@seishonagon A large tree that has blown down in a gale, and lies on its side with its roots in the air #thingsthathavelosttheirpower
@seishonagon A man of no importance reprimanding an attendant #thingsthathavelosttheirpower
@seishonagon The retreating figure of a sumo wrestler who has been defeated in a match #thingsthathavelosttheirpower
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@seishonagon The last day of the Twelfth Month and the first of the First #thingsthataredistantthoughnear
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@seishonagon Priests. Fruit. Houses. Inksticks for inkstones #thingsthatshouldbelarge
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These are all quotes from the Ivan Morris translation of The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, written by a woman who lived a thousand years ago.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon

“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
I HAVE THE PILLOW BOOK AND LOVE IT! This is RAD. Love love your blog!!
Sent from my iPhone with Love
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My sistah in 10th century snark!