The Pillow Book, or 'Makura no Sōshi', is a personal and informal journal written by Sei Shōnagon during the 990s and early 1000s. It contains a wide range of entries including lists, nature descriptions, diary entries, character sketches, and anecdotes. The book provides a detailed and vivid picture of life in the Heian court, showcasing Shōnagon's wit, poetic skill, and keen observation of detail. It is considered a significant historical document and a landmark in Japanese literature, influencing the genre of 'zuihitsu' or 'assorted writings'. The text is written primarily in Japanese hiragana and offers insights into the daily life, ceremonies, and social dynamics of the Heian period[2][3][5].
Written in the 11th century, 'The Tale of Genji' is a comprehensive narrative that explores the life of Prince Genji, the 'Shining Prince', against the backdrop of Japan's Heian period. The novel delves into Genji's numerous romantic entanglements, personal struggles, and the societal expectations he faces. It is a rich tapestry of themes including love, fleeting beauty, and the complexities of relationships defined by honor, desire, and tragedy. The story also provides a detailed insight into the culture of the aristocracy in early Heian Japan, including its forms of entertainment, daily life, and moral code. The novel is known for its poetic and aesthetic elements, incorporating over 800 waka poems, and its exploration of human emotions and the transience of life[1][3][5].
In the vibrant but vicious golden age of Imperial Japan, how did women use writing as a way to secure their status, and express their deepest desires? Who was Sei Shōnagon, the witty courtier whose account of life around the Japanese Empress during the iconic Heian period, provides a scintillating insight into this colourful world? And, behind the sophisticated melee of the Imperial court, with its elegance and decorum, what risks and hazards haunted every aspiring courtier…?
Join Tom and Dominic for the climax to their tantalising journey into the beating heart of Imperial Japan, and the remarkable woman whose moving, keenly perceptive, but also slyly venomous, insights into this complicated arena, bring it flamboyantly to life.
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
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The Rest Is History 
