8/12/2019 Hateful Things by Sei Shonagon

1/4

lz z) Plutarcb

been just quenched can be rekindled bystrength: and so it is with the soul which

the body. It is made to pass the gates ofdeath as quickly as possible, before it conceives too great a love for thethings of this world and is rendered effeminate by the body and fusedwith it as by some drug.

The truth concerning these matters is emphasized in our ancient andtraditional laws and usages. For those who die in infancy we do not offerthe libations or other funeral rites which are customary in the case ofother dead because children have no share in earth or earthly concerns.Nor do we visit their tombs and monuments or keep solemn wakes attheir bodies. Our laws do not permit such practices because it is an impi-ous thing to mourn for those who are so quickly translated to a betterregion and a divine lot. And now inasmuch as it is harder to reject ourtraditions than to trust them, let us comport ourselves outwardly as thelaws prescribe, and let our inward conduct be even more untainted andpure and sensible.

-Translatedby Moses Hadas

SEI SHONAGON,\'u Sbonagon (exact dates unknown) uas a court lady in tenth-century lepantt,lto kept an inimitable journal recording ber likes, ber dislikes, and tbe('ucnts around ber. Sbe liued in tbe Heian era, a period of bigh culture wbicb,tlto produced her riual, the nouelist Lady Murasaki (TaJe of Genji)..\'ltonagon's Pillow Book renains fresh and deligbtful, partly because thettull)ol was such an unapologetic mauerick-an outspoken, truly indeper-,lt'nl uomcn.

In her work, she is an inueterate list-keeper: "Ernbarrassing Tbings,"" l)cpressing Tbings," "Hateful Things," "Elegant Tbings" . Tbese lists1,,'tome tbe matrix for Sbonagon's judgrnents: sbe bas a perfectionist sense ofl,t,tu cuerytbingought to be, doun to the smallest detail. "Oxen should hauet','ry small forebeads," she declares, or "I canflot stand a u)oman wbo utearsrlt'cttt's of unequal length." Witb ber Japanese pencbant for arrangement, shet\ tttt(ntiue to all infractions of seasonal ritual. Sbe scrutinizes tbe pettiest,('ittt:ons of tbe empress for signs of sbiftingfauoritism; sbe can be outra-.ti.'()utly, comically spiteful, and, by our standards, a terrible snob. But\l,ttrt,tgon also has an eartby side; sbe is amusingly frank about bedroon1,,'/,,tut'rtr and secret trysts. Iuan Morris, ber translator, ltrotes, "Her attitudetrt ult'tt uas competitiue to the point of ouert bostility. And, partly,trt'tuk to thi.r cornbaliue spirit, her writing is free of any wbining queruloustru(' 'l'lunglt it uoultl hc stretching things to call tbe Pillow Book a per-\t'nttl .'t\(tt), rl i.r t hrnk-lcngtb ncditalion on /natters personal, and in itst(tf,uurtt ()n ,l ll,t' t'plrrulra of tlaily liIc, it laid thc gntuntlwork for Japa-tt( t(' ('r\ttlt u,nlittll ttf lltt f ttlun'

8/12/2019 Hateful Things by Sei Shonagon

2/4

Hateful Things

NE IS IN A HURRY To LEAVE, butone'svisitorkeeps

of himbe the

chattering away.lf it is someone of no importance, one can get ridby saying, "You must tell me all about it next time"; but, should itsort of visitor whose presence commands one's best behaviour, the

situation is hateful indeed.One finds that a hair has got caught in the stone on which one is rub-

bing one's inkstick, or again that gravel is lodged in the inkstick, making anasty, grating sound.

Someone has suddenly fallen ill and one summons the exorcist. Since heis not at home, one has to send messengers to look for him. After one hashad a long fretful wait, the exorcist finally arfives, and with a sigh of reliefone asks him to start his incantations. But perhaps he has been exorcizingtoo many evil spirits recently; for hardly has he installed himself and be-gun praying when his voice becomes drowsy. Oh, how hatefull-

A man who has nothing in particular to recommend him discusses allsorts of subjects at random as though he knew everything.

An elderly person warms the palms of his hands over a btazier andstretches out the wrinkles. No young man would dream of behaving insuch a fashion; old people can really be quite shameless. I have seen some

spreading out the front of their hunting costume or even tucking it upunder their knees. One might suppose that such behaviour was restrictedto people of humble sration; but I have observed it in quite well-bredp.opl., including a Senior Secretary of the Fifth Rank in the Ministry ofCeremonial and a former Governor of Suruga'

I hate the sight of men in their cups who shout, poke their fingers intheir mouths, stroke their beards, and pass on the wine to their neighbours with great cries of "Have some more Drink up " They trcnlble,shakc thcir hcatls, trvist thcir faccs,,rntl gcsticuliltc likt't'hil.llt'rt wlro arcsirrgirrg, "\r)ilt.'tt.oll lo st'r.tlrt.()ovclrror'." I hrrvt's.'r'rr r.',rllv rr'.'ll l,n'.11.,.',,1,1t'l,t'lr:tr'.'lilit tlris rrrt,l I lirr,l il tttosl .lisl:rstt'lrrl'l,r

ttrvt'ollt,'t'..ttttl lo t,,tlr1,l,titt lll)olllr)ll("\,'tt'tt l'rl. lr' "l",rk ItlrtllVrtl,,,ttl 1,,',,1,1r', l' lrr'lltrllllslllylrllr.rtl lltr'lll.\l lllylrll lllrlllr l',,lllrl l6 l('\('lll

Hateful Tbings Iz s]and abuse people for not telling one, or, if one does manage to worm outsome facts, to inform everyone in the most detailed fashion as if one hadknown all from the beginning----oh, how hateful

One is just about to be told some interesting piece of news when a babystarts crying.

A flight of crows circle about with loud caws.An admirer has come on a clandesdne visit, but a dog catches sight of

him and starts barking. One feels like killing the beast.One has been foolish enough to invite a man to spend the night in an

unsuitable place-and then he starts snoring.A gentleman has visited one secredy. Though he is wearin g a tall,lac-

quered hat, he nevertheless wants no one to see him. He is so flurried, infact, that upon leaving he bangs into something with his hat. Most hatefulIt is annoying too when he lifts up the Iyo blind that hangs at rhe entranceof the room, then lets it fall with a greatrattle. If it is a head-blind, thingsrrre still worse, for being more solid it makes a terrible noise when it is.lropped. There is no excuse for such carelessness. Even a head-blind doesrrot make any noise if one lifts it up gently on entering and leaving theroom; the same applies to sliding-doors. If one's movements are rough,('vcn a paper door will bend and resonate when opened; but, if one liftsthc door a little while pushing it, there need be no sound.

One has gone to bed and is about to doze off when a mosquito appears,,rrrrrouncing himself in a reedy voice. One can actually feel the wind madeI'y his wings and, slight though it is, one finds it hateful in the extreme.

A carriage passes with a nasty, creaking noise. Annoying to think thattlrt'passengers may not even be aware of thisl If I am travelling in some-,'rrt.'s carriage and I hear it creaking, I dislike not only the noise but alsotlrt' owner of the carriage.

( )ne is in the middle of a story when someone butts in and tries to showtlr:rt hc is the only clever person in the room. Such a person is hateful, and

",',irrcleed,

is anyone, child or adult, who tries to push himself forward.( )rrc is telling a story about old dmes when someone breaks in with alrrrlt'tlctail that he happens to know, implying that one's own version is| | r'r( ('urAtc-disgusting behaviour

Vt'r'y hatcful is a mouse that scurries all over the place.S.'rrrt'chiklren have called at one's house. One makes a great fuss of

tlr, rrr irrrtl givcs them roys to play with. The children become accustomedr'tlrs tt'(.rltlltcnt ancl start to come regularly, forcing their way into one's,rr('r r()('r)ls irrrtl sc:rilcring ()nc's [urnishings and possessions. Hateful

A tt'r't :rirr ll('ltll('nriul wh

8/12/2019 Hateful Things by Sei Shonagon

3/4

lzol Sei Sbonagonknowing look, this person starts laying down the law and forcing adviceupon everyone-most hateful.

A man with whom one is having an affaft keeps singing the praises ofsome woman he used to know. Even if it is a thing of the past, this can bevery annoying. How much more so if he is still seeing the woman (Yetsometimes I find that it is not as unpleasant as all that.)

A person who recites a spell himself after sneezing. In fact I detestanyone who sneezes, except the master of the house.

Fleas, too, are very hateful. When they dance about under someone'sclothes, they really seem to be lifting them up.

The sound of dogs when they bark for a long time in chorus is ominousand hateful.

I cannot stand people who leave without closing the panel behind them.How I detest the husbands of nurse-maidsl It is not so bad if the child

in the maid's charge is a girl, because then the man will keep his distance.But, if it is a boy, he will behave as though he were the father. Neverletting the boy out of his sight, he insists on managing everything. Heregards the other attendants in the house as less than human, and, ifanyone tries to scold the child, he slanders him to the master. Despite thisdisgraceful behaviour, no one dare accuse the husband; so he stridesabout the house with a proud, self-important look, giving all the orders.

I hate people whose letters show that they lack respect for worldlycivilities, whether by discourtesy in the phrasing or by extreme politenessto someone who does not deserve it. This sort of thing is, of course, mostodious if the letter is for oneself, but it is bad enough even if it is ad-dressed to someone else.

As a matter of fact, most people are too casual, not only in their lettersbut in their direct conversation. Sometimes I am quite disgusted at notinghow little decorum people observe when talking to each other. It is partic-ularly unpleasant to hear some foolish man or woman omit the propermarks of respect when addressing a person of quality; and, when servantsfail to use honorific forms of speech in referring to their masters, it is verybad indeed. No less odious, however, are those masters who, in addressingtheir servants, use such phrases as "\7hen you were good enough to dosuch-and-such" or "As you so kindly remarked." No doubt there aresome masters who, in describing their own actions to a servant, say, "Ipresumed to do so-and-so "

Sometimes a person who is utterly devoid of charm will try to create agood impression by using very elegant language; yct he only strccccds inbeing riclicrrlous. No clotrbt hc Irclicvcs this refinctl liurgrrrrgt'lo bc jrrstrvhirt tlrc ot'crlsirttt tlt'tttlttttls, Irul, rvltt'tr il got's so l;tt tlrtt ('\,('rv()n('lrrrrstsottl l:rrr1',llirt1i, srtl.'lV sottrt'llritrli tttttsl lrt' \\'l()ltl',,

ll i. trr,rrl itnlrt()l)( r lr) ,r,l,lt.'ss lrrlilr r;rrrkin;ri .,trttltlr,,. ltrrlrcrrrl Atlvrc

HateJul Th ing s lzz)ers, and the like simply by using their names without any titles or marks ofrespect; but such mistakes are fortunately rare.

If one refers to the maid who is in attendance on some lady-in-waitingas "Madam" or "that Lady," she will be surprised, delighted, and lavish inher praise.

- WJrgn speaking to young noblemen and courriers of high rank, oneshould always (unless Their Majesties are present) refer to them by theirofficial posts. Incidentally, I have been very shocked to hear importantpeople use the word "r" while conversing in Their Majesties' presence.Such a breach of etiquette is really distressing, and I fail to ,.. -hy peoplecannot avoid it.

A man who has nothing in particular ro recommend him but whospeaks in an affected tone and poses as being elegant.

An inkstone with such a hard, smooth surface that the stick glides overit without leaving any deposit of ink.

l.adies-in-waiting who want to know everyrhing that is going on.Sometimes one greatly dislikes a person for no particular reason-and

thcn that person goes and does something hateful.A gentleman who travels alone in his carriage to see a procession

ors.me other spectacle. what sort of a man is he? Even thougi he may notI'c a person of the grearest quality, surely he should havelaken ulong uIt'rv of the many young men who are anxious to see the sights. But no,tlrcre he sits by himself (one can see his silhouette thro.rgh the blinds),rvith a proud look on his face, keeping all his impressions to himself.

A iover who is leaving ar dawn announces thai he has to find his fan:rrrtl his paper. "I know I put them somewhere last night," he says. Since itrs pitch dark, he gropes about the room, bumping into the furniture andrrrttcring, "Strange twhere on earth can they be?" Finally he discoverstlrt'.trjects. He thrusts the paper into the breast of his robe with a greatrrrstli'rg sound; then he snaps open his fan and busily fans away wiih it.( )rrly now is he ready to

take his leave,\what

charmless behaviorr. ',Hut.-lrrl" is an understatement.litlrrrrlly disagreeable is rhe man who, when leaving in the middle of the

rrrlilrt, trrkcs care to fasten the cord of his headdresr. thir is quite unneces-',,rrv; lrc c.trld perfectly well put ir gently on his head without tying ther.rrl. Arrrl why must he spend time adjusting his cloak or hunting cos-rrrrrrt'/ I).cs hc really think someone may see him at this time of night and, rtir izt. lrirn lirr not being impeccably dressed?

r\ lirrrrrl l.vt'r'rvill lrchrrvc as clcgantly at dawn as at any other time. He,lr.r1i' lrirrrst'll rrr .l lrt.tl rvirlr rr ltxrk .F rlisr,ay orr his [ace. The lady urgesl,tr,r ,,rr: ''(,'rnt', rrry llicn.l, it's gr.ltirrg Iiglrt. Yorr rkrrr't rvurrt any()nc toIrrrrl lorr lrt r.'." I lr' liivt's ,r ,1t...1, sililr, :rs il ro sirv tlrrrt tlrt. nigIr lrrrs rr6tlr(('n rr(.;ulv lorrtl t.rro11|11 ilr(l tlr:tl il is rrliorrv lo 11..1r,,. ( )rrrt.rrlr, lrr..l,rt,s

8/12/2019 Hateful Things by Sei Shonagon

4/4

Iza] Sei Sbonag on

KENKOlissays in Idleness is tbe English title for one of tbe classical works of Japa-ttese prose, tbe Tsurezuregusa of Kenko. Tbe oiginal lapanese tame of tbecollection deriues from the expression "witb notbing better to do." Tbesecharming musings are not, strictly speaking essays in tbe'Western sense oftbc terrn, but fragments ranging fron a line to seaeral pages-tbe primaryrualter of essays, so to speak. Like Sei Sbonagon's Pillow Book, obseraestranslator Donald Keene, tbey employ "tbe random node of compositionl:totun as zuihitsu (ollou tbe brusb) in Japanese. Tbis forrn----or lack offi,rm-utas flost congenial to Japanese witerg utho tumed to it perbapsl,u'dilse it uas less 'dishonest' than ueatingrt,ction. Tbe formlessness of tbezrrihitsu did not impede enjoyment by readers; indeed tbey took pleasaretro only in nouing from one to anotber of tbe great uariety of subjects butttt tracing subtle links joining tbe successiue episodes."

About the aathor, Kenko (c. 1283-1350),little is knoun

excepttbat beln,l a function in the imperial court and a reputatiofi as a poet. He became a

llullhist monk in 1.324, after tbe deatb of tbe emperor uthom he bad seraed.liu'rt tuitbout further biograpbical details, boweuer, bis quirfo personalityttiuls out. By bis own admission, be was addicted to tbe past and consenta-tttu'ly dismayed at any falling-away from tradition. He celebrated tbe uerylilltsula'rs' idca of tbe beauty of inpermanence. He bad refined, pronoancedtil\l(t, ruhich included a preference for tbe irregukr and unfinished, tbe an-,lt'rtlttrul anl tbc rcstrained. In bis period as a Buddbist monk, he neaert't,tt'lly n'lrcatul fntm tbc tuorld but retired to a city tenple in Kyoto, not farlxuu lltt nryul uturl, uho';t' statas distinctions and uorldly manlters contin-il(tl lo lrru,ft'il1r,,) hint.