Book References:
The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan by Ivan Morris
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon by Sei Shonagon, Translated by Arthur Waley
The Diary of Lady Murasaki by Murasaki Shikibu, translated by Richard Bowring
The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby
East Wind Melts The Ice: A Memoir Through The Seasons by Liza Dalby
The Kagero Diary: A woman’s autobiographical text from 10th Century Japan translated by Sonja Arntzen / The Gossamer Years: The Diary of a Noblewoman of Heian Japan translated by Edward Seidensticker (both the same thing)
The Izumi Shikibu Diary: A Romance of the Heian Court by Izumi Shikibu, translated by Edwin Cranston
Others:
Five Women Who Loved Love: Amorous Tales from 17th Century Japan by Ihara Saikaku, translated by Theodore de Bary (Edo)
Hojoki: Visions of a Torn World by Kamo-no-Chomei, translated by Yasubiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins (Kamakura)
Principal authors and important ladies:
Murasaki Shikibu, Izumi Shikibu, Sei Shōnagon, Ise no Osuke, Uma no Naishi, Akazome Emon, Sagami, Daini no Sammi (daughter of Murasaki!), Koshikibu no Naishi (daughter of Izumi!), Nakazukasa (daughter of Ise no Go and Prince Atsugatsu), Yoshiko Joō (granddaughter of Emperor Daigo), Michitsuna’s Mother (that’s the only name she is known by) and Suugawara no Takasue’s Daughter (the only name she is known by). The first scholar of Heian literature is Fujiwara no Teika.
Like my blog? Buy me a coffee! 💜