
The Pillow Book
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Narrated by:
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Georgina Sutton
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By:
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Sei Shōnagon
About this listen
The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon is a fascinating, detailed account of Japanese court life in the closing years of the 10th century. Written by a lady of the court at the height of Heian culture, this book enthrals with its lively gossip, witty observations and subtle impressions.
Lady Shōnagon was an erstwhile rival of Lady Murasaki, whose novel, The Tale of Genji, fictionalized the elite world Lady Shōnagon so eloquently relates. Featuring reflections on royal and religious ceremonies, nature, conversation, poetry and many other subjects, The Pillow Book is an intimate look at the experiences and outlook of the Heian upper class.
Sei Shōnagon, born around 965, was lady-in-waiting to Empress Sadako and between the early 990s and 1002, she kept these ‘personal notes’, recording what she saw and encountered with wit, accuracy and intelligence. There is immense variety here. There are more than 320 entries, each with its own heading: ‘Birds’, Trees’, ‘When His Excellency The Chancellor Had Departed’, ‘Unreliable Things’.... Some entries are very brief, no more than ‘asides’, and there are even concise lists. Some reflect the sensitive Japanese response to nature or patterned silk, and there are longer narratives of incidents involving prominent political figures. Her singular humour is often to the fore: ‘Masahiro really is a laughing stock. I wonder what it is like for his parents and friends.’
But there are also entries which reflect a considerate nature as shown in ‘One of Her Majesty’s Wet-Nurses’.
While Arthur Waley’s classic translation remains well-known it was abridged, and this Ukemi recording presents the translation by Ivan Morris, the first unabridged English version. It is fluent and lively, and reflects the sparkling character of Sei Shōnagon’s writing which, in the 21st century, belies its ancient origins and its academic standing as one of the great works of Japanese literature. This is perfectly captured by in Georgina Sutton’s reading.
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The Japanese Classics Collection: Literature, Myths, Samurai Philosophy, Folk Tales and More
- The Tale of Genji, The Kojiki, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, The Book of Tea, and Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, Basil Hall Chamberlain, Inazo Nitobe, and others
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 18 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.
By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, and others
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Shogun
- The Life and Times of Tokugawa Ieyasu: Japan's Greatest Ruler
- By: A.L. Sadler, Stephen Turnbull - foreword, Alexander Bennett - foreword
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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For 700 years, Japan was ruled by military commanders who waged war against one another incessantly. Shogun tells the fascinating story of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who finally unified and brought lasting peace to the nation. He established a new central government which enabled his descendants to rule Japan for the next 260 years—a period in which Japanese culture as we know it today flourished.
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This is a boring reference book
- By Antone Ferreira on 05-25-24
By: A.L. Sadler, and others
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The Narrow Road to the Interior and Hojoki
- By: Matsuo Basho, Kamo no Chomei
- Narrated by: Togo Igawa
- Length: 2 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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The Narrow Road to the Interior and Hojoki are two of the best-loved works of their kind; famous for their beautiful, delicate verse and subtle insight into the human condition. It has been said of The Narrow Road that 'it was as if the very soul of Japan had itself written it'. It takes the form of a travel diary, and traces the poet's journey from Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to the northern interior.
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Second story unintelligible
- By Karen on 02-23-10
By: Matsuo Basho, and others
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Japanese Mythology Collection 2
- Myths and Legends of Japan, Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan and Kwaidan
- By: Lafcadio Hearn, F. Hadland Davis, Richard Gordon Smith
- Narrated by: James Francis Markert
- Length: 24 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Together, these three volumes form an essential collection for anyone fascinated by mythology, folklore, and the cultural heritage of Japan. Each story in this anthology is not just a tale. It's a window into the ancient soul of Japan, its people, and its enduring legacy.
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Try again
- By ELIPEGO on 04-16-24
By: Lafcadio Hearn, and others
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The Book of Yōkai (Expanded Second Edition)
- Mysterious Creatures of Japanese
- By: Michael Dylan Foster
- Narrated by: Tim Campbell
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Monsters, spirits, fantastic beings, and supernatural creatures haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yōkai, they appear in many forms, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water sprites, to shape-shifting kitsune foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Popular today in anime, manga, film, and video games, many yōkai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. The Book of Yōkai invites listeners to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them.
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The Tale of Genji
- By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Abridged
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The Tale of Genji is an exquisitely crafted classic work of Japanese literature written in the 11th century. Some consider it to be the world's first novel, or the first modern or psychological novel. The narrative of 54 chapters is embellished by hundreds of little poems spread like a string of pearls through the prose. The story recounts the life of Hikaru Genji, the son of an ancient Japanese emperor and a concubine. Removed from the line of succession, Genji pursues a series of love affairs and a career as an imperial officer.
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great story
- By Cpw on 05-03-20
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The Tale of Genji
- By: Murasaki Shikibu, Suematsu Kencho - translator
- Narrated by: Elaine J. Sepani
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Abridged
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Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji in the 11th century to entertain the other women in the court. It follows the romantic exploits of the title character, an emperor’s son, as he navigates life within aristocratic society and eventually outside of it. Praised for its psychological insight into the characters’ motivations, the book greatly influenced Japanese culture and is widely considered the world’s first novel. In 1882, Suematsu Kencho translated a condensed version of the text into English, allowing this classic tale to reach a wider audience.
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Couldn't listen to an entire chapter
- By Jago on 01-02-19
By: Murasaki Shikibu, and others
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Death by Water
- By: Kenzaburo Oe
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Since his youth, renowned novelist Kogito Choko planned to fictionalize his father's fatal drowning in order to fully process the loss. Stricken with guilt and regret over his failure to rescue his father, Choko has long been driven to discover why his father was boating on the river in a torrential storm. Though he remembers overhearing his father and a group of soldiers discussing an insurgent scheme to stage a suicide attack on Emperor Mikado, Choko cannot separate his memories from imagination.
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Finally The Novel...
- By Douglas on 06-06-16
By: Kenzaburo Oe
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La Rabouilleuse
- The Black Sheep; The Two Brothers
- By: Honoré de Balzac
- Narrated by: Bill Homewood
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Brothers Philippe and Joseph Bridau are completely unalike: Philippe, braggart and soldier, formerly aide-de-camp to Napoleon, is their mother Agathe's favorite; Joseph, a poor and aspiring artist, is raised in his brother's shadow. When Agathe is reduced to poverty and Philippe accrues gambling debts, the family join forces to focus their attentions on Agathe's brother, Jean-Jacques Rouget, heir to the family fortune. The struggle for his inheritance pits the family against Rouget's beautiful maid Flore ("La Rabouilleuse"), the apple of her master's eye, and her crafty lover.
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Brutal poetic justice
- By Tad Davis on 06-23-20
By: Honoré de Balzac
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Kwaidan
- Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
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The Rāmāyana of Valmīki
- By: ValmĪki, Ralph T. H. Griffith - translation
- Narrated by: Sagar Arya
- Length: 43 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
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The ancient Indian Sanskrit epic the Rāmāyana was composed some time between the first and fifth centuries BCE. As is the case with most ancient literature firmly rooted in the oral tradition, precise dating is problematic. Traditionally attributed to the sage Valmīki, and composed in rhyming couplets, it is one of the two great Indian epics (the other being the Mahābhārata); consequently it is known and revered not just throughout the Indian subcontinent but also in South-East Asian countries as well, indeed wherever Hindu culture became established.
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Ending is Disappointing
- By Kevin Vecchione on 05-23-20
By: ValmĪki, and others
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Japanese Mythology Unleashed
- Discover Shinto Deities, Yōkai, and Historic Heroes on a Journey through Ancient Japan
- By: Anthony Poe
- Narrated by: Xander Krivacka
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Dive into the mystical world of ancient Japan and uncover its incredible deities, mythical creatures, and heroic tales, even if you're new to folklore! Are you fascinated by Japan's rich culture and history?Discover captivating tales of Shinto gods, Yōkai, and legendary heroes that shape Japan's cultural heritage.
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Good Intro to Japanese Mythology
- By Ali on 06-06-25
By: Anthony Poe
Elegant and calming
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The Elegant Japanese Middle Ages
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Superb narration
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Simply Beautiful
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Delicious
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I don't think I would have liked their lives ;) It's been interesting though and a novel read/listen to
It's got moments it's very good and others when
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Engaging perspective
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When black teeth were pleasing…?
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Fascinating
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More poetic than expected
Beautiful memoir and observations from over a thousand years ago.
Beautiful
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