The Pillow Book Character Analysis

Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon is the author of the diary entries that comprise The Pillow Book. She is a gentlewoman in the service of Empress Teishi. She would have been in her late twenties when… read analysis of Sei Shōnagon

Empress Teishi

Empress Teishi reigned in the imperial capital of Kyoto, Japan, during the 990s C.E. She is the consort of Emperor Ichijo and daughter of the Regent. Teishi is described frequently and in reverent terms… read analysis of Empress Teishi

Korechika

Korechika is a Grand Counsellor in the imperial court, a relative of Teishi, and is a frequent fixture in Teishi’s court. He tries to draw Sei out of her shell when she is a… read analysis of Korechika

Fujiwara Tadanobu

Tadanobu’s title is Secretary Captain. At one point, he spreads “baseless and ridiculous rumors” about Sei, though he later tries to make amends with her by sending a poem. They even seem to have… read analysis of Fujiwara Tadanobu

Tsunefusa

Tsunefusa is a senior courtier who serves as a provincial governor for a time. He and Sei are friends, and he sometimes visits her at home. According to Sei’s account, Tsunefusa is responsible for the… read analysis of Tsunefusa

Norimitsu

Norimitsu is believed to have been Sei’s husband for a short time, though they are not married during the events depicted in The Pillow Book. Though he and Sei occasionally cross paths around… read analysis of Norimitsu

Minor Characters

The Emperor (Ichijo)

The Emperor is Empress Teishi’s husband. He seldom appears directly in The Pillow Book, except in occasional exchanges with Sei or in reference to his wife. Historically, Ichijo reigned for about a decade following his wife’s early death.

The Regent (Michitaka)

The Regent is Teishi and Genshi’s father, and acts as a powerful advisor to the Emperor. However, his family’s influence at court is eclipsed over the course of Teishi’s reign, and after his death, Teishi loses favor altogether.

Fujiwara Yukinari

Yukinari’s title is Secretary Controller of the Office of the Empress’s Household. He and Sei are good friends who often tease each other and also enjoy exchanging quotations from poetry and other literary works.

Kohyoe

A young gentlewoman who receives a flirtatious poem from Sanekata during the Gosechi Festival and isn’t sure how to respond.

The Shigeisa (Genshi)

The Shigeisa is Empress Teishi’s younger sister. Her arrival at court stirs great excitement, and Sei finds her as beautiful as a work of art.

Sanekata

Sanekata is a renowned poet who appears twice in The Pillow Book, both times sending poems to favored ladies—one of them Kohyoe—in hopes of a reply.

Nobukata

Nobukata is a senior courtier. He envies Tadanobu’s skill at chanting poetry and gets the latter to coach him in the art. His friendship with Sei sours after she jokes about rumors concerning him.

Masahiro

Masahiro is a chamberlain whom Sei regards as a laughing-stock. He wears elegant clothes, yet he’s clumsy and frequently bungles his phrases.

Narinobu

A captain whom Sei rejects on a rainy night.

Emperor Murakami

A former emperor. He was the grandfather of Emperor Ichijo, who is Emperor during most of The Pillow Book.

Hyoe

A Lady Chamberlain who served under former Emperor Murakami and whose skill with poetic allusions Sei admires.

Narimasa

A senior courtier whom Sei teases for having built gates that were too small.

Consultant Kinto

A highly accomplished poet with whom Sei exchanges poems.

The Pillow Book

Sei Shonagon