Modern Pillow Book: A Miscellany of Women's Voices
Leave your indelible mark: contribute your wisdom to an evocative, modern ‘Pillow Book’ celebrating women 50+, echoing a millennium of insightful reflection for generations to come.
About The Project
Sei Shōnagon's Pillow Book (枕草子), completed around 1002 during Japan's Heian period when she was approximately thirty-six, offers a vibrant and intimate glimpse into the world of a witty and observant court lady in the 11th century. Belonging to the distinctive zuihitsu (随筆) genre – a style that blends personal reflection with the art of list-making, roughly translating to "following the brush" – the Pillow Book remains important for its literary artistry, historical insights, and its unique, enduring human perspective that transcends a millennium. This work allows us to connect with a vibrant past, finding both familiarity and foreignness.
Now, imagine a contemporary "Pillow Book" that shifts its gaze from youthful vibrancy to the profound wisdom and wit of women who have lived fully for fifty years or more. Where Shōnagon celebrated young minds, we ask: what enduring qualities would she champion today, informed by decades of experience?
To answer this, our project joyfully aims to illuminate the rich wisdom and diverse journeys of women aged fifty and beyond through a captivating, modern "Pillow Book." We envision fostering deep intergenerational connections, enriching our shared understanding of life's lasting beauty, and creating an inspiring legacy of voices for generations to cherish. We warmly invite women aged fifty and beyond to contribute their unique perspectives through lists, reflections, stories, and observations, guided by engaging themes. Together, let us craft a testament to the enduring power and beauty of a life well-lived – a modern "Pillow Book" for our time.
Sei Shonagon
“In the old days, even the most inconsequential people were impressive. You don't hear such stories these days, do you?”
Agenda
Zuihitsu Writing
Using the prompts within a small group, you'll capture personal and subjective opinions, preferences, and observations.
Mark-Making
Through mark-making, uncover layers of meaning that extend beyond your textual interpretations.
Visual Story
In partnership with university students, you will share your creation, and this process will be partially filmed.
orihon 折本
Utilizing Japanese binding techniques, we will bind everyone's contributions into a physical "modern pillow book."
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Unedited Interviews:
Following the Brush
Multiliteracy Series: Following the Brush
In this series, selected prompts and older women's written responses come alive through their own voices and a second rendition of image and sounds curated by young artist Yumin Chang.
Documentary
Shōnagon Now: Voices from a Modern Court
This documentary, narrated in the first person by its director, poses a compelling question: What might Sei Shōnagon have written if she lived in our contemporary world? Featuring five women from The Modern Pillow Book Project, the film creates a vivid dialogue with The Pillow Book, merging their present-day reflections, stories, and lived experiences. It masterfully reveals how candid zuihitsu writing unearths women's deepest voices, confronting universal themes from maternal instinct and grief to love, ageism, and death. The profound richness of older women's perspectives radiates throughout.
Shonagon Now Trailer
An Anthology:
The Modern Pillow Book
Art Book Version
You can also scan the QR Code to open the flip book
The Modern Pillow Book (Extended Version):
A White Paper
折本: Orihon (accordion book)
Meet The Youth Team
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Saba Majd
Saba is a Literature and Psychology student at UBC. She’s especially interested in women’s writing, feminist criticism, and the ways in which literature and visual art overlap. When she’s not studying, she’s usually crocheting, making ceramics, or out on a run.
Mohamad Hassouna
Mohamad is a Film and Television major at UCLA. He's especially interested in Middle Eastern film, Orientalism, and the effects of colonialism on culture. When he's not studying, he's usually playing guitar, watching a movie, or cooking
Yumin Chang
Yumin is a Commerce student at UBC intending to specialize in Marketing. He's interested in capturing stories and turning them into visual media for people to build connections. When he's not studying, he's usually making music, playing sports with friends, or learning more about cinematography.