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."
Schedule/Timeline
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Meet The Youth Team
Nicole Yeung
Nicole is a writer and reporter based within Vancouver, British Columbia. She studied philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where she focused on applied and biomedical ethics. When she’s not writing, she’s on a bike, with her dogs, or bushwhacking through the forest.
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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.
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