"Hateful Things" is a fascinating and thought-provoking essay that offers a unique glimpse into the life, culture, and values of the Heian period. Through Sei Shōnagon's witty, insightful, and often humorous observations, we gain a deeper understanding of the human experience and the enduring power of literature to reflect, critique, and shape our world.
What makes "Hateful Things" timeless is its human vulnerability. While Shonagon lived in a world of silk robes, incense competitions, and rigid class structures, her emotional reactions are identical to modern frustrations.
When looking for a online, look for these authoritative translations to ensure academic accuracy:
She lists gossiping, complaining about one's life, and prying into trivial matters as highly irritating. hateful things sei shonagon pdf
Each hateful thing is a (courtly refinement). Miyabi meant not just beauty but absence of roughness —emotional, physical, and social smoothness. A gap in a mosquito net is hateful not because mosquitoes bite, but because the net’s purpose (enclosure) has been defeated by a tiny, visible flaw. Similarly, a person who talks too loudly or sneezes thunderously introduces roughness into the polished surface of court life.
When you read the excerpts below, you will realize that people in the 11th century were annoyed by the exact same things people are annoyed by today. The genius of Sei Shōnagon is her ability to turn microscopic social slights into art.
The most accessible translation for English readers is by scholar Ivan Morris, published by Penguin Classics. Here are key entries from the "Hateful Things" list: While Shonagon lived in a world of silk
On the surface, "Hateful Things" reads like a snarky blog. However, literary scholars argue that the essay serves a deeper purpose.
Hateful Things: Exploring Sei Shōnagon’s Candid List of Life’s Annoyances (PDF Resources)
A man who visits a lady in secret but makes a massive racket, knocking into screens and waking the household. Miyabi meant not just beauty but absence of
“One has gone to bed. One hears someone approach. One lies still, pretending to sleep, hoping they will go away. But they come in and lie down beside one, even removing their clothes.”
She expresses frustration with lovers who do not make a proper, romantic exit after a secret visit.
She is equally snobbish and hilarious in her critiques of society. She cannot stand "ordinary commoners" who act beneath their station or, conversely, people who pretend to be more elegant than they truly are. In one of her most pointed observations, she declares, "I hate the sight of men in their cups who shout, poke their fingers in their mouths, stroke their beards, and pass on the wine to their neighbours with cries of 'Have some more! Drink up!'".
In "Hateful Things," Sei Shōnagon presents a catalog of things that she finds annoying, distasteful, or frustrating. At first glance, this essay might seem like a trivial collection of complaints. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Sei Shōnagon's reflections on "hateful things" reveal much about her values, personality, and the social norms of her time.
In Japan, Sei Shōnagon is celebrated as a national treasure, and her work continues to be widely read, studied, and admired. The English translation of "The Pillow Book" has also introduced Sei Shōnagon's writing to a global audience, allowing readers worldwide to appreciate her wit, wisdom, and literary skill.