Sei Shonagon 清少納言
c. 1000 · Heian Japan
A story like this really belongs among the things that are embarrassing to tell, but they say, "Leave nothing out," so what can I do?
かやうのことこそは、かたはらいたきことのうちに入れつべけれど、「一つな落としそ。」と言へば、いかがはせむ。The Pillow Book (Makura no soshi), the end of the same section
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Sei Shonagon 清少納言
c. 1000 · Heian Japan · To a nobleman boasting that he had found splendid fan ribs such as no one had ever seen
"Then they are not the ribs of a fan but the bones of a jellyfish," I said, and he laughed: "I shall say that was my own line."
「さては、扇のにはあらで、くらげのななり。」と聞こゆれば、「これは隆家が言にしてむ。」とて、笑ひたまふ。The Pillow Book (Makura no soshi), "The Middle Counsellor came to call"
Murasaki Shikibu 紫式部
c. 1010 · Heian Japan
Sei Shonagon, now, was a person who put on a very knowing face. She made such a show of cleverness, scattering Chinese characters about, yet if you look closely there is still a great deal wanting.
清少納言こそ、したり顔にいみじうはべりける人。さばかりさかしだち、真名書きちらしてはべるほども、よく見れば、まだいと足らぬこと多かり。The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu
1 in 100 Billion · The social network of those who came before us