What is Sei Shōnagon?
{{Infobox writer | name = Sei Shōnagon<br />清少納言 | image = Hyakuninisshu 062.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Sei Shōnagon, drawing from an issue of [[Hyakunin Isshu]] (Edo period) | pseudonym = | birth_name = Kiyohara Nagiko ({{lang|ja|清原 諾子}}) | birth_date = about 966 | birth_place = | death_date = 1017 or 1025 | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = [[Lady-in-waiting]] to [[Fujiwara no Teishi|Empress Teishi]] | language = | nationality = Japanese | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | period = [[Heian period]] | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = ''[[The Pillow Book]]'' }} {{Nihongo|'''Sei Shōnagon'''|清少納言||about 966 – 1017/1025}} was a [[Japan]]ese [[writer]]. She was a [[lady-in-waiting|court lady]] who served the [[Fujiwara no Teishi|Empress Teishi]] (Sadako) during the middle [[Heian period]]. She is best known as the author of {{Nihongo|[[The Pillow Book]]|枕草子|makura no sōshi}}. She also wrote [[Diary|diaries]] and [[poem]]s. == ''The Pillow Book'' == The Heian period of Japanese history lasted from 794 to 1185 [[CE]]. Sei Shōnagon lived and died during this time. Not a lot is known about her as a child. We only know about her personality by her writing, especially ''The Pillow Book''. This book contains a lot about her life at the [[Imperial Court in Kyoto|imperial court]] and her [[feelings]]. It is a collection of lists, poetry, [[wikt:gossip|gossip]] and [[observation]]s from her years in the court (things she saw and how she felt about them). ''The Pillow Book'' became very well-known during the Heian period. It revealed an interesting view on life at court. The name ''Pillow Book'' came from an event where the empress was given a bundle of [[notebook]]s. The empress did not know what to use the notebooks for so Sei Shōnagon asked Empress Sadako if she could have them. Sei Shōnagon told the empress that she wanted to use them to make a [[pillow]