Noel’s Reviews > The Pillow Book > Status Update
Noel
is on page 62 of 364
Rare things – A son-in-law who’s praised by his wife’s father. Likewise, a wife who’s loved by her mother-in-law.
A pair of silver tweezers that can actually pull out hairs properly.
A retainer who doesn’t speak ill of his master.
A person who is without a single quirk. Someone who’s superior in both appearance and character, and who’s remained utterly blameless throughout his long…
[…]
— Oct 04, 2025 07:17AM
A pair of silver tweezers that can actually pull out hairs properly.
A retainer who doesn’t speak ill of his master.
A person who is without a single quirk. Someone who’s superior in both appearance and character, and who’s remained utterly blameless throughout his long…
[…]
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Noel’s Previous Updates
Noel
is on page 213 of 364
I was talking with some people in Her Majesty’s presence – or it may have been something I said as a result of her own words – and I remarked, ‘At times when I’m beside myself with exasperation at everything, and temporarily inclined to feel I’d simply be better off dead, or am longing to just go away somewhere, anywhere, then if I happen to come by some lovely white paper for everyday use and a…
— Nov 24, 2025 11:20AM
Noel
is on page 193 of 364
On a bright moonlit night, when your carriage is crossing a stream, it’s lovely the way the water will spray up in shining drops at the ox’s tread, like shattered crystal.
— Nov 24, 2025 11:09AM
Noel
is on page 163 of 364
Things that are near yet far – The Miyanobe Festival.
Relationships between siblings or relatives who don’t like each other.
The winding path up to Kurama Temple.
The first day of the new year, seen from the last day of the old.
Things that are far yet near – Paradise.
The course of a boat.
Relations between men and women.
— Nov 18, 2025 09:28PM
Relationships between siblings or relatives who don’t like each other.
The winding path up to Kurama Temple.
The first day of the new year, seen from the last day of the old.
Things that are far yet near – Paradise.
The course of a boat.
Relations between men and women.
Noel
is on page 162 of 364
Things now useless that recall a glorious past – A fine embroidery-edged mat that’s become threadbare.
A screen painted in the Chinese style, that’s now turned dark and discoloured and developed a scarred surface.
A painter with poor eyesight.
A switch of false hair seven or eight feet long, that’s now fading and taking on a reddish tinge.
Grape-coloured fabric when the ash dye has turned.
[…]
— Nov 18, 2025 09:26PM
A screen painted in the Chinese style, that’s now turned dark and discoloured and developed a scarred surface.
A painter with poor eyesight.
A switch of false hair seven or eight feet long, that’s now fading and taking on a reddish tinge.
Grape-coloured fabric when the ash dye has turned.
[…]
Noel
is on page 130 of 364
It’s beautiful the way the water drops hang so thick and dripping on the garden plants after a night of rain in the ninth month, when the morning sun shines fresh and dazzling on them. Where the rain clings in the spider webs that hang in the open weave of a screening fence or draped on the eaves, it forms the most moving and beautiful strings of white pearly drops.
I also love the way, when the sun has…
— Nov 14, 2025 05:04PM
I also love the way, when the sun has…
Noel
is on page 127 of 364
Awkward and pointless things – … In the grip of foolish jealousy, a wife takes herself off and goes into hiding from her husband, certain that he’ll come looking for her – but he’s in no mind to do so, and goes about his business with brazen indifference, so she must face the fact that she can’t stay away from home indefinitely, and finally decides to return of her own accord.
— Nov 14, 2025 04:53PM
Noel
is on page 119 of 364
Things that lose by being painted – Pinks. Sweet flag. Cherry blossom. Men and women described in tales as looking splendid.
Things that gain by being painted – Pine trees. Autumn fields. Mountain villages. Mountain paths.
Winter is best when it’s fearfully cold, while summer is most summer-like when it’s impossibly hot.
— Nov 13, 2025 11:28PM
Things that gain by being painted – Pine trees. Autumn fields. Mountain villages. Mountain paths.
Winter is best when it’s fearfully cold, while summer is most summer-like when it’s impossibly hot.
Noel
is on page 85 of 364
Toward the middle of the twelfth month there’s a great fall of snow. The ladies decide they should have a snow mountain built in the garden. All the servants at home are asked to come help create an “absolutely towering snow mountain” under the threat of losing three days’ pay. The Empress asks everyone how long they think the mountain will last. Everyone gives opinions ranging over a week or two, but…
— Nov 13, 2025 06:15PM
Noel
is on page 75 of 364
Things that create the appearance of deep emotion – The sound of your voice when you’re constantly blowing your runny nose as you talk.
Plucking your eyebrows.
(Finally on my reading break after days of being sleep deprived, so hopefully I’ll get through this the next week.)
— Nov 09, 2025 03:58PM
Plucking your eyebrows.
(Finally on my reading break after days of being sleep deprived, so hopefully I’ll get through this the next week.)
Noel
is on page 47 of 364
Shōnagon finds it “unsuitable” that snow falls on the houses of the common folk. “Moonlight shining into such houses is also a great shame.”
— Oct 03, 2025 02:34PM
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Some more I forgot to post:Refined and elegant things – A girl’s over-robe of white on white over pale violet-grey. The eggs of the spot-billed duck.
Shaved ice with a sweet syrup, served in a shiny new metal bowl.
A crystal rosary. Wisteria flowers. Snow on plum blossoms. An adorable little child eating strawberries.
Oxen – An ox should have a tiny splash of white on its forehead, and the underbelly, legs and tail should all be white.
Cats – Cats should be completely black except for the belly, which should be very white.
Oh, and also this one! From an entry on the proper way for a man to take his leave in the morning:“Then there’s the man who suddenly remembers he has someone else to call on, leaps up briskly and starts flapping about getting himself ready to depart. There’s a rustle and a swish as he fastens the waist-strings of his trousers, then he rolls up the sleeves of his cloak or hunting costume and thrusts his arms in, tugs the belt good and tight, and next there’s the sound of him kneeling down and settling his lacquered cap on his head, with a sharp tug to the strings to tighten the knot firmly. He’s left his fan and wad of folded paper by the pillow overnight, and naturally the paper’s all got scattered so now he must conduct a search for it – but the darkness prevents him from seeing, so there he is, noisily patting around here and there on the floor, muttering ‘Where is it? Where’s it got to?’ till at last he finds it all. Now he flips open the fan and flaps it boisterously, tucks the paper into the bosom of his clothes, and with a brief ‘Well, I’ll be off then’, out he goes.”
I love this refined and elegant thing: An adorable little child eating strawberries.Thanks for that sweet image, Noel!
You never find an instance of two people living together who continue to be overawed by each other’s excellence and always treat each other with scrupulous care and respect, so such a relationship is obviously a great rarity.
Copying out a tale or a volume of poems without smearing any ink on the book you’re copying from. If you’re copying it from some beautiful bound book, you try to take immense care, but somehow you always manage to get ink on it.
Two women, let alone a man and a woman, who vow themselves to each other forever, and actually manage to remain on good terms to the end.