The two materials are worth comparing as they refer to women’s lives and the period of Heian in Japan. “Pillow Book” is a personal journal describing court service and informal aspects of a female’s existence in this environment (Shonagon, n.d.). “Kagero Diary” represents a specific style of literature with the implication of poems and prose, which tells about the condition of wives in the era of Heian (Michitsuna’s Mother, 1997). The matter of gender shown in these journals highlights women’s life limitations at that period.
Both works possess similarities and differences that should be emphasized to assess the problematic matter of women’s fate in Japan in a given epoch. Sei Shōnagon tells about herself, stating that she is the one who “After all, women at Court do not spend their time hiding modestly behind fans and screens, but walk about, looking openly at people they chance to meet,” focusing on a female’s moral reputation and power (Shonagon, n.d., p. 3). Michitsuna’s Mother, on the contrary, accentuates on weakness that a woman experiences in her life, being shaded when married to a respectable man, stating that “the events of the months and years gone by are vague” (Michitsuna’s Mother, 1997, p. 4). These are the main differences that a reader can notice in the diaries.
The key similarities are shown by the expression of thoughts of the authors through the third person, highlighting their viewpoints. Although, the shifts from the third person to the first in “Kagero Diary” may be noticed. “As for her appearance, she can hardly be compared to others…As I worried, things went much as I feared…” (Michitsuna’s Mother, 1997, pp. 224-226). These women write about different subject matters and in different styles because they strive to point out the social problems of females in the same period. I think the reaction of people of Heian times to these daybooks would be ambiguous because wives had to be loyal to their husbands, although the writers expressed their discontent with such a situation. I consider these works revolutionary because the authors raise women’s matters in the age of strict cultural rules. I cannot prefer one diary over another because they are different and deserve equal attention from readers.
Conclusively, gender issues have always existed, especially when uncompromising social standards exist. “Pillow Book” and “Kagero Diary” clearly describe the aspects of female life and their roles in society. Such main issues as women’s position in the family and serving their husbands are highlighted in these works. The authors talk about different subject matters, although they are motivated to express their thoughts and ideas on limitations faced by women of the Heian period.
References
Michitsuna’s Mother (1997). Kagero Diary. Michigan Monographs. (936 AD).
Shonagon, S. (n.d.). The Pillow-Book (I. Morris, Trans.). Columbia University Press. (990 AD).