There are skilled dyers and weavers in Masahiro's household, and when it comes to dress, whether it be the colour of his under-robe or the style of his cloak, he is more elegant than most men; yet the only effect of his elegance is to make people say, 'What shame someone else isn't wearing those things.' Sei Shonagon c. 966 -c. 1013
I adore Sei Shonagon - in a time in which Japan has mostly left us high-minded romances, she is deliciously catty and strangely easy to relate to.
ReplyDeleteHah!
ReplyDeleteAw, gee, Harvey...who let you out of the house looking like that???
ReplyDeleteI have always admired Sei Shonagon, as Ingrid says she is so heart-warmingly cynical in a time where people discussed the romance of Prince Genji and his multi-colored sleeves.
ReplyDeleteAnd she is so delightfully untypical for a Japanese women.
But back to the picture: There is a man in this picture? Didn't really notice...