Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon
Sei Shōnagon, illustration from an issue of Hyakunin Isshu (Edo period)
Native name
清少納言
BornKiyohara Nagiko (清原 諾子)
c.966
Died1017 or 1025 (aged 51 or 57)
OccupationLady-in-waiting to Empress Teishi
NationalityJapanese
PeriodHeian period
Notable worksThe Pillow Book
Spouse
  • Tachibana no Norimitsu
  • Fujiwara no Muneyo
Children
  • Norinaga (son)
  • Koma no Myobu (daughter)
ParentsKiyohara no Motosuke (father)
RelativesKiyohara no Fukayabu (great grandfather)

Sei Shōnagon (清少納言, [sei ɕoː.naꜜ.ɡoɴ, seː-, -ŋoɴ], c.966–1017 or 1025), or Seijo (清女, [seꜜi.(d)ʑo, seꜜː-], lit.'Lady Sei'), was a Japanese author, poet, and court lady who served the Empress Teishi (Sadako) around the year 1000, during the middle Heian period. She is the author of The Pillow Book (枕草子, makura no sōshi).