Written over a thousand years ago, "Hateful Things" (Nikuki mono) is one of the most famous sections of The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon. A lady-in-waiting to Empress Teishi during the Heian period, Shōnagon used this list to catalog the social faux pas, minor irritations, and human foibles that defined 10th-century Japanese court life.
The enduring appeal of "Hateful Things" lies in its startling modernness; despite the ancient setting, Shōnagon’s grievances against talkative visitors, squeaky wheels, and crying babies feel remarkably relatable today. Core Themes in "Hateful Things"
Shōnagon’s list is not just a collection of pet peeves; it is a sharp social critique of Heian etiquette and human nature.
Social Intrusions and Bad Etiquette: She frequently targets people who lack self-awareness or basic manners. This includes a visitor who stays for ages when you have urgent business, or someone who breaks into a story with a minor detail to imply your version is inaccurate.
Physical Irritations: Minor sensory annoyances are captured with poetic precision, such as a hair caught on an inkstone or the "nasty, grating sound" of gravel lodged in an inkstick.
Hypocrisy and Pretense: Shōnagon detests those who "envy others and complain about one's own lot" while acting inquisitive about trivial matters to gossip later.
Unrefined Behavior: She is particularly critical of "men in their cups" (drunk men) who become boisterous, gesticulate wildly, and force others to drink. Famous Examples from the List
The Squeaky Carriage: The 11th-century version of a noisy muffler, which she finds "utterly annoying".
The Unwanted Guest: A visitor who "keeps chattering away" when you are in a hurry to leave.
The Noisy Dog: A dog that barks and alerts others to a clandestine lover creeping in for a secret visit.
The Inept Lover: A man who, when leaving in the middle of the night, makes a "great rustling sound" and fusses with his fan rather than departing gracefully. Literary Significance
"Hateful Things" belongs to the zuihitsu (miscellany) genre, characterized by a "follow the brush" style where the author records random thoughts and observations. Shōnagon’s writing is celebrated for its: Hateful Things by Sei Shonagon | PDF - Scribd
"Hateful Things" ( Nikuicap N i k u i Monocap M o n o ) is one of the most famous sections of The Pillow Book, a collection of personal observations and lists written by the Japanese court lady Sei Shōnagon around the year 1000. This specific list catalogs her various irritations, ranging from social faux pas to minor daily nuisances, providing a sharp-witted look at Heian-era court life. Core Themes of "Hateful Things"
Shōnagon’s list can be categorized into several recurring themes of annoyance: Social & Interpersonal Etiquette: People who talk too much or boast about trivial matters.
Those who act as if they are experts on a subject when they have only just heard about it. Visitors who stay too long when you are tired or busy. Domestic & Daily Nuisances:
A baby that starts crying just as someone is about to tell you something interesting.
A dog that barks at a secret lover coming for a clandestine visit. A flight of crows circling and cawing loudly.
The "Hateful" Nature of Poverty: Shōnagon often expresses a lack of patience for the "unrefined," including the poor or those with coarse manners, which reflected the rigid class distinctions of her time.
Failed Romance: Irritations regarding lovers who don't leave gracefully or who lack the poetic refinement expected in courtly affairs. Literary & Historical Context
The Heian Era (794–1185): This period was the height of Japanese court culture, where aesthetic sensibility ( okashio k a s h i ) and poetic skill were paramount. A "Pillow Book" ( Makuracap M a k u r a Sōshicap S ō s h i
): The title likely refers to a notebook kept near one's pillow to record fleeting thoughts. Shōnagon's work is considered the world's first major example of "zuihitsu" (follow-the-brush) style writing.
Rivalry: Shōnagon is often contrasted with Murasaki Shikibu (author of The Tale of Genji). While Murasaki's work is epic and somber, Shōnagon's is witty, fragmented, and often judgmental. Resources & PDF Versions
You can find the full text of "Hateful Things" within translated versions of the complete Pillow Book. Major translations include: The Pillow Book.pdf
It is unlikely you will find a legitimate, free PDF of a specific essay titled exactly “Hateful Things” by Sei Shōnagon as a standalone document, because “Hateful Things” (Nikuki Mono) is actually a single, famous section (or dan) within her much larger work, The Pillow Book (Makura no Sōshi).
However, I can provide you with a full, original essay-style analysis of “Hateful Things” as if it were a standalone piece. Below is a complete critical essay examining the text, its context, its content, and its lasting significance. You can copy this for academic use.
The Pleasure of the List Form
Why a list? Shōnagon was not writing philosophy but zuihitsu—“following the brush.” The list form allows her to move rapidly between scales: from a dog’s bark to a man’s shoelaces to a lover’s intrusion. This episodic, non-hierarchical structure mimics how annoyance actually feels—not as a grand narrative but as a series of small, sharp pricks. The humor arises from the sudden juxtaposition of trivial and serious. She treats a sneeze with the same analytical weight as a social betrayal. That very disproportion is the joke—and the insight.
Where to Find the Original Text (Not a PDF of the single essay)
Because “Hateful Things” is a section of The Pillow Book, you will not find a separate PDF titled exactly that. However, you can find the full passage in:
- Ivan Morris’s translation – The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon (Columbia University Press, 1967; reprint 1991). This is the most complete and scholarly English version. Section 48 (or number varies) contains “Hateful Things.” Available on JSTOR or Internet Archive (borrowable).
- Meredith McKinney’s translation – The Pillow Book (Penguin Classics, 2006). More modern language. Section numbers differ but index will guide you.
- Free online excerpts – Many university course websites host the passage as a PDF for classroom use. Search:
"Hateful Things" Sei Shonagon PDF site:.edu
Warning: Avoid scam “free PDF” sites claiming to have the standalone essay. They often contain malware or pirated scans of Morris’s translation. Use legitimate academic databases or library borrowing.
How “Hateful Things” Inspired Modern Culture
The influence of Sei Shonagon’s list is everywhere, though often uncredited. The entire genre of “listicles” (e.g., BuzzFeed’s “21 Things That Instantly Ruin Your Day”) is a direct descendant. But beyond the internet, serious writers have paid homage:
- Natalie Goldberg (of Writing Down the Bones) cites Sei Shonagon as an inspiration for writing from direct observation.
- Maggie Nelson references The Pillow Book in Bluets.
- Peter Greenaway’s film The Pillow Book (1996) directly adapts the list structure, though with erotic and calligraphic twists.
In Japan, her work is studied as a classic of zuihitsu (essay) literature, alongside Kenko’s Essays in Idleness. Every Japanese schoolchild reads excerpts from “Hateful Things” to learn both classical grammar and the value of personal, non-academic writing.
Conclusion: The Power of the Trivial
“Hateful Things” endures because it elevates the trivial without pretending it is profound. Sei Shōnagon understood that human beings are not only moved by love, death, and war—but also by the way a wet sleeve sticks to a lacquer bowl, or the sound of a man clearing his throat in a quiet room. Her list is a defense of the petty as a legitimate subject for art. In an age of epic poetry and religious scripture, she insisted that annoyance has its own elegance.
To read “Hateful Things” today is to encounter a mind that was as sharp as a razor and as playful as a kitten. It reminds us that we reveal our values not only in what we praise but in what we cannot stand. And perhaps, most comfortingly, it assures us that even a thousand years ago—in a palace of silk and incense—people were just as easily annoyed by small, hateful things as we are now.