The Role of Heian Women History Alive 8.8

The Pillow Book Lots of what we know about women in the Heian period comes from this book It was written by Sei Shonagon, a lady-in-waiting to the empress Teishi in mid Heian time (c. 1000CE) She described the empress and other women she had observed The ladies in waiting, companions to the empress, who spend time writing, playing music and chatting

Farming women planting rice, singing and wearing hats like serving trays Fishing girls diving for shellfish, Sei criticises the men who don’t dive A shaman chanting and praying for a child’s health An old Buddhist nun begging while dressed in grimy clothes who sings a rude song Serving ladies who pour water, act as hairdressers, food preparers and nurses for the royal family

Ideas of beauty A plump figure Heavy white makeup Small red lips Very long hair Blackened teeth Iron-based liquid Actually kept teeth healthy Drawn on eyebrows Chinese brocade jacket Colorful silk gowns and skirted trousers

Family Life Average Lifespan Women 27 years Men 32 years Diseases like Tuberculosis and beri-beri were common Death in childbirth was also a risk Children often died young due to poor diet, disease and unsanitary living comndition

Marriages were usually arranged and husbands often had more than one wife. At one time husbands moved in with their wives families, this later reversed Most people, male and female, were illiterate Among rich families beautiful writing was a mark of high status Those who could spent many hours practising handwriting