Can think of nothing more romantic then a bedside diary kept by the lady-in-waiting of a Japanese Empress from a time long, long ago... The Pillowbook of Sei Shōnagon catalogues the years Shōnagon spent in the Royal Palace c. 1000AD & speaks of "moonlit verandas, scented robes, and wistful lovers who part at dawn. . ."
Shōnagon was enchanted with beautiful things & making lists-- one of her more lovely lists is 'The Elegant List':
A white coat worn over a violet waistcoat
Duck eggs
Shaved ice mixed with liana syrup and put in a new silver bowl
A rosary of rock crystal
Wisteria blossoms
Plum blossoms covered with snow
A pretty child eating strawberries
An intimate & bemusing glimpse at this era, am smitten with the idea of scrawling down your last, charmingly beautiful thoughts before drifting off to sleep. . .
* Excerpt from "The Encyclopaedia of The Exquisite" by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins. . . Images from here // here // here // here // here // here
More information here & here
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