If you'd like to explore more of her work, I can help you find lists on "Regrettable Things," "Things That Make One's Heartbeat Faster," or "Things That Should Be Short." Hateful Things - Basic Income
If you are trying to find a specific for your studies or need further help analyzing a particular section of The Pillow Book , let me know:
Shōnagon’s list is not just a collection of pet peeves; it is a sharp social critique of Heian etiquette and human nature.
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“Hateful Things” belongs to a category of mono no aware (the pathos of things) but twisted toward irritation rather than melancholy. While her contemporary Murasaki Shikibu ( The Tale of Genji ) sought emotional depth, Sei Shōnagon sought witty precision. Her hateful things are not moral evils; they are aesthetic and social failures—small, sharp moments when reality chafes against expectation.
It was 2:00 AM in a cramped Tokyo apartment. Outside, the wet slap of rain against the glass mirrored the rhythm of Sei Shōnagon’s thousand-year-old grievances. Akiko read:
"Hateful Things" ( Nikuki Mono ) is a famous section from Sei Shōnagon's The Pillow Book that offers a witty, 10th-century list of pet peeves focusing on social etiquette, hygiene, and daily annoyances. Written in the zuihitsu style, this work highlights Heian court culture while providing relatable commentary on interpersonal frustrations. A direct list of the "Hateful Things" section can be viewed at Mr. Kokenakes . If you'd like to explore more of her
: A dog that barks and alerts others to a clandestine lover creeping in for a secret visit.
This entry is the most startlingly intimate. It describes what modern readers would recognize as a boundary violation. The hated thing is not the person themselves but the assumption of access . The intruder mistakes the speaker’s stillness for invitation. In a court where physical space was limited and privacy rare, the ability to refuse without speaking was a vital skill. The intruder’s failure to read the silence is a failure of kyōen (atmosphere-reading)—the core of Heian social intelligence.
She expresses intense irritation toward people who break into a conversation to display their own knowledge, preventing the original speaker from finishing. If you share with third parties, their policies apply
For those who read Japanese, the original text of "Hateful Things" (labeled as "第二四段 可憎的事" or Section 24) is also readily available online. The text is presented in a vertical, traditional format, offering an authentic reading experience.
: 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.
Furthermore, the text provides an unparalleled window into the elite culture of the Heian period. Her concerns with aesthetics, proper ritual, and social hierarchy are all laid bare. And, of course, there is the humor. It is impossible not to smile when reading a 1,000-year-old complaint about guests who don't know when to leave. As one commentator notes, the list "proves that men, even across centuries, do not change". Our frustrations may be dressed in different clothes, but they are fundamentally the same.
Among the most famous sections in the book are: