About this episode

This episode explores the literary contributions and rivalry of two women in 11th-century Japan, Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu, while examining themes of identity and artistry.

In the elite world of 11th-century Japan, matters of the heart unfold alongside matters of state. Where the ability to compose poetry and display quick wit counted for more than brute strength and male dominance. At the heart of the imperial court, two women (Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu) from rival factions kept diaries and penned extraordinary works of fiction making them the Japanese counterparts to William Shakespeare. But whilst these women are diametrically opposed to one another, they may have shared an unspoken bond of queer identity. Hitherto dismissed by traditional historians, a new wave of research and revision is collapsing old beliefs and bringing to light an entirely new way of thinking about this world. In this special episode, the brilliant Meg Hyland takes the reins, guiding us through a world of elegance and rivalry, artistry and ambition. Notes on sources and links to Meg Hyland’s work: The Diary of Lady Murasaki  ed. and trans. by Richard Bowring (Penguin, 2006) Murasaki Shikibu: Her Diary and Poetic Memoirs  ed. and trans. Richard Bowring (Princeton University Press, 1982) The Pillow Book  ed. and trans. Meredith McKinney (Penguin, 2006)…

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