Sunday 2 August 2009

Sunday Quotation


From the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon,
a lady-in-waiting at the court of the Emperor of Japan
towards the end of the 10th century AD.



Things That Give a Clean Feeling

An earthen cup. A new metal bowl.
A rush mat.
The play of the light on water as one pours it into a vessel.
A new wooden chest.

Row in the Bathhouse


Things That Give an Unclean Feeling.

A rat's nest.
Someone who is late in washing his hands in the morning.
White snivel, and children who sniffle as they walk.
The containers used for oil.
Little sparrows.
A person who does not bathe for a long time even though the weather is hot.
All faded clothes give me an unclean feeling, especially those that have glossy colours.




18 comments:

  1. Obviously, she was a female, feminine dame. :)

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  2. The only one I'd disagree with are the 'little sparrows'. Mine are very clean - they've been bathing in the puddles all morning.

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  3. An interesting glimpse into values of the time period - and those that have endured.

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  4. Clean: dew, the world after rain,line-dried bedding, home-raised food

    Unclean: anywhere a housefly has landed, a city sidewalk on Saturday morning, the back of my kitchen junk drawer.

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  5. A Clean Feeling: new fabric or wool, a baby's toes, newly opened roses.

    Unclean Feeling: my kitchen after a cooking session, a sickbed, the bottom of the laundry basket

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  6. Clean for me is a fresh breeze or new sunlight.
    Unclean is a sticky kitchen counter or old shoes.

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  7. clean - freshly cut grass, washing dried outside, windows - after the man with a ladder has called.
    unclean - illness, wet trainers, lank hair on the person in front on a bus

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  8. Clean: a house after spring cleaning and getting rid of clutter. Mountain air. A babbling brook that isn't polluted.

    Unclean: soiled diapers, the laundry hamper, a sick bed, and smelly sneakers.

    Why were little sparrows called unclean? Maybe they are like the doves that use my fence to rest on; they leave lots of bird poop.

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  9. Cool idea to have a Sunday quotation. I really like this a lot. I'll have to think of my own answers. :)

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  10. jinksy - obviously, very female at that. But she would have been.

    When I Am Rich - I see nothing dirty in sparrows either.

    Bonnie - she was a very interesting woman, she said a lot that is still relevant today.

    Pondside - why a sidewalk on a Saturday morning in particular? Not at any other time?

    Arosebyanyothername - funny how we all associate sickness with lack of cleanliness. We should be particularly clean when we are sick.

    Tabor - like your old hiking boots?

    snailbeachshepherdess - definitely smelly, yucky trainers, especially boys'.

    Darlene - Ah mountain air, a babbling brook ..... delicious.

    Schaufensterbabe - Hi there, do come again.

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  11. Hi Friko! I think Asians were on to cleanliness way before the western world. We were known for infrequent bathing or disguising body odor with perfumes. I agree with "When I Am Rich" about those cute little sparrows! LOVE xxox

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  12. Good morning Friko,
    now close to sunrise,let me think about what was clean and what was not.
    Clean: the kitchen, bath-rooom as well, as the waching machine decided to send the water somewhere else than in the drain.
    Not clean: the playground I used to go to with my son. Can't understand why adult people leave that much trash behind.
    A wonderful week I would like to wish to you.

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  13. Interesting post (I disagree with her about the little sparrows) and interesting lists to follow in comments.
    Hope all is well.

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  14. Clean, morning after a rain. Nails, after a manicure and pedicure.

    Dirty, some words. Some folks language. Don't ever tell someone ill that it is dirty. I had a patient commit suicide because she felt lung cancer was dirty, because she smoked. Her church made her feel dirty.
    QMM

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  15. Re: Rilke- Amazon UK only have translations - can you recommend title of any original German book?

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  16. I find this delightfully quaint. It will give me pleasure for some time to come.

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  17. A well interesting post..I loved this..Thanks for sharing ..I am now your follower..:)..Unseen Rajasthan

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  18. Margaret - definitely yes to both

    robert - sorry about the washing machine, hope you managed to get it fixed.

    Lydia - thanks for your comment; I'll come visiting shortly.

    Queenmothermamaw - yes indeed, I have been ill too often to consider illness and dirt to be the same.

    jinksy - will do.

    Dave King - thank you, glad you enjoy little quaintnesses too

    Unseen Rajasthan - thank you for joining me; I have visited you before via robert and will certainly come and say hello in person..

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