“Things That Lose by Being Painted
Pinks, cherry blossoms, yellow roses. Men or women who are praised in romances as being beautiful.Things That Gain by Being Painted
Pines. Autumn fields. Mountain villages and paths. Cranes and deer. A very cold winter scene; an unspeakably hot summer scene.”

—  Sei Shonagon

Source: The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon (1002), p. 138

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Sei Shonagon photo
Sei Shonagon 6
Japanese author and a court lady 966–1025

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