Sections 156-185 Summary

In Section 156, Shonagon talks about the proper ways to replenish a fire when it is very cold outside. Section 157 is a short vignette about how Shonagon perfectly understood the Empress's allusion to an ancient poem. Section 158 is a short section about the boys employed by Masters of Divination. She is envious of their cleverness and wishes she had such boys in her service.

In Section 159, the Empress criticizes one of Shonagon's poems. Of course, she doesn't like the criticism, but she feels she must have deserved it. In contrast, in Section 160, Shonagon is away from the palace on a pilgrimage to a temple when she receives the following message from the Empress: "What a long stay you are making! Surely you realize how much I miss you." Section 161 recalls a charming scene between an elegant couple in a carriage. The man...