I spent 8 hours writing my Jap history paper on the Heian era. It's titled Development in an age of Idleness, and it analyzes aristocratic life in the Heian era. Basically its about how culture, aesthetic and language developments are accelerated in times of peace and stability, and it uses The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon as a primary source material. I'm glad i have a chance to do such classes, and that not all my classes revolve around science. Somehow the fact that i won't be a scientist or a doctor next time makes me want to learn more about the world. And in a way, I get to study History again, a subject that I always had a passion for but never had the chance to study it in detail. There's a universality in the world that spans across time and space, and when I read articles or writings about the ancient world, it strikes me that we humans have innate qualities that do not change through the centuries. The court lady Sei in the book shows her competitive nature and yearning for praise and appreciation, and at the same time displays her aloofness and sensitivity towards her servants or those on a lower rung of the social ladder than her. And at the end of her book when she realizes that her book will be read by many people, she starts to defend herself but saying that the book was for her only and so her malicious and hurtful comments about people should not be treated significantly. Don't we all do that sometimes?

Today in class the prof talked about Japanese religion and told us about Buddhist teachings. Life is supposed to be unsatisfactory and impermanent and that's why people search for enlightenment? Well... that's all up to personal interpretation i guess.

I have a review session for a midterm in 2 hours time. But my stomach is growling and I feel like sleeping. Shall hit the books though, gotta work hard!