Read The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai Online
Authors: Barbara Lazar
The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai (60 page)
Our lord Shogun Minamoto no Yoshitsune considered her. ‘Speak.’
Her mouth opened and closed. Finally, her voice sputtered, and words spilled out like a waterfall. ‘My name is Misuki, servant to Lady Kozaishō. I have completed serving her in ritual suicide. I swore an oath to tell her story.’
One of the Four Heavenly Kings cocked his sword guard with his thumb. ‘I have no time to listen to a servant. I can cut off her head for this disruption.’
The second Heavenly King looked at the first. ‘This may be the head of the infamous Lady Kozaishō.’
The fourth Heavenly King turned and addressed the shogun: ‘Lord Yoshitsune, I, too, have heard of this Lady Kozaishō’s accomplishments. Let us listen to this.’
All the Heavenly Kings shifted towards Shogun Yoshitsune to await orders.
Thus spoke the great Shogun Minamoto no Yoshitsune: ‘If we do not attend to the request of this departed soul, I am certain her ghost will haunt us to the end of our days.’ He lifted his hands to the sky and returned them to his hips. ‘Let us honour our victory by hearing the words of her servant.’
‘Thank you, honourable Shogun Minamoto no Yoshitsune,’ the servant stammered, almost whispering, and prostrated herself again on the ground. She lifted her face a little and touched her tongue over her lips.
Shogun Yoshitsune snapped a command to his attendants, and they brought a jar of water. The woman held it in both hands and drank. The water spilled on her robes. Next, breathing as if she were still swallowing, she stared at the head.
Shogun Yoshitsune motioned for seats. When they arrived, he sat. ‘Begin. I am ready to hear this story.’
She struggled with words. New tears cascaded streaks on to her robes. At last she took in a deep breath and said, ‘My name is Misuki, servant to the Lady Kozaishō. She demanded I swear upon the souls of my ancestors that I perform three actions: listen and finish recording her story; assist her with
seppuku
; share her story with you, Minamoto no Yoshitsune.’
From her seated position the servant bowed towards Shogun Yoshitsune. ‘I did swear. I gathered paper and brush with ink stone and brought the writing table outside the tent. I am grateful to you for allowing me to fulfil my sworn duty, so that I and my ancestors may rest.
‘I assisted my lady in suicide, as she asked. I washed her body and head. No reason to scatter salt or wash my mouth and hands. I am in deep mourning and will remain with this defilement for the full forty-nine days . . . perhaps for the rest of my life.
‘Following my lady’s directions, I took the document box, the dagger and her head, and I came here.’
The servant Misuki placed the dagger and document box on her lap. She moved towards the head. After a long silence, she adjusted her mistress’s hair with one hand, and with the other waved the dagger to brush away the early spring flies. Straightening, she set the blade on the ground. Opened the document box. Unwrapped and spread the papers. Cleared her throat.
She began to read . . .
GLOSSARY
Art of War, The | a Chinese book on warfare written by Sun Tsu |
bagaku | ancient courtly dances |
biwa | type of lute |
Bodhisattva | A being aspiring and/or approaching Buddha hood, particularly through compassionate and altruistic acts, and often by postponing their individual entry into nirvana to aid others going towards enlightenment |
bokken | wooden practice sword |
ch | 11,900 square metres or 108 metres (land and length measurement) |
ch | game with dice |
ch | the principal, leader, chief, or senior; successful |
Cinnabar Cleft | vagina |
Divergent Directions | As dictated by the Gods of Divergent Directions, required affected person(s) not to travel in prohibited directions. if violated, misfortune and/or illness might befall the person(s), or even an entire nation. |
do-maru | square, torso-covering armour used by foot soldiers |
Enryakaji | Temple on Mount Hiei of the Tendai Buddhist sect |
eta | the caste of untouchables |
furoshiki | square cloth tied at all corners to carry objects |
futon | bedroll; mattress |
Four Heavenly Kings | name given to four faithful samurai who were bodyguards to their feudal lord; they fought for and frequently died with him |
gagaku | formal court music |
geta | clogs, used in rainy weather |
go | game of strategy, played with many little stones on a board similar to draughts or chess |
gofu | globular vessels buried in mounds as protection from evil forces |
Golden Gully | upper part of the vulva |
harigata | dildo |
Heian-kyō | former name of Kyōto, literally ‘Peace and Tranquillity Capital’ |
higo zuiki | long plant fibres dried and soaked in warm water, often used to aid with impotence or to prolong erection. (Bornoff, Nicholas. |
hishi-mochi | diamond-shaped cakes made for the Third day of the Third Month Festival or Doll Festival. They are coloured red (or pink), white and green. The red is for chasing evil spirits away, the white is for purity, and the green is for health. |
hisoshi | curtain that separates a veranda from the interior of a building |
hitatare | wide split pants |
hogen | honorary title of rank |
hoeki no h | male’s formal shirt-like garment |
Hokekyō | a type of Buddhist scripture |
hototogisu | one of several species of Japanese cuckoo. The |
hour of the: | Rat 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. |
Ox 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. | |
Tiger 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. | |
Hare 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. | |
Dragon 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. | |
Snake 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. | |
Horse 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | |
Sheep 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. | |
Monkey 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. | |
Cock 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | |
Dog 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | |
Boar 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. | |
Jade Gate | vulva |
Jewel Terrace | upper part of the vulva |
Jade Stalk | penis |
Jade Veins | upper part of the vulva |
Juei | a named time period 1182–4 |
kaimyo | the posthumous name of the deceased, which differs from when that person was alive to help prevent the person returning every time his or her name is called. |
kanmuri | a lacquered hat with a low cap at the front, a high bulge at the back |
karma | metaphysical law that one’s actions return to oneself, either in the current life or one’s next life or lives |
kemari | feudal game similar to soccer in which the ball must be kept in the air by using only the feet |
kich | a privacy screen about five feet tall mounted on a platform from which noble women had to entertain any male who was not their husband or family |
Kinensai | Festival of the Spring Prayer |
kisagake | fast whip-like movement of sword stroke |
kiyoseho | a joined-wood technique in sculpture |
Kōfuku | a temple name |
Kōfukuji | the temple of Kōfuku |
koi | Japanese carp |
Kokinshū | a collection of poems |
Konjin | one of the Gods of Direction, who moved in one of eight directions each day |
Koshin | one of the Gods of Directions |
kosode | simple peasant kimono with narrowed sleeves |
koto | large stringed instrument |
kuge | the nobility, aristocracy, the ‘good’ people |
Kuyō | special funeral prayers to ensure that a soul will keep away from people on earth |
Lute Strings | female pubic hairs |
makiwara | a large straw target used for beginners at archery, usually placed close to the student |
makie | a technique in which gold dust is mixed with lacquer and then applied |
Man’yōshū | a collection of poems, ranging in date from the fifth century to |
mato | the normal target for archers. The most common size is twelve suns, approximately 3.03 cm in diameter shot from a distance of twenty-eight metres |
Monju-Bosatsu | God of Intelligence, associated with the lion |
mochi | sweet rice cake, usually steamed or fried |
Muko Bay | a bay near Ichinotani, now Kobe |
naginata | halberd scythe-like blade-on-a-pole |
Nihongi | Nihongi-Shoki, Chronicles of Japan, an official history of Japan compiled in 720 |
nusa | white cloth with virtues written on it, usually tied to a stick |
ob | grandmother |
ohaguro | blackening of teeth |
oni | demon, ogre |
Otofuku | folk-religion God of female sexual appetite |
Positive Peak | penis |
sabi | worn, used-up, sad |
Saishōōgyō | type of Buddhist scripture |
sake | rice wine |
sakura-mochi | bean paste – filled rice cakes with cherry leaves served on the Third day of the Third Month for the Doll Festival |
sansankudo | marriage ceremony in which bride and groom each alternate drinking |
seppuku | ritual suicide |
setsubun | literally means separation of a season |
shaku | 29.7 cm, or 11.7 inches (linear measurement) |
shikime zane | armour in which the leather or iron pieces are assembled twice overlapping to be extra thick |
Shingon | sect of Buddhism |
sh | estate with lands, craftsmen and samurai |
sh | paper framed with wood used as walls and sliding doors |
Shogun | commander-in-chief in charge of barbarians |
s | warrior monks |
sum | a type of wrestling |
sutra | formal Buddhist prayer |
tabi | socks with a single toe separation |
tachi | long sword, usually worn when on a horse |
Taikan Tsuho | Chinese coin with a square hole in the middle |
takenaga | piece of cloth or ribbon with which courtesans in Heian Japan used to tie back their hair |
Tale of Genji | novel written by Murasaki Shikibu, early eleventh century |
Tendai | sect of Buddhism |
t | 7.2 litres (capacity measurement) |
Todai | a temple name |
Todaiji | temple of Todai |
tokonoma | alcove for displaying scroll, arranged flowers or precious artifact |
tori-i | gateway or portal to entrance of Shinto shrines |
Tosa Niki | a travel diary written by Ki no Tsurayuki |
tsuba | the metal sword guard attached between the blade and the handle of the sword |
tsuru | bowstring |
waka | five-lined poetry |
watadono | veranda, covered porch around a dwelling |
yurei | a tormented ghost who stays with the living to take revenge or conclude unfinished business |
Village of Outcasts | small town of prostitutes, tanneries and other such ‘unclean’ activities |