The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai (60 page)

BOOK: The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai
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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
ō

11,900 square metres or 108 metres (land and length measurement)

ch
ō
ami

game with dice

ch
ō
ya

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.
Pink Samurai: Love, Marriage & Sex in Contemporary Japan
. New York: Pocket Books, 1991, p. 157)

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
ō

male’s formal shirt-like garment

Hokekyō

a type of Buddhist scripture

hototogisu

one of several species of Japanese cuckoo. The
hototogisu
’s song traditionally signalled the arrival of summer.

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
ō

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
AD
759

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
ā
san

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
sake
from three different-sized bowls, starting with the smallest.
Sansankudo
literally means ‘three sets of three equals nine’; three is a perfect number because it is indivisible.

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
ō
en

estate with lands, craftsmen and samurai

sh
ō
ji

paper framed with wood used as walls and sliding doors

Shogun

commander-in-chief in charge of barbarians

s
ō
hei

warrior monks

sum
ō

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
ō

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

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