(If you haven't yet, make sure to read the intro.)
Shosho, part 1: The Edo period began a golden age of travel in Japan. Previously, wars, bandits, and laws greatly restricted movement throughout the country. With the new peace, many of these were lifted. In part due to the dictate that high-ranking samurai live part of the year in Edo, a system of roads was built to link various parts of Japan with the capital. Bandits were hunted with more intensity, and travel restrictions were lessened to a remarkable degree. A whole range of itinerant performers, monks, pilgrims - and even tourists - began to make their way around the country. On the roads, inns and rest stops known as cha-ya, or teahouses, sprung up where travelers could rest, eat, and socialize with others. (Of course, some of these were not only selling tea! Irojaya, or "colorful tea houses" was a nice term for what were basically roadside brothels. Bulma and her caravan did not go to these.)
Travel was basically on foot only. Horseback riding was unusual for long distances, though horses were used to carry baggage. High-ranking people would sometimes be carried in a palanquin, but these were fairly cramped so I can only imagine you'd want to get out and walk sometimes. Though bandits were rarer than previously, they still did exist and preyed on travelers, so people would often travel in large groups or caravans for protection.
Symbols you might spot in this part: colored leaves (kind of), geese, and arrowroot or kuzu (kudzu) are symbols of autumn; kudzu leaves and pearls are also related to kitsune...
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| Palanquin for travel |
Shosho, part 2: Part of the inspiration for this story comes from the "Gothic Romance" genre popularized in the late 1700s - early 1800s. These stories always include a mysterious castle in some isolated area, filled with secret rooms and passages but empty of people other than a strange and vaguely threatening housekeeper. I hope I managed to capture a bit of that feeling here.
The hidden path is meant to be reminiscent of shrines to the deity Inari, who is associated with rice, agriculture, warriors...and foxes, especially white foxes. Inari is an interesting figure; portrayed sometimes as male, sometimes as female, and sometimes as androgynous. (Also associated with a "wish-granting jewel"...why does that sound familiar?😁 ) Shrines often have fox statues with red cloth around their necks guarding the entrances, which are through the classic Shinto torii gates, though they are usually bright red laquered wood, rather than stone. Torii are sometimes thought of as gateways to the spirit world; they are often strung with the ropes and paper chains which are symbols that kami are present. If you enter a shrine through a torii, it is important to leave the same way so that you return to the real world.
Symbolism in this section: the atmospheric phenomenon known as the "sea of clouds" is a symbol of autumn. The shide paper chains represent rain and lightning; and kitsune are thought to be able to create lightning.
No easter eggs in the last section, sorry!
Link to Part 4
