Shogun by James Clavell, 1975

Having fallen under the spell of Japan - the country, its people and its traditions - I have started Shogun by James Clavell.  At over 1,000 pages, this is no small undertaking and a commitment that will last throughout the summer.

The book is filled with details on the history and culture of Japan and tells of the tale of the rise of the real-life Shogun Tokugawa, who unified Japan.

The  novel delves into the political, religious and cultural landscape of 16th Century Japan when instability was on the rise with war imminent amongst the daimyo factions.

Adding to the instability was the influence of the Portuguese priests who were not only spreading Catholicism, but also enabling the lucrative trading routes between Japan and China.

Having visited Macao in 2011, I wish I had known about the history surrounding the Portuguese influence on Asia (particularly Macao, the Portuguese trading port) during my visit.

Despite how compelling Shogun is, I decided to take a respite after 300 pages, so this will be continued...

Shogun, Part (and Attempt) #2 a few weeks later in July

Like The Odyssey, Shogun is an enthralling epic adventure with battles, intricate plots and deception based on Japan's conflict-ridden history of feudalism, which was eventually stamped out by the peaceful rule of an all-empowering Emperor under the real-life Tokugawa.

In Shogun, the central character Toranga is based on Tokugawa, who claims and befriends the shipwrecked British pilot Blackthorne, whose point of view the story is told from.  Toranga is an impressive character who patiently orchestrates and implements the many plots that leads to his eventual success over the other daimyos.

The adventures and political maneuverings are too vast to summarize, but the web of complexity in defeating the daimyos who have rallied together to declare war on Toranga are much more impressive than the complex plots of modern day spy novels made easier with the advent of technological gadgets.

Japan 500 Years Ago and Today
Blackthorne's observations of 16th Century Japan hold true five centuries later and parallel my observations during my trip to Japan in May of this year.

Traditional outfits in modern day Kyoto, 2012.

Even today, patrons are expected to remove their shoes when entering a restaurant, and there are socks for flip flops or wooden shoes sold at dollar stores.

Streets are amazingly clean and litter-free, even the streets of Tokyo, which millions of people traverse daily.

Blackthorne, also known as Anjin-san ("anjin" meaning pilot and "san" being a sign of respect), did not take baths since the western world thought water carried diseases and illnesses.

Sticklers for cleanliness, Blackthorne's Japanese captors force him to take baths and it ends up being the one component of Japanese culture that he quickly adjusts to.

Public mineral baths are still common place, offered at many resorts and despite being required to go in completely naked, incredibly relaxing.  According to Blackthorne, "A bath is truly the gift of God."

Another differing aspect of western and eastern culture is diet.  The Japanese are appalled that Anjin-san eats peasant.

His response: "Your food's just as strange...the raw squid - white slimy, almost tasteless chewy meat with nothing but soya [sic] sauce to wash it down?  Or the chopped octopus tentacles, again raw, with cold rice and seaweed?"  Even today, such a simple dish can be found all over the place in Japan.

From a local restaurant in Matsumoto of the Japan Alps.

An aspect of Japanese tradition that Shogun highlighted is the role of the samurai in Japan's caste system.  Samurais were not just warriors, but also the ruling class with many privileges.

Only samurais were allowed to have names while non-samurais were known and called by what they did.  Also, only the children of samurais were allowed to go to school. 

Japanese Mentality and Zen-ness
As Blackthorne becomes immersed in Japanese culture, he begins to understand Japan and its people at a deeper level.  Their actions and formalities, even nonsensical ones, are to save face and not offend anyone, even one's enemies.

Consideration for others over oneself is tantamount even in a depraved environment like prison.  Blackthorne notes the consideration that others have for those who are sharing a common space.  Even today in Tokyo's packed metro, people are incredibly considerate and refrain from talking, and if they happen to be talking, they speak in hush voices.

Having such quietness turns out to be incredibly soothing and something I miss upon returning to the States, where everyone is so loud and it's difficult to be able to think once you leave your house.

Mariko, a female samurai who becomes Blackthorne's translator and eventual love interest, explains this to some extent when talking to Blackthorne, or Anjin-san:

   "You see, Anjin-san," she tells him when he started joking about the lack of privacy everywhere considering that people are always around and walls are made from paper, "here you have to learn to create your own privacy.  We're taught from childhood to disappear within ourselves, to grow impenetrable walls behind which we live.  If we couldn't, we'd all certainly go mad and kill each other ourselves."

   "What walls?"

Paper walls? How about windows. From my ryokin in Takayama.

   "Oh, we've a limitless maze to hide in, Anjin-san. Rituals and customs, taboos of all kinds, oh yes.

Even our language has nuances you don't have which allow us to avoid, politely, any questions if we don't want to answer it."

   "But how do you close your ears, Mariko-san?  That's impossible."

  "Oh, very easy, with training.  Of course, training begins as soon as a child can talk, so very soon it's second nature to us - how else would we survive?  First you begin by cleansing your mind of people, to put yourself on a different plan. Sunset watching is a great help or listening to the rain - Anjin-san, have you noticed the different sounds of rain?

If you really listen, then then the present vanishes, neh?  Listening to blossoms falling and to rocks growing are exceptionally good exercises. Of course, you're not suppose to see the things, they're only signs, messages to your hara, your center, to remind you of the transcience of life, to help you gain wa, harmony, Anjin-san, perfect harmony, which is the most sought-after quality in all Japanese life, all art, all...

Rock garden at RyoanjiTemple in Kyoto.... So zen.

  "I will whisper a secret to you: Don't be fooled by our smiles and gentleness, our ceremonial and our bowing and sweetnesses and attentions.  Beneath them all we can be a million ri away, safe and alone.  For that's what we seek - oblivion..."

A quote from Mariko provides another view into the mentality of the Japanese people:

"Love is a Christian word, Anjin-san.  Love is a Christian thought, a Christian ideal.  We have no word for 'love' as I understand you to mean it.  Duty, loyalty, honor, respect, desire, those words and thoughts are what we have have, all that we need."

Karma
As an island nation, Japan has suffered and continues to suffer through many natural disasters from earthquakes to tidal waves to tsunamis.  These non-preventable, unpredictable and catastrophic events also factor into the mentality of the island nation.

   "...I seem to understand now what you mean nand Lord Toranga meant about karma and the stupidity of worrying about what is.  A lot seems clearer. I don't know why - perhaps it's because I've never been so terrified, maybe that's cleaned my head, but I seem to think clearer.

It's - well, like Old Gardener['s death].  Yes, that was all my fault and I'm truly sorry, but that was a mistake, not a deliberate choice on my part.  It is.  So nothing can be done about it.  A moment ago we were all almost dead.  So all that worry and heartache was a waste, wasn't it?  Karma.  Yes, I know karma now.  Do you understand?"

   "Yes." She translated to Toranga.

   "He says, 'Good, Anjin-san.  Karma is the beginning of knowledge. Next is patience.  Patience is very important.  The strong are the patient ones, Anjin-san. Patience means holding back your inclination to the seven emotions: hate, adoration, joy, anxiety, anger, grief, fear.  If you don't give way to the seven, you're patient, then you'll soon understand all manner of things and be in harmony with Eternity."