The Birdcage, by Tatsushu

Story name: The Birdcage
Author: Tatsushu
Publication date: January 13, 2001 (TSA-Talk)

Date: Early summer to early winter, year unknown (6 months)
Location: Heikyo, Yamato

Overview

Katou Isaburou, a young samurai, enters Heikyo to train under Maruyama Masatsune, unaware of the political danger that he steps into.

+ Story info (Spoilers!)

Summary

Part 1

Katou Isaburou, a young samurai from northern Yamato, enters the Imperial City of Heikyo, seeking to be an uchi-deshi for Maruyama Masatsune, his mother's cousin famed for his great deeds. Overwhelmed by Heikyo's size and by its native traditions, he is heckled by a man named Junousuke, who unexpectedly stops a peasant from stealing his money pouch. Junousuke promises to help Isaburou, and to contact him at the Kaiwa-kan Inn if he needs anything. He pays a cab to take him to Maruyama's dojo.

Over the next several weeks, Maruyama Masatsune's training pushes Isaburou to his limits. Though hard at first, Maruyama is easier on him after the first week, and a shared bottle of sake. In addition to training, Isaburou does various chores for Maruyama.

Several weeks into his training, while going to the brewery to buy some sake, Isaburou sees Junousuke helping a familiar-looking man with some pouches. As Isaburou greets him and explains his mission, Junousuke takes him across town to a special brewery, one that he claims sells superior sake. He gives the shopkeeper Isaburou's money and covers the rest on credit. Junousuke asks about the scorched shrine next door, and the owner explains that while checking the rice malt temperatures one night, he heard a woman scream outside and saw a flash of light; he ran out to see the inari shrine gate on fire, ruining the two stone fox statues. A priest came to purify the shrine and chase away the evil spirits, but he cannot yet afford to fix the gates.

Isaburou returns to the dojo, where Maruyama only comments on the quality of the sake. That night, Isaburou has a nightmare involving burning shrines, a man who changes between Junousuke and his friends, stone foxes that come to life and chase the man away, and a masked priest performing for a dead woman on an altar, who takes off his mask to reveal a devil's face. Isaburou wakes up in a sweat.

Part 2

Tensions rise in Heikyo with bad harvests, and rumors of the Yamabara family gathering support for a coup against the shogun. Over the next few weeks, Maruyama receives private visits from court officials. After one meeting, Maruyama surprises Isaburou with a series of attacks which Isaburou can only parry until he is disarmed. Maruyama warns that he must always be on guard for attack, and tells him a story of an invincible general who died of a snake bite in peacetime. For the next several months, Isaburou learns the naginata, the yari, and the bow, both fighting with and defense against. Meanwhile, Isaburou continues to deliver packages and messages for Junousuke, but does not tell Maruyama.

On the first snow of winter, while walking through town, Isaburou overhears two men planning an attack on the Nijo palace. Too far from the palace or his master's dojo, he decides to tell Junousuke at the Kaiwa-kan Inn. Junousuke thanks him, and plans to report to the Nijo palace's garrison, and warns him not to tell anyone. Isaburou returns to the dojo, but is nervous for the rest of the day, drawing his sword when Maruyama's wife enters. Maruyama does not return to the dojo until the next day. During training he asks why Isaburou drew his sword, and Isaburou explains the assassination plot, but doesn't mention Junousuke. Maruyama leaves to tell the garrison, but finds that the plot was already reported and the two men already caught.

That night, Maruyama wonders what Isaburou is hiding, and who was behind the plot. He sleeps, but awakes to find his wife lunging forward with a knife. He wrangles the body, draws his sword, and cuts the wires that were controlling his dead wife like a puppet. Meanwhile, Isaburou awakes from the commotion, and grabs his sword just as a throwing star hits his pillow. Ninjas attack, but thanks to his training he fights them off until Maruyama kills them and leads him to the dojo, where they fight off two more ninjas. Maruyama says the capital is too dangerous now; he orders Isaburou to return to his family and prepare them for battle, while he stays to fight the attackers.

Isaburou flees to the streets, but is caught by Junousuke. His familiar friend emerges, claiming Maruyama is dead by poison. Realizing he has been betrayed, Isaburou breaks free and chops the man's bag of poison. Isaburou flees, but the man manages to strike him in the back with a potion before he dies. Isaburou feels his muscles seizing up, and he collapses in front of a building.

Days pass, and Junousuke's clan is unable to find Isaburou. Isaburou awakens to find an old priest watching over him. Something is odd about how he addresses Isaburou, and on examining himself, Isaburou discovers that his body has been changed into a woman's. The priest consults the gods with a set of scrying stones, where he tells him he must head north to his homeland, but along the will will meet a wolf, which he must follow "to the mountain of birds" where his destiny lies. The gods are silent on a cure, or avenging his master. He suggests he adopt a new identity as a woman, so that Junousuke and his men won't find him, and to blend in with society. Isaburou settles on the name "Isamu".

With new priestess clothes, charms to ward off evil, a cedar sprig, and a cover story of going on a pilgrimage, Isamu heads north to an unknown destiny.

Characters

Main Characters:

• Katou Isaburou Takanobu of Kurogi: A samurai, uchi-deshi to Maruyama Masatsune. After six months of training, he unintentionally gets his master involved in Heikyo politics by betraying his friend Junousuke's orders. He is transformed into a woman by one of Henshi's potions, and flees north as "Katou Isamu". According to the priest, he will meet a wolf on his journey who will take him to the mountain of birds.
  • He arrives wearing a straw travelling hat. In winter, he wears a dark blue hitatare. He is armed with a sword.
    • As a woman, Isamu has dark bangs. She leaves with her old clothes and sword in a bundle, and wears a mino (straw travelling coat), wooden geta, and her hat to hide her face. She wears charms to ward off evil spirits, such as a wooden arrow hanging from her neck against her heart, and paper charms.
  • During the fight with ninjas, his arm is cut.
  • Although his family owns a castle, Isaburou is too poor when he arrives to afford anything.
  • Isaburou was a naturally talented swordsman, and could beat older and more experienced opponents in Kurogi. His training was minimal.
    • Maruyama, naturally, far surpasses his abilities, teaching him the naginata, the yari, and the bow, as well as making him more confident and aware.

Supporting Characters:

• Junousuke: A samurai, known as "the dog of Chiba". He is the first person Isaburou meets in Heikyo. He grooms Isaburou as a potential ally, but ultimately attacks him and his master for disobedience to his clan.
  • He is older than Isaburou, and has a rugged, scruffy face. He is first seen wearing ragged maroon clothes and a low straw hat. He is armed with a wakizashi.
    • His foot is temporarily fractured by Isaburou's naginata.
  • He resides at the Kaiwa-kan Inn.
  • When visiting the brewer, he says that he has a younger brother, due to arrive when the cranes return home. It's unclear whether this is literal, or a coded message.
  • He admits to Isaburou once that he changes allegiances as necessary. To Isaburou, it seems that he knows everyone in the city.
• Henshi: A friend of Junousuke, secretly a ninja. He pretends to be a peasant thief, robbing Isaburou while Junousuke stops him. He is then seen at a brewery, showing off his ability to hide pouches on him. Lastly, after the ninja attack, he claims to have killed Maruyama with poison. He dies by one of his own poisons.
  • He has yellow crooked teeth and a gnarled, "broken" face. In his last appearance, he wears a dark uniform and maille.
  • He hides pouches in his sleeves, which contain valuable substances with very different, dangerous uses. None of them are labeled.
    • One of them was a green poisonous powder that kills him, and that he claimed killed Maruyama.
    • Another ended up coating Isaburou's back, and changed his sex.
• Maruyama Jirou Masatsune: A master of Shintenken swordsmanship. He takes Isaburou as his uchi-deshi. He is supposedly killed by Henshi's poisons.
  • He is 60 years old. He has sparse gray hair. Thanks to years of physical and mental training, he is very fit for his age, and can beat most of the young swordsmen he trains.
  • One of his weapons is an old sharp naginata.
  • From a distance of twenty meters, he is able to punch through a wall and immobilize his opponents.
  • He is critical of Isaburou's every mistake during the first week, and calls him lazy after the night of drinking. Afterwards, he goes a bit easier, but will push him for several weeks on one technique if he feels Isaburou is lacking.
  • He remembers being impulsive in his youth when he fell in love with Shirobara.
    • In his youth, he trained under Ogata of Hosoyubi.
    • It is hinted that he grew up in a time of chaos, and he fears more chaos in the coming future.

Minor Characters:

• Okugata Shirobara: Maruyama's wife. She is killed before the ninja fight, and tied up with wires to kill Maruyama.
  • She had an aged, kind, dulcet voice.
  • She made a notably great oden stew.
• The Mitsuzakaya shopkeeper/brewer. He knew Junousuke and hadn't seen him in a long time. He was probably an ally of Junousuke's clan.
  • He is a short, balding man. He walks with a waddle. He wears a dirty, once-white towel.
• At least four shinobi, members of Junousuke's clan, who attack Maruyama and Isaburou, all of whom die in the attack:
  • One armed with two sickles, who likely also carried a three-pointed shakken (throwing star). He attacks Isaburou in his bedroom, and receives a deep gash in his arm, before being killed by Maruyama.
  • One armed with two short swords. He attacks Isaburou in the hallway, and is killed by Maruyama.
  • One armed with a chained sickle-headed weapon. He attacks Maruyama in the dojo, but is quickly killed.
  • One armed with a shakken/. He attacks Isaburou and manages to cut his shoulder before being killed.
• An old priest who heals the transformed Isaburou, reads her fate, and advises her next moves.
  • He is bald, with yellowed teeth. He has a kind, wise-looking face.

Cameo:

• An older man, seen running the Kaiwa-kan Inn.

Important Mention:

• Tekage Yoshikatsu: The shogun of Yamato. He is the supreme commander of Yamato's armies. Over the course of a year, Isaburou hears that the Yamabara family is plotting against him.
• A general from Okuyama. Legend had that he was never defeated or hit in combat. One time in battle, without a thought, he beheaded a snake about to bite him. After a year of peace with his neighbors, he was killed in his garden by a snake bite. He was said to be killed by peace.

Referenced:

• Tensai: The young Emperor of Yamato.
• Junousuke's and Henshi's boss. He supplies Henshi's powders.
• Katou Miyamono Tarou Takamatsu: Isaburou's father. Isaburou is his third son.
• Isaburou's mother. Maruyama is her cousin.
• Ogata of Hosoyubi: Maruyama's sensei.
• Watanabe Toranokami Ittou: The Sadaijin, second-in-command to the shogun of Yamato, and very loyal to him.
• Isaburou's older sister, whom Isaburou now resembles.
• The Merciful One, presumably a deity of Yamato.
• The Goddess of Mercy and the God of War, two deities of Yamato.

Isaburou's Dream

• He first dreams of fleeing through a series of torii, a bright light behind him blowing up each torii, while the image of Henshi laughs at him.
• He arrives at a clearing, with Junousuke facing away from him. When he approaches, Junousuke turns, but is now the brewer.
• The brewer pours sake onto plates held by two stone foxes at his side. He lifts the plates and turns into Henshi, the plates turning into pouches.
• Henshi pours gold coins from his pouches. The foxes are now broken, one with one eye, the other with one ear. They jump off their pedestals, and chase Isaburou into a forest of cedar trees, which turn into torii.
• The foxes nip at his heels as he runs. The hallway forks, and Isaburou charges down one without thinking. After some time, he realizes he is no longer being followed, but continues onward.
• He arrives at a field of white-garbed mourners outside a temple, surrounding an altar where a beautiful woman lies. A priest chants over her with wilting rice, the tips black with rot. The priest looks up, and his wooden Noh mask turns into a demon's face and falls off, revealing a face burned to the skull except for its untouched eyes. Isaburou wakes up in a sweat.

Locations

• Heikyo, the "Imperial City" is the capital city of Yamato. It is the home of Yamato's Emperor and Shogun. It adjoins the Seto River to the south. There are hills around it.
  • The buildings along the edges of Heikyo are simple shops and residences, with sliding walls made of wood and rice paper, and dry hemp signs indicating their business. Closer to the Imperial Palace are increasingly grander private villas and small complexes, with the occasional high-end business. All buildings, though, are at most the size of a city block.
  • The north road leads straight into the city towards the Imperial Palace, and is 30 meters wide. It is crossed by avenues, which are numbered starting from the Imperial Palace outward.
    • Along the north road, near the city gate, is the Western Head Temple of the Pure Land Path of Enlightenment. It is as large as one of Heikyo's city blocks. A great bell inside can be heard across Heikyo, and seems to either call or dismiss acolytes. The temple is surrounded by a small moat with ornamental carp first, and high, thick, strong unadorned walls to protect it from riots and religious sects. There are three gates leading into a central courtyard; the largest gate is the center, which is made of granite and nearly 6 meters tall.
    • The north gate is massive, almost a meter thick, over 6 meters high, and 30 meters wide. It has a large sloping roof, covered in shiny concave ceramic tiles. A balcony above and around the gate allows guarding archers to watch the crowd below. There are also two 4-meter statues here, representing the spiritual guardians of Heikyo. The gate is painted bright orange-red with green and white highlights, though a bit cracked in places.
  • According to Junousuke, the city is full of temples and shrines, and every street corner has its own deity. Some gates have small shrines in them, such as to the Goddess of Mercy.
  • The city's grand villas have low roofed and gated walls around them, with lush greenery inside.
    • One of these castles belongs to the shogun Tekage. It is the most fortified complex in the city, and is the size of a city block. It houses the local militia and contains an armoury for emergencies. Its floors are said to be magic, and sing when a malicious trespasser enters.
  • Kamishinano is a neighborhood in the northern half of Heikyo.
  • Maruyama's residence and dojo is in Kamishinano. There is a scenic river nearby.
    • In his meditation room are bamboo mats and Maruyama's ancestors' scroll.
    • The corridors have finely polished aged wooden floors.
    • His training room is lit by dim candles, with twenty-four bamboo mats on the floor, each with one long green edge twice as long as the other. Opposite the entrance is a wall made of wooden panels, with two raised recesses. The right recess has a carved antler rack holding two katanas. The left recess holds ancient family-owned armor. Between the recesses is a scroll that reads "Ever along the mountain path", signed by the founder of the Shintenken school of swordsmanship. There is also a weapons rack, which holds two naginata (a type of polearm).
      • The katana have black lacquered scabbards, gold end caps, and bronze menuki on sharkskin hilts, with a thick braided silk cord woven around them for comfort.
      • The armor is a boxy laced cuirass of lacquered leather, less comfortable than the current style of armor. It is battle-scarred, with a respectably colorful carapace.
    • The student room has a single candle, with a soft futon and a wooden pillow to sleep on. There is a shrine to the God of War here.
    • The kitchen is a small room with a small low table.
    • There is a garden inside, which Maruyama's home adjoins on three sides. Three round flat stones on moss-covered ground lead to a small stone shrine, surrounded by cedar trees taller than the house. There is also a small pool at the end, with five colored carp.
  • Along the river is a gated temple, where Isaburou is nursed back to life.
    • The room Isaburou recovers in has a futon. There is a small circular mirror, 40 centimeters across, with streaks along the edges.
  • Tenryu Temple is just east of Maruyama's dojo.
  • The brewery where Isaburou initially buys sake from is low quality, but is presumably near Maruyama's dojo.
  • Nijo (presumably a neighborhood) is the site of a palace.
    • The office of Sadaijin is in charge of Nijo's garrison.
  • The Kaiwa-kan Inn is in a part of Heikyo far from Maruyama's dojo and from the palace. It is a modest, nondescript building.
    • The common room inside is dimly lit, but has several places to sleep. There is a back counter for the inn's clerk.
    • There is a back room for more private conversations.
  • The brewery named Mitsuzakaya lies in the southern part of Heikyo, possibly the outskirts, along the Seto River. It is a wooden building painted black, with a silk noren with the store's name.
    • Special bottles of sake are kept underground in the back room.
    • Beside the building are two small shrines. The larger shrine has a stone gate. The smaller shrine is dedicated to the inari, and has a series of red torii with soot-covered pillars, caused by a recent fire. The smaller shrine also had two small fox statues ruined by the fire.
• Kurogi is in the province/prefecture of Meikita, far to the north of Heikyo. It takes weeks to travel from Kurogi to Heikyo. It is apparently a small town, as it is implied it has only one sake shop.
  • Katou's family castle is here. It is small and plain compared to the gate of Heikyo.

Society

• An uchi-deshi is a live-in student who trains with a sensei.
  • It is important for a student to hide their feelings and show self-control.
• A yobina is a person's common name.
• The emperor of Yamato is not involved in military affairs. He is instead allowed to focus on spiritual matters.
  • His noble regents are all from the Yamabara family.
• The supreme commander of Yamato's armies is the shogun.
• The kuge are the noble clans. The buke are the warrior clans.
• Samurai in Yamato have the rank and privilege to execute peasants at will.
• The Katous of Kurogi are a small house.
• There are a variety of charms and rituals to deal with evil spirits:
  • Priests may perform a purification ritual to chase evil spirits away from a location, and seal it off with a spiritual ward. One of these wards is a large ball of pruned mistletoe to hang above the door to a building.
  • One wearable charm, hung from the neck, is a wooden arrow against the wearer's heart.
  • Paper charms can also be worn.
• Priests use incense to symbolize the presence of a goddess.
• Junousuke claims that there are many festivals in Heikyo; the intense competition for followers between temples is the only reason they aren't celebrated every day.
• One of Heikyo's festivals involves a procession of priests and musicians. In the front, a young novice priestess carries a long lacquered pole with a large paper pom on top. Eighteen priests with a green branch in their jackets, march behind her playing the sho. Behind them is a cart of muscular taiko drummers, pulled by four men wearing only headbands and loincloths. Last is an omikoshi carried by worshippers; each step, they shout "wa-shoi".
  • The sho is a vertical flute with seventeen bamboo pipes. It produces a high nasal sound, which can be harsh and discordant to foreigners. It is mainly used in religious ceremonies, and sometimes as harmony in court songs.
  • An omikoshi is a palanquin-like mobile shrine decorated in gold.
  • Priestesses wear white silk over red hakama trousers. Priests traditionally wear elliptical hats and long white naoshi jackets over white silk sahinuki.
• The divination the old priest uses consists of several quartz stones, 6 pieces of paper, and a diagram on leather skin. While mumbling prayers, each of the strips is written on, with one strip on each corner of the diagram, one strip around a rose quartz stone, and one strip around a quartz stone given to the subject. All the stones are then cast on the diagram, and then interpreted by the priest.
• While drinking, a traditional toast is to declare the Emperor to live for 10,000 years. "Kampai" is a typical response.
  • Among the sake one can buy is Ichinomiya-no-natsubana.
• To travel around Heikyo, one may hire a rickshaw cart driver.

Chronology

• The story begins in early summer, weeks after Isaburou has left Kurogi.
• It is late summer, weeks after the rainy season, and weeks after Isaburou has been training with Maruyama, when Junousuke takes Isaburou to a brewery.
  • The summer is unusually warm.
• In early winter, someone who plans to stay at the palace at Nijo for a couple weeks (most likely the shogun, according to Maruyama) is targetted for assassination. The plot is foiled when Isaburou reports to Junousuke, whose connections lead to two men's arrest.
• One night afterwards, Junousuke's allies attack Maruyama and Isaburou, due to Isaburou disobeys Junousuke by reporting to Maruyama.

Points of Interest

• The story begins with a well-known proverb about the three unifiers of Japan, and their differing personalities.
• Maruyama says he must stay in Heikyo with his "White Rose". This could refer to his deceased wife, or it could symbollically refer to the shogun, the emperor, or some other government figure.