The Blade of the Courtesans is a historical fiction novel by Japanese author Keiichiro Ryu who was originally published in 1986. It was published in English by Vertical Inc. in 2008. Ryu's debut novel, it was nominated for the Naoki Prize and "instantly made him a pioneer of historical fiction."
Video The Blade of the Courtesans
Ringkasan plot
"The long and exhausting kingdom of the century battles that plunged the Japanese into the" Era of Warring States "finally came to an end, and the victorious Tokugawa clan ruled the newly united Rising Sun Land.The Shogun will come from the Tokugawa line for over two hundred years, right up to Commodore Perry's "black ships" forced the far eastern archipelago toward modernity, while Mikado or the emperor maintained prestige, he was only a puppet.This was the beginning of the Edo period.
However, despite the beginning of peace and prosperity, the problem of brewing in Yoshiwara, the Edo resting place where the geisha waiters count among their clients a lot of bored samurai who are no longer called for combat. Gomenjo publishing or permission for the red light district threatens to fight for an important power struggle. The prostitutes themselves do not have their own blade eyes - not until a still pure young warrior from the Higo province mountains arrived in Edo.
Raised by the deceased legendary Miyamoto Musashi and mysteriously sent to the capital by him, Matsunaga Seiichiro is innocent but deadly has a secret that is hidden even from himself: he is an imperial family. After barely surviving as a brutal cleansing by Tokugawa Minion as a baby thanks to Musashi, the young man is now more than ready to stand up against a stubborn force seeking his death. But the famous Yagyu clan serving the shogun included ninja as well as daytime warriors among its ranks. "& Lt;
Maps The Blade of the Courtesans
Characters (in order of appearance)
- Matsunaga Seiichiro - a samurai with good moral character and great sword skills. He was revealed to be the retired son of Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
- Miyamoto Musashi - a legendary swordsman who saved Seiichiro's baby and picked him up in the remote mountains of Higo Province.
- Shoji Jin'emon - former master of Nishidaya, a leading prostitute in Yoshiwara. Her daughter, Nabe, married Jinnojo, the current owner of Nishidaya, and together they have Oshabu.
- Shoji Jinno-in-law of Jin'emon and father of Oshabu.
- Shoji Oshabu - a nine year old girl who is able to see the future and read other people's minds.
- Mizuno Jurozaemon - a hatamoto or direct follower of the shogun, and the leader of a rough group of samurai called Jingi-gumi. According to Seiichiro he has a very big nose.
- Kagazume Kai - one of Mizuno's followers and a member of Jingi-gumi. Seiichiro called him "Crab" because of his broad forehead.
- Gensai - a nice old man who became a friend, mentor, and guide Seiichiro around Yoshiwara.
- beautiful Katsuyama-tayu or the highest-level oiran. She keeps feelings for Seiichiro but has a dark secret.
- Miuraya Shizaemon - the owner of a very fat and anxious house or bohachi from Omiuraya or Great Miura, the most prominent house in Yoshiwara.
- Nomura Gen'i, Yamadaya Sannojo, and Namikiya Genzaemon - three former Musashi students from Shinmachi, Edo Edo Edo, and Kakucho.
- Yagy? Rendo/Rokuro, also called Retsud? Gisen, also called Gizen-the founder of Yagy? Hotokuji clan temple and leader of the ninja branch Yagyu Ura. Somewhat hot and bloodthirsty.
- Sagawa Shinza (emon) - Commander of Gizen's right hand.
- Yagy? Munefuyu- The older Gizen, the quieter brother and the leader of both Yagy? clan and the power of the main ninja. Take over for her brother and Gizen, Yagy? J? Bei Mitsuyoshi when Jubei was killed seven years ago.
- The Takumi-Munefuyu Notary and the best coach of the Yagyu clan.
- Sendai Takao or Takao II - the most famous tayu in Yoshiwara, employed by Miuraya and end up liking Seiichiro.
- Kageyama Sanjuro - a hatamoto or direct subordinate to the shogun, and "newcomer" (or, in fact, spy) to Mizuno's Jinjigumi group of samurai.
- Obaba-sama - the leader of the "Eight legendary Nun Monks," wanders the spiritual priests based in the famous Kumano area
- Sarada Jirosaburo Motonabu - a wandering sword player employed by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself for a secret mission.
- Tenkai - pastor of Mount Hiei and Ieyasu's adviser
- Honda Tadakatsu-one of the four generals and Ieyasu's closest allies
- Sakai Tadakiyo - senior board member Ieyasu Tokugawa Ietsuna's grandson and Gisen's secret allies
Reception
"The violence is ultra-modern and the fight is a literary equivalent of contemporary martial arts film and is played with cinematic speed and ballet grace.The novel is full of well-researched information... It is said in a straightforward way but includes elements of magic, fantasy, romance and courtesy.Vertically it has not yet published a book that, without its commitment to contemporary Japanese literature, will never be translated into English. "- The Japan Times
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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