The Flower Mat (Tuttle Classics of Japanese Literature)

The Flower Mat (Tuttle Classics of Japanese Literature)

Language: English

Pages: 176

ISBN: B00757WQEY

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


First published as Hanamushiro in 1948, the setting for The Flower Mat is eighteenth-century Japan, a time when familes were bound together by a rigid code of honor and individual lives were of necessity valued far less than the interests of the group.

It tells of a young bride, Ichi, born into such a tradition, groomed in the virtues of ideal womanhood, and finally tempered by tragedy. Her life and fate are bound up inexorably with the fortunes of her in-laws, high-ranking officials. She soon becomes aware that something is dreadfully wrong, that something is threatening her home and her peaceful way of life. Uneasy and frightened, she tries to put clues together, but her questions go unanswered. Political intrigue and sudden tragedy force her into a new and unfamiliar world.

We follow Ichi as she grows from passive observer—a wife suppressing her own passions—to active agent—a woman who will risk anything for justice. Struggling for truth and justice, Ichi finds her only weapons are her own strength and the lovely mats, decorated with delicate flowers, that she designs.

Readers everywhere will find this a solid account of personal development and responsibility in the life of one Japanese woman.

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secret. The news that Kyunosuke had been slain in the castle together with Shinzo had to be false, since he had returned home in his torn hakama, and there was only one chance in a million that they had returned to the castle afterwards. But if both were among those who had deserted the clan after a battle, Kyunosuke would have visited them long ago, since it was he who had advised the family to take refuge in this village. He might have been slain or caught while escaping. This was the only

that Teijiro wanted her to concentrate exclusively on this job. But since she had no idea of what the result would be, and out of consideration for the other women's feelings, she decided that for the time being she would work on her mat at another machine for only two hours every afternoon. One rainy March day, when the mountains and fields were hidden in the mist of dancing rain drops, Ichi walked through the Minojin House gate and headed for the weaving room. She inclined her umbrella

you—something I must tell you—so please come with me, just over there." "I . . . please let me go, mother." "It won't take long. We'll finish quickly." Her mother was already holding Ichi's hand. "I shan't force you to come, but if you'll just listen to me, everything will be all right." "Don't be frightened," said a voice behind her. She turned and saw Bennosuke, also in traveling clothes. "We'll let you go home soon." Ichi felt herself turning pale. Bennosuke had been doing the same work as

two miles, but the road was flooded, and here and there it was barred by mud, trees, or ruined houses washed down from farther up the river. She was forced into so many detours that the trip took her a long time. Takahata was not flooded, and it presented an incredibly peaceful scene, except for the emergency aid hut. After four or five inquiries she found Mozaemon and his son in the garden of a house. Hei was watching an ant lion under the persimmon tree, and Mozaemon, his hands absent-mindedly

doctor, Sekitai? Hmm ... I guess the Kugata family lives differently, but you're not taking care of yourself, are you? You look worse than you usually do." Though Ichi insisted that she had not done any fine work for a long time and that she was even troubled because she had nothing to do, her mother's suspicious expression remained. Ichi's father and oldest brother were at work, but two of her brothers, Heizaburo and Bennosuke, soon appeared. They looked as meticulous as ever, sitting so

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