by Chris Vian
Title: Geisha apprentice, Meiko in Kyoto
In our culture fairy tales provide an interesting way for parents to teach life lessons to thier children. We are all familiar with the story of Beauty and The Beast and the Little Mermaid. Japanese culture, like our own, uses fairy tales to teach very important lessons. These stories, just like our's, contain elements of fantasy, adventure, action, drama, and mystery. It is important for us to understand the fairy tales of other countries as they allow us an insight into what the parents of these nations believe is important to teach thier children. By reading and understand another culture, we are more willing to accept people's differences. For this storybook, I looked at the retelling of some of Japan's most popular fairy tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki in her book 1908 book: Japanese Fairy Tales. It is important when looking at these fairy tales that we understand a little of the history and culture of Japan. We also must understand a little of the Geisha culture. Once we gain a better insight into the country of Japan, we can see how these fairy tales have influenced the country. Looking at these fairy tales is one of the main reasons the World Literature is around. The purpose of this course is to help understand a variaty of literature from around the world. With this class in particular I think it is important to look at Japanese fairy tales because while we have looked at Buddhist text I think a closer look at Japanese culture would help us to understand some of the main differences between our society and the Japanese society. The main storytelling device that I will be using is that of a geisha trying to keep a shogun from destroying her clan by telling him stories she heard in her childhood. In this fictional story, Oda Nobunaga succeeded in his attempts to take over the shogunship of Japan. The geisha who remains nameless is from the last remaining clan, the Akechi clan. So now without further wait I present you with: The Geisha and the Shogun.
Act 1: Enter the Geisha
The young women was led into the tea chamber of the Shogun. The
soldiers stood outside the screen as she prepared for the tea ceremony
that she had performed hundreds of times since becoming a full-fledged
geisha. As the top geisha in the Apple Blossom Okiya in Kyoto, it
was her duty to entertain the new shogun: Oda Nobunaga. She was the
ultimate professional and thus he would never know that she was
descended from the Oda clan's worst and only remaining enemy, the
Akechi
clan. She finished up preparing the tea ceremony and took her
position standing beside the place where Nobunaga would sit. Her
instruments were close at hand so that she could play any music should
it be
required. There was the soft smell of freshly bloomed apple
blossom tress the was in the air. Sitting here in the palace that would
serve as the headquarters for her clan's most hated enemy it was
difficult to remember that she had to put the honor of her okiya above
the honor of her clan. She heard the strike of the gong announcing the
approach of Shogun Nobunaga. He entered the room full of arrogance. It
took all of her will power to remain smiling with her head slightly
nodded down. "Sit and let us drink tea, for tonight is to be the
celebration of the desturction of the Akechi clan." Nobunaga
proclaimed. During her time as a geisha, the woman had learned that if
she just smiled and listened, the men who she was meant to entertain
would tell them her deepest secrets. She sat there and simply smiled as
she began pouring the shogun's tea.
"Mighty general," the geisha said, "I have not heard of the destruction of the Akechi clan. What has happened to them?" "I am meeting with my advisors Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu to launch our attack on the last refuge of the Akechi clan, the Castle on Mount Heji." As she continued making small conversation with the shogun her mind was full of thought. "How can I save my clan?" The geisha pondered. Suddenly a brillant idea struck the young geisha. "General, while you know we geisha are trained in the arts of singing and musical insturments, were you aware that we are trained as storytellers as well?" "I am aware of this and was looking forward to hearing some of your stories," Nobunaga said. "Well, great general, here is the beginning of the tale of the jellyfish and the monkey."
Act II: The Jellyfish and the Monkey
The young geisha tries to teach the shogun a lesson about making allowing for stupidity to bring ruin by recounting the story of how the jellyfish lost its bones.
Act III: The Ogre of Rashomon
The young geisha tries to teach the shogun not to be foolish in choosing his battles by recounting the tale of the great night Wanatabe and his encounter with a great ogre.
Act IV: The Mirror of Matsuyama
At the request of the shogun, the geisha tells the story of a young girl and her "magic" mirror.
Act V: The Story of the Man Who Could Make Withered Trees to Flower
The shogun takes up the mantle of storyteller to make the geisha see that he is trying to do good by using the story of an old man's loyalty to his dog and the rewards he recieves as an allegory to the greater world.
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"Mighty general," the geisha said, "I have not heard of the destruction of the Akechi clan. What has happened to them?" "I am meeting with my advisors Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu to launch our attack on the last refuge of the Akechi clan, the Castle on Mount Heji." As she continued making small conversation with the shogun her mind was full of thought. "How can I save my clan?" The geisha pondered. Suddenly a brillant idea struck the young geisha. "General, while you know we geisha are trained in the arts of singing and musical insturments, were you aware that we are trained as storytellers as well?" "I am aware of this and was looking forward to hearing some of your stories," Nobunaga said. "Well, great general, here is the beginning of the tale of the jellyfish and the monkey."
Act II: The Jellyfish and the Monkey
The young geisha tries to teach the shogun a lesson about making allowing for stupidity to bring ruin by recounting the story of how the jellyfish lost its bones.
Act III: The Ogre of Rashomon
The young geisha tries to teach the shogun not to be foolish in choosing his battles by recounting the tale of the great night Wanatabe and his encounter with a great ogre.
Act IV: The Mirror of Matsuyama
At the request of the shogun, the geisha tells the story of a young girl and her "magic" mirror.
Act V: The Story of the Man Who Could Make Withered Trees to Flower
The shogun takes up the mantle of storyteller to make the geisha see that he is trying to do good by using the story of an old man's loyalty to his dog and the rewards he recieves as an allegory to the greater world.
Return to coverpage