Across the Nightingale Floor.

[James R]

Has anyone else read this excellent book by Lian Hearn?
I will not go into the story details, but if you read it you will see why I should ask this on a Kendo forum.

Any way, if there someone out there who has read it, do you think the Hidden are Buddists or Christians?

[KhawMengLee]

Its spelled Buddhist.:p

Heh, funny you should mention the book. My Sensei told us about it and I got it a couple of days ago and have just finished it. Its not too bad. easy to read and pretty cool at times but I feel that too much has been left out eg. japanese terminology, description of weapons and armour etc. But then again a lot of western readers might get lost if it was too japanese.

The hidden...well, with the mention of the "one god" they sound christian. Buddhist have the same philosophy of non-violence (Ironic they mention the Sohei warrior monks then, but then again Christianity had the Crusade Knights). Buddhism is more a philosophy than a religion. Also to top it off, Buddha is not God and never said he was. (no flames here, I am a Buddhist myself). Nor do Buddhists have Gods...the inclusion of deities was probably a result of the mixing of taoism and buddhism.

Yup, they are probably Christains. After Tokugawa came into power Christianity was outlawed in Japan. Though it may seem barbaric, one must understand the political power the church had during those days. The Portugese used religion as a tool to control people and trade and Tokugawa did not need another faction to battle as he turned his attention to building a nation.

Hours of history here,
MENG

[R A Sosnowski]

How timely. The "Book World" section of yesterday's Sunday edition of "The Washington [DC, USA] Post" reviewed this and "Cloud of Sparrows" by Takashi Matsuoka, set in 1861 in Edo. Both were quite well received. BTW, "Across the Nightingale Floor" is Volume One of a planned trilogy.

Yes, the Hidden are Christians.

I plan to add them to the following short list of books:

"Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai" by Romulus Hillsborough highlights the turbulent period at the end of the existence of the Samurai as a social class.

"Memoirs of the Warrior Kumagai: A Historical Novel" by Donald Richie (1999) is the real story behind what becomes the well-loved, medieval epic, the "Tale of the Heike."

"Drunk as a Lord: Samurai Stories" by Ryotaro Shiba (Eileen Kato, translator)
(2001), as historical fiction, focuses on four historical figures during the
late Edo period after the appearance of the Black Ships.

Happy reading,
Raymond Sosnowski