The Emperor in Shadow

by Richard Parks

  I frowned. “How? If the goal was to tie the royal family in closer alliance to a military family, there would have been other candidates honored to accept the risk.”

  “On the contrary, there was only one,” Kanemore said. “Losing this one, especially at the wrong time, would have been the end of everything.”

  “How is this possible? Who is it? Will you please tell me this?”

  Prince Kanemore sighed. “You, you idiot.”

  For several seconds I was incapable of human speech, though I may have made one or two gasping sounds. “But . . . but I am nothing!”

  Kanemore’s expression was pure exasperation. “Baka! You are not nothing and never were. You are a wealthy daimyo in close alliance with the Seiwa Genji. You are also in the process, whether you admit or even realize it, of turning the Yamada clan into a power in its own right. For Tagako to marry you accomplishes everything a direct marriage into Lord Yoriyoshi’s bloodline would accomplish, with the advantage of not linking the Seiwa Genji directly to the emperor and thus arousing either envy or concern among the other buke families. In short, you are perfect.”

  I kneeled then. I did not plan to do so. It was simply that my knees gave out on me. I stayed where I was for several long moments.

  “Of course,” Kanemore continued, “you could always refuse the emperor’s command.”

  I looked up at him. “Could I?”

  “Would you?”

  I thought about it but not for long. “No. However, I do have one favor I would like to ask of you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Would you be the one to tell her? I do not think I want to be there when she finds out.”

  He looked solemn. “I have my own errand to complete with the princess, so I will do as you ask. If she beats me to death with her koto, will you please follow her into exile? She doesn’t deserve to be alone.”

  I almost smiled. “If she were to kill you because of the news you bring, I doubt she would wish my company,” I said.

  “No, if I die it is on my own head. She was my friend, too, and in some ways I put her through worse than I did you.”

  I frowned. “You are going to tell her?”

  “Could I face her again if I did not?”

  That was the Kanemore I had always known, the man I called friend. Maybe one day I could do so again. “Good fortune, to both of us.”

  “We will need it. I have yet to report to His Majesty, so I must go soon. Was there anything else?”

  There was. “The emperor’s health concerns me and yes, of course I know it was him to whom I spoke in the sixth ward mansion.”

  Kanemore did not bother to deny it. “His health concerns all of us. He can deal with the Fujiwara, but one problem he has not been able to sidestep is the traditional role of the emperor as both chief priest of the nation and the prime leader of all ceremonial functions. These duties are onerous and both time- and energy-draining. They make governance, his true passion, difficult, even if there were no other obstacles.”

  Something occurred to me. “What if someone else performed the ceremonial duties and he was free to act unhindered?”

  Kanemore sighed. “That would be a miracle.”

  I shook my head. “No. That would be the Ritsuryō law code. Remember, I did attend the Daigaku-ryō in my youth. I have not forgotten everything I learned there.”

  “You are thinking of the so-called cloistered emperors?”

  “They were more than so-called. An emperor who abdicates chooses his successor. That successor fulfills the ceremonial and formal duties while the ‘retired’ emperor works behind the scenes. There has been precedent since the reign of Empress Jitō.”

  “Only a few, and hardly as a political strategy, as such a one’s powers are limited,” Kanemore pointed out.

  “Yes, because of the prevailing power of the regency system. Michinaga, remember? Yorimichi and Norimichi are the direct result of their father’s power as Regent. But what if the power of the regency was itself limited by statute? There would be less interference and more scope for someone accustomed to working the shadows.”

  I could almost hear the thought turning over in Kanemore’s head. “Tradition is a strong opponent to us here. Still, with the current chaos within the Fujiwara and the support of the Daijō-kan . . . a new law within this framework might be possible.”

  “It is always good for a person to have alternatives. Even emperors.”

  Prince Kanemore looked at me. “Whatever you may think of me now, it is my wish one day you will be able to forgive me.”

  I bowed. “This is my wish—that one day I will realize there was nothing to forgive.”

  The next letter I received from Kanemore told that he had indeed—barely—survived his meeting with Tagako, and the rest was up to me. It was still three days before I gathered enough courage to visit her. I accepted her rebuke as no less than my due, but when all was done, she said she was honored . . . and pleased. I think she was telling me the truth. I hoped she was. I do not remember much of what we talked about then. I do not believe the subject mattered as much as the fact we did talk easily to one another for quite some time. I do know we spoke of plans and arrangements. Tagako was adamant she would come with me to Kamakura rather than keeping a separate residence in the Capital, as was the custom. Secretly I was happy about that, as I was no longer certain if I could bring myself to set foot in the Capital again. I wanted to be gone as soon as possible. I was relieved that Princess Tagako felt the same. Before we could depart, before our formal relationship could be acknowledged and celebrated, however, there was one final meeting to arrange.

  Late afternoon the next day found me approaching the shores of Lake Biwa, and the scene of my worst memory. Morofusa scouted ahead to make certain there was no one around, and only then was I allowed to go forward on my own. I stood on the shore of the sacred lake facing east as the sun began to set behind me. For once, I was not going to wait for Princess Teiko’s ghost to appear.

  “I do not know if you can hear me, but I do believe you can. Your son is emperor. More to the heart of the matter, your son will be emperor, in a way this land has not known since the time of Emperor Temmu.”

  The ghost light appeared on the shore of the lake, and Princess Teiko’s ghost appeared before me. I felt all the regret I had ever felt, looking at her now. This had not changed, but neither would what I had to say.

  “Your son works in the shadows even better than you did. I have no worry as to his ability to deal with his enemies. Perhaps there were one or two concerns in which I was of assistance, but they are done. He no longer needs me. He no longer needs you, either.”

  Her outline shimmered and glistened like the surface of the lake where she had died, but she said nothing. One final time, I would speak for both of us.

  “Highness, you said I would know, and I do know. I am done. There is no more I can do for your son. More, there is no more which needs doing. Do you understand? I am leaving . . . and so are you.”

  “Your anger is gone, and for this I thank you. Yet one thing remains.” Her voice was faint and seemed to grow fainter from one word to the next, as if the distance between us was growing.

  I braced myself. “What is it?”

  “Look after Tagako. She will do as much for you.”

  I bowed. “Do not worry.”

  Princess Teiko glided toward me and leaned forward as if to kiss my forehead, but she vanished before she reached me. All that was left was her voice, so faint on the wind that I am still not certain what she said, but what I heard was this:

  “Sweet fool. I always did.”

  I stood alone on the shores of the lake but not for very long. I joined Morofusa and Ujiyasu where they were waiting.

  “Is your business concluded?” Morofusa asked.

  “After so very long? Yes, I believe it is.”

  Morofusa and Ujiyasu exchanged glances. “I don’t understand, Yamada-sama, you were not gone for more than a
few moments.”

  I smiled. I knew they would not understand what I said next, but it was true. “On the contrary—I have been away for most of my life. But I am back now.”

  Epilogue

  The priests kept the gods of death at bay for four good years, and in that time Emperor Go-Sanjo ruled well and wisely. Then his health demanded he abdicate in favor of his son, Sadahito-tennō, who was enthroned as Emperor Shirakawa. Go-Sanjo took the tonsure and lived for almost another year before he passed. I do not know what he did during that time or whether what I had said to Prince Kanemore had made any difference. I do know the law restricting the power of the office of regent had been enacted, so if Go-Sanjo’s son did not take a lesson from his father’s actions, I will be quite surprised. Perhaps he will be able to move to the cloister sooner rather than later, or perhaps not. I try not to care, which is much easier than I ever imagined it would be. Events in the Capital these days seem far removed from my life.

  Tagako-hime and I have three daughters together: Rie, Kaoru, and Raishi. They resemble their mother in both beauty and temperament, for which I am more grateful than I can say. Tagako is already considering matches for them. I will counsel patience, while she will pretend to listen and then do what she thinks best. This arrangement usually works well for all concerned, so there is a predictability to the domestic aspect of my life which I find very comfortable, just as there are other aspects which never will be.

  It seems Prince Kanemore was right about me, so far as the direction of the Yamada clan was concerned. Taro—I mean Kiyomichi—is working closely with Morofusa. Together they train mounted archers in alliance with the Seiwa Genji. Lord Yoshiie, now clan chief after the passing of his father Yoriyoshi, assigned Morofusa-san to me permanently at Morofusa’s own request, and his training and direction of bushi in my allied families is pulling more and more such men into my circle. I never considered or wanted this, but I know the Yamada clan will be, must be, a military family. This is the direction of the country, as Prince Kanemore and I both recognized, and a boat either rides a wave or is overwhelmed by it. For the memory of my father and the sake of my children I will not allow our family to be destroyed again.

  As for Kenji, he has played the role of saintly abbot for so long now I think he is starting to believe it himself. We both feel the years passing. We both have many responsibilities and demands on our time. Despite this, every now and again when we can slip away unnoticed, we will take a walk together toward a nearby tangled ruin or shadowed valley to see what we might find. We know it is both foolish and dangerous, that we are mortal, and everything mortal, dies. We also know something else:

  Old habits in old men die last of all.

  Glossary of Terms

  -ama: Honorific attached to the names of Buddhist nuns.

  Amaterasu: An important Shinto deity; the celestial sun goddess from whom the Japanese imperial family claims descent.

  anata: Literally: “you.” Sometimes used as a token of affection between spouses or lovers.

  asobi: A female entertainer, often also a courtesan. Not to be confused with the later geisha.

  baka: A general insult. Usually translated as “idiot,” but with connotations of being uncouth and wild, like an animal.

  boushi: A hat.

  buke: A martial house or a member of such a house.

  bushi: A warrior. Later this would refer to samurai specifically.

  chie (or che): An expletive.

  Daigaku-ryō: The imperial university of Japan founded in the seventh century.

  daitengu: Literally: “greater tengu.” (See tengu, below.) These tengu were once knowledgeable men with excessive pride.

  daijō-daijin: The chancellor who presided over the Great Council of State, and controlled the officers of the state, in particular the sadaijin and udaijin.

  Daijō-kan: The Great Council of State, the highest organ of Japan’s pre-modern imperial government. Established in the early eighth century, it gradually lost its power during the tenth and eleventh centuries.

  daimyo: From dai, meaning “large,” and myō, short for myōden, meaning “name (‘private’) land.” The most powerful lords with the largest estates. Originally applied to only civil lords; later included military lords as well.

  Eight-Fold Path: The fourth of the Four Noble Truths, the earliest of the Buddha’s teachings.

  funnu-in: The “corna,” a hand gesture resembling “horns”: the index and little finger extended.

  hai: “Yes.” Can also signify that the person hears and understands you, rather than being in agreement.

  hakama: Loose trousers with many pleats in the front.

  -hime: Honorific meaning “princess.”

  hitatare: An upper body garment. Originally peasant clothing, it was adopted by the upper classes during the Heian era.

  inugami: Like shikigami, these are supernatural creatures created by a magician.

  -ji: Place name suffix; “temple.”

  jibakurei: An “earth-bound spirit.” A spirit with a strong attachment to and strong hatred of its place of its death.

  Jizou: An Enlightened Being, one who chose to stay behind to fulfill some worthy function in this world (usually to protect) rather than pass into transcendence.

  junihitoe: Literally: “twelve-layer robe” A formal style of clothing worn by ladies of the court. The color scheme of the layers had to be appropriate for the season or special occasion for which it was worn.

  kage-onna: Literally: “shadow woman.” A supernatural shadow of a woman that appears on screens or windows although no one is there to cast it. A type of harmless yōkai.

  kami: A divine spirit, roughly equivalent to a god.

  karaginu mo: The most formal court attire worn by ladies of the court during the Heian Period. The outermost layers were the karaginu, a short jacket, and the mo, a train-like back skirt—thus the name.

  karma: The sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. Informally: destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.

  kasya: A cat-like demon that descends from the skies and carries corpses away.

  kicho: A portable partition made of two T-shaped columns about six feet in height supporting long silk hangings.

  kimono: Literally: “a thing to wear” (ki means “wear” and mono means “thing”).

  kodachi: Literal translation: “small or short tachi (sword).”

  kodama: A spirit that inhabits a tree.

  kofun: Tombs of mounded earth (tumulus—a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave; plural tumuli) built for the ruling elite during the fourth to the seventh centuries. The Ishibutai Kofun is the largest rectangular tomb in Japan, famous for its form created by piling up huge stones.

  koku: A unit of volume; one koku was considered sufficient to feed a single man for a year. Wealth was determined by the number of koku in a lord’s landholding. Taxes and salaries were denominated in koku.

  koto: A traditional Japanese stringed instrument.

  -kun: Honorific used for those of junior status; can also be used to name a close personal friend or family member.

  kusunoki: A large evergreen tree: Cinnamomum camphora (commonly known as camphor tree, camphorwood, or camphor laurel).

  kuge: An aristocratic class that emerged in the Heian period and held high posts and considerable power. Originally used to describe the imperial family, the word came to connote the noble class of bureaucrats. Later, kuge became an antonym to buke.

  matsuri: A festival or holiday.

  momonjii: A yokai taking the form of a hairy, bestial old man.

  mon: A family crest or symbol.

  neko-mata: A cat-like yokai.

  nikusui: A monster that appears as a demure young woman, but who sucks her victims’ skin off, then leaves them to die.

  nodera-bo: The ghosts of fallen priests. They haunt deserted old temples.

  onibi: Ghost lights. Small wil
l-o’-wisp-type flames that signify the presence of ghosts.

  onmyōji.: A magician and diviner whose practices are derived from yin-yang. They could call up and control shikigami.

  Ritsuryo: The historical Japanese legal system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese law.

  rokurokubi: A yokai that appears to be a normal woman, but by night—as their bodies sleep—their necks stretch to great lengths, allowing their heads to wander about.

  saiō: An unmarried female relative of the emperor chosen to serve as high priestess at Ise Shrine.

  sadaijin: The “minister of the left.” The senior minister of state in the Daijō-kan who oversees the functions of government with the udaijin (the “minister of the right”) as his deputy.

  sakura: The cherry blossom tree and its blooms.

  -sama: Honorific, usually reserved for someone of high social status.

  -san: Honorific, showing respect to the person addressed.

  sekkan-ke: Literally “house of sesshō and kanpaku”; an ellision of sesshō and kanpaku, both words meaning “regent.”

  shikigami: Artificial creatures created by magic to do a magician’s will.

  shinden: A style of architecture typical of the Heian period. The main, central building was the shinden (literally: “sleeping hall”) itself and faced south. Secondary buildings were connected to it by various kinds of covered corridors and bridges.

  shimo-no-ku: The final two lines of a tanka.

  shoro: Another word for “ghost.”

  sode: Large shoulder guards made from leather in the early Heian period; later made of iron.

  sohei: A warrior attached to a Buddhist temple. Possibly a monk, but more likely a lay-brother, or even a mercenary.

  shōshō: A rank roughly equal to captain.

  sugi: Cryptomeria, a kind of large evergreen tree.

  sumi: A type of brushwork painting using the same thick black ink as calligraphy.