The Way of the Dragon

by Unknown

  kissaki tip of sword

  koan a Buddhist question designed to stimulate intuition

  kukai a haiku contest

  kuki-nage ‘air’ throw

  kunoichi female ninja

  Kyosha a competition archery contest on horseback

  kyujutsu the Art of the Bow

  ma-ai the distance between two opponents

  maekuzuke a short two-line verse to which a haiku -style verse is added

  manriki-gusari a chain weapon with two steel weights on the ends

  menpō protective metal mask covering part or all of face

  menuki decorative metal grip under wrapping of sword handle

  metsuke technique of ‘looking at a faraway mountain’

  mokuso meditation

  momiji gari maple-leaf viewing

  mon family crest

  Mugan Ryū the ‘School of “No Eyes” ’

  musha shugyo warrior pilgrimage

  naginata a long pole weapon with a curved blade on the end

  ninja Japanese assassin

  ninjatō ninja sword

  ninjutsu the Art of Stealth

  Niten Ichi Ryū the ‘One School of Two Heavens’

  niwa garden

  nobori a long rectangular banner used to identify units within an army

  nodaichi a very large two-handed sword

  obi belt

  ofuro bath

  o-goshi hip throw

  omamori a Buddhist amulet to grant protection

  origami the art of folding paper

  rei call to bow

  ri traditional Japanese unit of distance, approx 2.44 miles

  ronin masterless samurai

  Ryōanji the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon sado the Way of Tea

  saké rice wine

  sakura cherry-blossom tree

  samurai Japanese warrior

  sashimono small rectangular personal banner worn by samurai in battle

  sasori scorpion

  satori enlightenment

  saya scabbard

  sayonara goodbye

  seiza sit/kneel

  sencha green tea

  senryu Japanese verse

  sensei teacher

  seoi nage shoulder throw

  seppuku ritual suicide

  shaku a traditional unit of length, approx 30 cm

  shinobi shozoku the clothing of a ninja

  Shishi-no-ma the Hall of Lions

  Shodo the Way of Writing, Japanese calligraphy

  shoji Japanese sliding door

  shuko climbing claws

  shuriken metal throwing stars

  sohei warrior monks

  surujin rope weapon with weights on each end

  sushi raw fish on rice

  taijutsu the Art of the Body (hand-to-hand combat)

  Taka-no-ma the Hall of the Hawk

  tanka a short Japanese poem of around thirty-one syllables

  tantō knife

  Taryu-Jiai inter-school martial arts competition

  tatami floor matting

  tessen a Japanese fan with a reinforced metal spine

  tetsu-bishi small sharp iron spike

  tomoe nage stomach throw

  tonfa hand-held baton weapon

  torii Japanese gateway

  uke training partner who attacks

  wakizashi side-arm short sword

  washi Japanese paper

  Yabusame ritual mounted archery

  yakatori grilled chicken on a stick

  yame stop!

  zabuton cushion

  zanshin a state of total awareness; lit.

  ‘remaining mind’

  zazen meditation

  zori straw sandals

  Japanese names usually consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, unlike in the Western world where the given name comes before the surname. In feudal Japan, names reflected a person’s social status and spiritual beliefs. Also, when addressing someone, san is added to that person’s surname (or given names in less formal situations) as a sign of courtesy, in the same way that we use Mr or Mrs in English, and for higher-status people sama is used. In Japan, sensei is usually added after a person’s name if they are a teacher, although in the Young Samurai books a traditional English order has been retained. Boys and girls are usually addressed using kun and chan, respectively.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This third book in the Young Samurai series is about loyalty and sacrifice. The following people have demonstrated immense loyalty to me and many have sacrificed their time, energy and reputation for Young Samurai. I would like to thank them all for their hard work and dedication: Charlie Viney, my agent, for being a valiant and courageous warrior always protecting my rights and fighting for my career; Shannon Park, the commanding daimyo of editing at Puffin, for the respect she’s shown the heart of the story and her sword-like cuts; Wendy Tse for her hawk-like eyes in checking the proof; Louise Heskett, Adele Minchin, Tania Vian-Smith and all the Puffin team for running a successful campaign on the publishing battlefield; Francesca Dow; Pippa Le Quesne; Tessa Girvan at ILA for conquering the world with Young Samurai; Akemi Solloway Sensei for her continued support of the series (readers, please visit: www.solloway.org); Trevor, Paul and Jenny of Authors Abroad for their tireless efforts in managing all my event bookings; David Ansell Sensei of the Shin Ichi Do dojo, an inspiring teacher and a swordsman of great insight and knowledge; Ian, Nikki and Steffi Chapman for spreading the word; Matt, for his enthusiasm; my mum for still being my number-one fan!; my dad, who is the steel behind the sword; and my wife, Sarah, for whom I know this journey has been hard, but the rewards will be lifelong.

  Lastly, I offer a bow of respect to all the librarians and teachers who have supported the series (whether you are ninja or samurai!) and all the Young Samurai readers out there – thank you for your loyalty to Jack, Akiko and Yamato. Please keep reading and sending me emails and letters. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. Arigatō gozaimasu.