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Bannerman, literally the guardian of the banner, is one of the samurai ranks of the Tokugawa shogunate. Throughout the text, the author frequently declares himself to be a bannerman, even though his status is slightly lower.
Chonmage is the samurai’s haircut with the hair shaved on top of the head and a bun at the back. The reason for shaving the top of the head was to avoid sweating and overheating.
Edo is the old name of Tokyo. Edo Japan, or the Tokugawa period, lasted between 1603 and 1868. The events in this autobiography take place during the late Edo period.
Hakama is traditional clothing in Japan—pants that look like a skirt, meant to be worn with a kimono.
Haori is a short jacket. In the text, the author’s eldest brother criticizes the author for wearing a haori made of luxurious wool even though the author is often in debt.
A kobushin is a samurai who is not employed by the shogunate. The author of this autobiography was a kobushin. There are more samurai than employment during the author’s life in the Tokugawa shogunate, and he is not the only one in this predicament.
Koku is the Japanese unit of measurement for volume equal to about 180 liters. In Musui’s Story, rice is measured in koku.
Obi is a sash (belt) used for kimonos and similar clothing.
A palanquin is a type of enclosed carriage carried by at least four people using poles. It was historically used in East Asia. At one point in the narrative, the author lies about his identity so he can be carried in a palanquin.
Ryō is the gold currency used in Japan before 1868.
In feudal Japan, a retainer is usually a samurai who provides certain services, including military protection, to a lord of higher social status.
Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by fermenting rice. In Japanese, the general word for “alcohol” is also “sake.”
A samurai was a hereditary military noble class in feudal Japan.
A shogun was a military leader who ruled Japan during the feudal period (1192-1867).
A shogunate is a military government comprised of shoguns (governors) in feudal Japan, relevant to this text during the Edo period (1603-1868), also known as the period of the Tokugawa shogunate.
A tatami is a mat made of straw and used in traditional Japanese homes. When the author is locked in a cage by his family for the first time, he measures the small size of the cage in tatami mats.
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