Nine (2/3)

by Natsume Sōseki

As the cold winds of autumn begin to blow, I would like to congratulate your family on your continued prosperity. As you are aware, our school has been hindered by a few ambitious individuals since the year before last, and at one point, the impact was quite severe. However, this is all due to my own lack of ability, and I deeply reflect on this. While enduring hardships, I have finally devised a way to secure funds for the construction of a new school building that matches our ideals. This is through the publication of a book titled "Sewing Secret Techniques Outline." This book is based on the principles and fundamentals of craftsmanship that I have diligently researched over the years and is something I have earnestly worked on.

Therefore, I intend to sell this book to the general public at a price that includes a small profit over the actual binding costs, contributing to the development of sewing while using the profits for the school building expenses. Recently, I apologize for the imposition, but if your family is considering making a donation, I would be grateful if you could purchase this "Sewing Secret Techniques Outline" and share it with your maids as well. I would be delighted if you could show your support.

Sincerely yours,

Graduate School of the Highest Level of Women's Sewing in Greater Japan

Principal Harisaku Nuida, Nine Bowings

The master coldly crumpled this polite letter and tossed it into the wastebasket. It is unfortunate that Harisaku-kun's nine bowings and his perseverance were of no use at all.

The next arrival was the third letter. This letter was very eye-catching, with a red and white mottled envelope that was as splendid as a candy sign. In the center, the name of Sensei Chinya Kusami was boldly written in a tiger-striped pattern. I do not know if there is an Ota-san inside, but the surface alone was quite impressive.

"If I could govern heaven and earth, I could drain the waters of the West River in one gulp. However, if heaven and earth govern me, I am nothing but dust by the roadside. What kind of negotiation could there be between heaven and earth and me...?"

One should pay respect to the courage of the person who first ate sea cucumber, and the man who first ate fugu should be honored for his bravery. Those who can eat sea cucumber are the reincarnation of Shinran, and those who can eat fugu are the embodiment of Nichiren. People like Sensei Kusama only know the vinegar miso of dried gourd. I have yet to see anyone who can eat the vinegar miso of dried gourd and be considered a person of the world.

“Even a close friend may betray you. Even parents may harbor selfish motives towards you. Even a lover may abandon you. Wealth and status are not reliable. Titles and ranks can be lost in an instant. The knowledge you keep hidden in your mind may grow moldy. What do you rely on? What do you depend on in this world? God? God is nothing more than a clay figure created amidst human suffering. It is merely a stinking corpse condensed from a moment of human anguish. You cannot find peace relying on what should not be relied upon. A drunkard stumbles towards the grave while playing with rude words. The oil runs out, and the light extinguishes itself. When karma runs out, what will be left? Like Sensei Kusama, at least have some tea before you go…”

If you do not treat people as people, there is nothing to fear. What does it mean for someone who does not treat others as people to be indignant about a world that does not treat me as me? Those who have gained power and success have done so by not treating others as people. It is only when they do not treat others as people that dissatisfaction begins to surface. Feel free to express your dissatisfaction as you like. It is foolishness.

When I think of others as people, and others do not think of me as a person, those who harbor grievances appear suddenly. This sudden activity is called revolution. Revolution is not the work of those who harbor grievances, but rather something that those in power willingly create. There are many ginsengs in Korea, but why does the teacher not eat them?

In Sugamo, Tendō Kōhei, respectfully again.

Harizaku-kun was a man of Kyuhai, but his friend was merely a Saibai. Since it was not a request for donations, he was somewhat arrogant, like a Nanbai. Although it was not a discussion about donations, the content was extremely difficult to understand. It seemed that any magazine he submitted to would have enough value to be rejected, but considering that the master was known for his lack of clarity, he thought that he would surely tear apart that writing and kept reading it over and over.

He might be thinking that there is meaning in such a letter and has resolved to investigate that meaning. There are many things in the world that are incomprehensible, but there is not a single thing that lacks meaning. No matter how difficult a text may be, it can easily be interpreted if one tries to interpret it. Whether one calls humans foolish or wise, it is clear that there are things that can be understood. More than that, whether humans are dogs or pigs, it is not particularly a troubling issue. It is not a problem to say that the mountain is low, nor does it matter to say that the universe is narrow. Even if crows are white, Komachi is ugly, and Kusama-sensei is a gentleman, it does not mean that it is not applicable. Therefore, even with such a meaningless letter, one can find meaning if one can somehow rationalize it.

In particular, a man like the master, who tries to forcefully explain unknown English, is even more eager to seek meaning. In bad weather, when asked "Good morning" by a student, he would ponder for seven days, and when asked what the name "Columbus" is in Japanese, he would take three days and nights to think of an answer. For such a man, whether dried gourd's vinegar miso is the best in the world or whether he tries to start a revolution by eating Korean ginseng, meaning will emerge freely.

The master seemed to have absorbed this difficult phrase in a "Good Morning" manner after a while, and praised it greatly by saying, "It is quite profound. This must be someone who has studied philosophy extensively. What a brilliant insight!" This one remark clearly reveals the master's foolishness, but conversely, if one thinks about it, there is also a somewhat valid point. The master has a habit of valuing things that he does not understand. This is not limited to the master alone. Where there is something incomprehensible, there lies something that cannot be dismissed, and in the depths of the unfathomable, a noble sentiment is born. Therefore, while ordinary people boast about things they do not understand as if they do, scholars lecture on what they understand as if they do not. It is often evident in university lectures that those who speak about what is unclear are well-regarded, while those who explain what is clear lack popularity. The master admired this letter not because its significance was clear, but because its essence was almost elusive. It suddenly brings forth sea cucumbers and excrement. Thus, the only reason the master respects this text is the same as why Taoists respect the Tao Te Ching, Confucians respect the I Ching, and Zen practitioners respect the Record of Linji; it is entirely incomprehensible to the general public. However, since it is unsatisfactory to be completely clueless, they attach arbitrary annotations to appear knowledgeable. To respect something one does not understand, while pretending to understand it, has always been amusing.

The master respectfully rolled up the exquisite calligraphy in eight-tenths style and, leaving it on the desk, placed his hands in his sleeves and sank into meditation.

At that moment, there was someone at the entrance calling out loudly for guidance, saying, "Please, please." The voice sounded like Meitei's, but it was persistently asking for directions, unlike Meitei. The master heard the voice but did not move at all, keeping his hands in his pockets. Perhaps it was his principle that it was not his role to go out to greet guests, as he had never greeted anyone from his study. The maid had just gone out to buy laundry soap, and the lady of the house was hesitant. Thus, the only person who should go out to greet was me. I didn't want to go out either. Then, the guest jumped from the entrance mat to the raised platform, opened the sliding door, and came in. The master was one thing, but the guest was another. After heading towards the tatami room, he opened and closed the sliding doors a couple of times, and this time he came towards the study.

“Hey, this is no joke. What are you doing? You’re a guest, you know.”

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Oh, it’s you? If you’re there, you should say something; it’s like an empty house.”

“Well, I have some things on my mind.”

“Even if you’re thinking, you can at least say something.”

“It’s not that I can’t say anything.”

“You still have guts as always.”

“I’ve been focusing on mental training since a few days ago.”

“You’re quite peculiar. If you’re so focused on mental training that you can’t respond, then having guests is a problem. You can’t be that calm. Actually, I didn’t come alone. I brought an important guest with me. Please come out and meet them.”

“Who did you bring?”

“Just anyone, please come out and meet them. They really want to see you.”

“Who is it?”

“Just anyone, please stand up.”

The master stood up with his hands still in his pockets, thinking, “You’re planning to carry someone again,” and entered the guest room without any particular concern. Then, sitting solemnly in front of him on the six-foot tatami mat was an elderly man. The master instinctively pulled his hands out of his pockets and sat down next to the paper screen. Since he was facing west like the old man, neither could greet the other. People of the old school are strict about manners and propriety.

“Well then, please go over there,” he urged the host, pointing towards the alcove. Until two or three years ago, the host believed that it didn’t matter where one sat in the tatami room, but after hearing a lecture about the alcove from someone, he realized that it was a transformed version of the upper room, a place where the high-ranking officials sit, and since then, he has never approached the alcove. Especially since an unfamiliar elder was firmly positioned there, it was not just a matter of the upper seat. He couldn’t even manage a proper greeting. He bowed his head slightly and repeated, “Well then, please go over there,” as instructed from the other side.

“No, if that’s the case, I cannot greet you properly, so please go over there.”

“No, if that’s the case… please go over there,” the host awkwardly mimicked the other party’s words.

“Oh, no, you’re being too modest, I’m quite embarrassed. Please, don’t hold back, go ahead,”

“It’s not modesty… I’m afraid… please…” The host turned bright red and mumbled. It seemed that his mental training was not very effective. Mitei-kun was watching and laughing from behind the sliding door, but thinking it was already a good time, he pushed the host from behind, saying,

“Come on, step forward. If you stick to the wall like that, I won’t have a place to sit. Please don’t hold back and come forward,” as he forcibly intervened. The host reluctantly squeezed forward.

“Kurazami-kun, this is your uncle from Shizuoka, whom I always talk about. Uncle, this is Kurazami-kun.”

"No, this is my first time meeting you. I have heard that Maitei has been coming by often and causing a disturbance, and I had been thinking of visiting to express my gratitude, so fortunately, I happened to pass by today and came to pay my respects. Please allow me to introduce myself," he said, articulating in an old-fashioned manner without hesitation. The host, being a reserved and taciturn person with limited social interactions, felt a bit out of place from the start, and when he was suddenly bombarded with this speech, he completely forgot about the Korean ginseng and the candy stick bag, and could only respond awkwardly in a desperate attempt to fill the silence.

"I also... I also... intended to visit a bit... if you would be so kind," he finished, lifting his head slightly from the tatami mat to look, but seeing the old man still bowing deeply, he felt a sudden embarrassment and pressed his head back down to the mat.

The old man, steadying his breath, raised his head and said, "I originally had a residence here and lived in this area for a long time, but after the collapse, I completely stopped coming back since I went over there. Now that I come back, I feel as if I don't even know the direction, and unless someone takes me to Maitei, I can't even take care of my business. They say the changes of time are vast, but since your entry into the country for three hundred years, the general family has..." As he began to speak, Maitei understood it would be troublesome.

"Uncle, while the general family may be appreciated, the Meiji era was quite something too. There was no such thing as the Red Cross back then," he said.

"That's not true. There was absolutely nothing called the Red Cross. Especially to behold the face of the imperial family was something that could only happen in the Meiji era. Thanks to my long life, I can attend today's general meeting and hear the voice of the prince; I could die content now," the old man said.

“Well, just sightseeing in Tokyo after a long time is a gain. Kurumaya-kun, my uncle is coming all the way from Shizuoka for the upcoming Red Cross general meeting, and we just went out to Ueno together today, but we are on our way back now. That's why, as you can see, I'm wearing the frock coat I ordered from Shirakiya the other day,” Meitei prompted. Indeed, he was wearing a frock coat, but it didn't fit him at all. The sleeves were too long, the collar was open, there was a bulge in his back, and his armpits were tight. No matter how awkwardly it was made, it shouldn't be deformed to this extent. Moreover, the white shirt and white collar were separated, and when he looked up, his Adam's apple was visible. First of all, it was unclear whether the black collar ornament belonged to the collar or the shirt. The frock was still bearable, but the gray hair in a topknot was quite a spectacle. When I focused on the reputed iron fan, it was properly drawn in next to his knee. At this moment, the master finally returned to his true self and was somewhat surprised to see the results of his mental training fully applied to the old man's attire. I thought it couldn't possibly be as much as Meitei's story, but upon meeting him, it was indeed more than the tale. If my own blemishes could serve as material for historical research, then this old man's topknot and iron fan certainly held even greater value. The master wanted to somehow inquire about the origin of this iron fan, but he couldn't just bluntly ask, and he also thought it would be rude to interrupt the conversation, so

“There are quite a few people out, aren’t there?” he asked in a very ordinary manner.

“No, there are a lot of people, and they are all staring at me—people seem to have become quite curious lately. It wasn't like this in the past,” the old man said.

“Yes, that's true, it wasn't like this in the past,” the master agreed. This was not because the master was pretending to know, but it could be seen as words flowing out casually from a somewhat hazy mind.

“Moreover, everyone is focusing on this split collar,” the old man continued.

"That iron fan must be quite heavy," the master asked,

"Kurumi-kun, why don't you try holding it? It's pretty heavy. Uncle, please let me try," the old man said. The old man picked it up with difficulty and handed it to the master, saying, "Excuse me." It was like a person receiving the sword of Renseibo at Kurotani in Kyoto, and Kurumi-sensei held it for a while but returned it to the old man, saying, "I see."

"Everyone calls this an iron fan, but this is called a kabuto-wari and is completely different from an iron fan..."

"Oh, what is it made for?" the master asked,

"It's used to split helmets, and it was used to strike where the enemy's eyes would be dazzled. It seems to have been used since the time of Kusunoki Masashige..."

"Uncle, is that Masashige's kabuto-wari?" Kurumi asked.

"No, I don't know whose it is. But the era is old. It might be from the Kenmu period," the old man said.

"It might be from the Kenmu period, but Kangu was weak. Kurumi-kun, since it's a good opportunity on your way home today, why don't you stop by the science department while passing through the university and see the physics laboratory? This kabuto-wari is iron, so the magnetic devices went haywire and caused a big commotion," Meitei said.

"No, that can't be. This is iron from the Kenmu period, and it's good quality iron, so there's no need to worry about that," the old man countered.

"No matter how good the quality of the iron is, it can't be helped. The fact is that Kangu said so, so there's no other choice," Meitei continued.

"Kangu is that man polishing the glass ball, right? It's a pity for the young people nowadays. He seems like he could be doing something more," the old man said.

"Poor thing, that's research. If he polishes that ball well, he can become a great scholar," Meitei said.

"If polishing a jade can make one a great scholar, then anyone can do it. Even I can do it. Even the master of the glass shop can do it. Those who do such things were called jade people in Han land, and they were of very low status," he said, turning to the master and subtly seeking his agreement.

"I see," the master said, looking serious.

"All the knowledge in today's world is merely materialistic learning, which seems fine at first, but when the time comes, it is of no use at all. In the past, it was different; samurai were all in a life-and-death profession, so they trained their minds to avoid panic in critical moments. You probably know this, but polishing jade or twisting wire was not an easy task," the old man said.

"I see," the master replied, still looking serious.

"Uncle, training the mind cannot be done just by sitting still."

"That's why it's troublesome. It's not something that simple. Mencius said 'seek a tranquil mind,' and Shao Kangjie taught 'the mind must be released.' Also, in Buddhism, Master Nakafune taught about 'being unyielding.' It's quite difficult to understand."

"I don't understand at all. In the end, what should I do?"

"Have you ever read Zen Master Sawamura's 'The Record of Unmoving Wisdom'?"

"No, I've never even heard of it."

"Where you place your mind is important. If you place your mind on the enemy's movements, you will be distracted by the enemy's movements. If you place your mind on the enemy's sword, you will be drawn to the enemy's sword. If you place your mind where you think you can cut the enemy, you will be drawn to that thought. If you place your mind on your own sword, you will be distracted by your own sword. If you place your mind where you think you won't be cut, you will be drawn to that thought. If you place your mind on another's stance, you will be drawn to that stance. It means there is no place to put your mind."

"You remember it well and can recite it. Uncle, you have quite a good memory. It's long, isn't it? Kurusami-kun, did you understand?"

“I see,” Kurusami nodded as if he was convinced again.

“Hey, don’t you think so? If you place your heart on the enemy's movements, you will be captivated by them. If you place your heart on the enemy's sword…”

“Uncle, Kurusami-kun understands that very well. Recently, he has been focusing solely on mental training in his study every day. He’s even neglecting to attend to guests, so it’s fine.”

“That’s quite unusual. You should join him a little.”

“Hehehe, I don’t have that kind of time. Uncle thinks that because he has an easy life, others are just playing around.”

“In fact, aren’t you playing around?”

“However, it’s precisely during my free time that I become busy.”

“I see, because you are careless, you need to train. There’s a saying, ‘In the midst of busyness, one finds leisure,’ but I’ve never heard of ‘In the midst of leisure, one finds busyness.’ Right, Kurusami-san?”

“Yes, I certainly haven’t heard that before.”

“Hahaha, if it’s like that, I can’t compete. By the way, Uncle, how about it? Shall we go eat eel in Tokyo for the first time in a while? I’ll treat you to Takebaya. It’s just a quick train ride from here.”

“Eel sounds good, but I have an appointment to go to ‘Suihara’ today, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Ah, Sugihara, that old man is doing well, isn’t he?”

“It’s not Sugihara, it’s Suihara. You often make that mistake, and it’s troublesome. Confusing someone’s name is rude. You need to be careful.”

“But it says Sugihara, doesn’t it?”

“It’s written as Sugihara but read as Suihara.”

“That’s strange.”

“What’s so strange about it? The concept of reading names differently has existed since ancient times. Calling an earthworm ‘mimizu’ in Japanese is also a case of name reading. It’s the same as calling a toad ‘kairu.’”

“Wow, I’m surprised.”

"When you kill a toad, it turns over on its back. This is referred to as 'kairu' in nominal reading. 'Sui-gaki' for 'tōgaki', 'kuku-tachi' for 'kōtachi', it's all the same. To call 'Sugihara' as 'sugi-hara' is the language of country folk. If you're not careful, you'll be laughed at."

"So, are we going to Sui-hara from now on? That's troublesome."

"What, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. I'll go alone."

"Can you go alone?"

"It's difficult on foot. Let's hire a car and go from here."

The master immediately had the car driver run, and the old man took a long time to greet, putting on a top hat over his chonmage before heading back. Meitei remains behind.

"Is that your uncle?"

"That's my uncle."

"I see," he said, sitting back down on the cushion, putting his hands in his pockets and deep in thought.

"Haha, what a great man. I'm also happy to have an uncle like that. No matter where you take him, he's just like that. You were surprised, weren't you?" Meitei is greatly pleased, thinking he has surprised the master.

"What, I wasn't that surprised."

"If that doesn't surprise you, then you have some guts."

"However, that uncle seems to have quite a few admirable qualities. His emphasis on the cultivation of the spirit is something to be greatly respected."

"Is it really something to be respected? When you reach around sixty, you might also become like that uncle, a bit out of touch with the times. So, keep it together. Being out of touch with the times is not very considerate."

"You keep worrying about being out of touch with the times, but depending on the time and situation, sometimes being out of touch can be quite admirable. First of all, today's scholarship just keeps advancing, and no matter how far you go, there's no limit. You can't find satisfaction. In contrast, Eastern-style scholarship is passive and has a lot of flavor. It's about the cultivation of the heart itself." He states this as if it were his own theory, recalling what he heard from a philosopher the other day.

"Things are getting serious. You're talking like Yagi Dokusen."

The master was taken aback upon hearing the name Yagi Dokusen. In fact, the philosopher who had visited the Garyō Cave recently, persuaded the master, and returned leisurely was this Yagi Dokusen, and the arguments the master is now elaborating on, resembling a deer claw, are entirely borrowed from this Yagi Dokusen. Therefore, it was a subtle blow to the master's facade of a one-night creation that Meitei, thinking he was unaware, immediately brought up this teacher's name.

“Have you ever heard of Dokusen's theory?” the master asked cautiously, pressing the matter.

“Whether I have heard or not, that man's theory hasn't changed at all from ten years ago when I was in school to today.”

“Truth doesn’t change like that, so perhaps its unchanging nature is what makes it reliable.”

“Well, it's because of such favoritism that Dokusen can continue in that manner. First of all, just from the name Yagi, it's remarkably well done. That beard is truly like a goat itself. And he had that same appearance since his dormitory days. The name 'Dokusen' is indeed a clever play on words.

Back in the day when he stayed at my place, we were having our usual discussions about passive cultivation. He kept repeating the same things without stopping, so when I said, 'Why don’t you go to sleep already?' he casually replied, 'No, I'm not sleepy,' and continued with his passive theories, which was quite troublesome. There was nothing I could do, so I asked him to please sleep, as I was truly sleepy, and finally got him to go to bed.

However, that night, a mouse came out and bit the tip of Dokusen's nose. There was a huge commotion in the middle of the night. He said something as if he understood, but it seemed he was quite worried about his life. He blamed me, saying, 'If the mouse's poison spreads throughout my body, it will be terrible. You have to do something,' and I was at a loss for words. So, I had no choice but to go to the kitchen and stick some rice grains onto a piece of paper to deceive him.

“Why did you do such a thing?”

"This is an imported ointment, recently invented by a famous doctor in Germany. They say that when used after being bitten by a poisonous snake from India, it works immediately, so as long as you apply this, you'll be fine."