Reference to the Shogun clarifies that VIII is set in Japan, not in China as wrongly stated here. This shows how difficult it can be to keep track of Poul Anderson's many historical periods.
Asagoa writes a verse that ends:
"Twig calls to twig through the wind." (p. 182)
Her friend says:
"'It is true, it is eerie, the years have scarcely touched you, if at all. You could pass for a woman of twenty. But your age is - what?'" (p. 188)
This had to come. At last we get to the point. Tired of concealment and deception, Asagoa will go on permanent pilgrimage from shrine to shrine as a wandering nun who will be protected by respect for her status and no one will see her for too long.
Another eventual "Survivor."
8 comments:
Except that people at shrines will start to recognize her... Japan wasn't a heavily populated country in that era.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
A good point, one I doubt I would have thought of. Also, IIRC, as the Heian era ended in Japan, the country fell into increasing chaos, with the Emperor merely a figurehead dominated by contending clans, warlords, and shoguns.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yup. The Sengoku -- Age of Battles -- was about to start and it didn't end until the Tokugawa Shogunate pacified Japan. The place would be, with a few intervals of relative peace, crawling with bandits, warrior-monks, armies, and broken men from former armies, and outright bandits.
Kaor, Stirling!
And not a very safe time or place for Asagoa! I strongly doubt all of those roving cut throats and bandits had any respect for Buddhist nuns.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yup. A lot of them were what I'd call "experiential nihilists".
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
If you live by the sword you are very likely to die by the sword!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: so are bystanders.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Too true, "collateral damage" as some call it.
Ad astra! Sean
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