Hyakkimaru's Birth
Book 1 of the Dororo Novel Series
Toriumi Jinzō
Part 1 - Kurama
Tanbano Hisamaro was born in 1373. When he was nineteen years old, the Northern and Southern Courts of Japan ended their lengthy war and joined forces once again. The shōgun at the time was Ashikaga Yoshimitsu; he came from the Northern Court and gained the right to rule over the unified lands after the war.
Yoshimitsu became the shōgun in 1368, and from there carved out his path to power. He had a title and became a retainer of the Emperor, but he still wasn't regarded as the leader of Japan by other nations. He was aiming to become the Emperor. If there was a position higher than that, he'd take that, too. He wouldn't hesitate to fight the Emperor directly to usurp his place.
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu strengthened the power of the Imperial Court considerably after the Northern Court and the Southern Court reunited in 1392, but his arrogance and pride drew strong ire. Many of the former rights of the Imperial Court were restricted under his rule. They retained jurisdiction over their own affairs and the affairs of the temples in their regions, but little else.
And that wasn't all. Yoshimitsu was notorious for threatening his enemies with violence. The survivors of the previous long schism between the Northern and Southern Courts were terrified of him and did any number of things to win his favor. The few people who genuinely supported him were fanatical and existed only to serve him.
Most of the Imperial Court did not support Yoshimitsu beyond what was necessary to keep themselves safe; some nobles considered his fanatical supporters to be cowards. Internal conflict between noble families broke out in the cities. The administrative officials charged with keeping order soon had their rights and power all but usurped by warring nobles.
Samurai loyal to Yoshimitsu enforced his will by the sword and brutal violence. He abused his power freely and without remorse. Samurai under his command plundered cities, massacred civilians, set fires, raped women, and performed any number of evil deeds as everyday occurrences. The common people in their path lived in constant fear of them.
Yoshimitsu didn't just terrorize the Imperial Court with these tactics, either. He opposed the military governors that had previously been in charge of protecting the region. If he couldn't depose them by force, he used cunning strategies and negotiations to remove them from their positions. Their numbers dwindled. None of these men had ever tried to work against him before, but Yoshimitsu discarded them as if all their years of faithful service had been worthless.
The rumor of Yoshimitsu's ambition and unscrupulousness spread throughout Kyōto. "The Emperor's family has reigned for centuries. Does Yoshimitsu truly mean to supplant him through such violent means?"
The originator of most of these rumors was Yoshimitsu himself. His supporters spread them proudly, hoping to win his favor. Not all of his followers were loyal to him specifically; many had rage inside of them that could only be assuaged by violence and killing. Hisamaro despised such men.
When the Emperor of China died and was succeeded by his grandson, Yoshimitsu seized his chance to gain recognition on the world stage. In 1404, he appealed to China's new Emperor to be recognized as the ruler of Japan. The previous Chinese Emperor had considered Yoshimitsu's appeal to be selfish and inconsequential and had not granted this, but the new Emperor was his fifth son; he had only gained his position after bloody and protracted civil war. The new Chinese Emperor agreed to recognize Yoshimitsu as the ruler of Japan in exchange for many gifts and improved trade relations.
Hisamaro turned thirty-one that same year. His friend and disciple Uiro introduced him to Zheng He, China's senior diplomat, when he passed through Japan on his sea voyage south at the start of the new year.
Hisamaro was at home on New Year's Day, making jingisukan.1 One hundred and sixty years before, a civil war had caused the status of the Chinese imperial family to weaken considerably. An upstart invasion from Australia had toppled the reigning dynasty and taken over. The current Emperor's honored ancestors were those invaders.2
Chinese and Korean pirates attacked the trade routes between Japan and China a lot in those days. When the Chinese Emperor wanted to contact the Ashikaga shogunate to discuss the matter, the shogunate was unable to respond. They were too busy putting out fires, literal and figurative, in their own nation; they had no resources to spare to deal with pirates.
The Emperor of China imposed laws that severely punished all pirates and forbade the building of all new ships of a certain size. Pirates who were caught were strangled to death. Sea trade declined sharply between the two nations.
Everything was changing now. When the Chinese Emperor died, he was immediately succeeded by his grandson. The Emperor's fifth son, Zhu Di, staged a rebellion in Beijing. This rebellion and the three-year war that followed it is known to history as the Jingnan Campaign. At the end of the long and terrible war, Zhu Di captured the imperial capital of Nanking and reigned as the new Emperor of China.
Zheng He,3 a eunuch elevated to a high statesman's position by Zhu Di, was given much credit for the new Emperor's victory at Nanking. Both Zheng He and Zhu Di were less isolationist and aloof than the previous Emperor. Zhu Di seemed to view Yoshimitsu Ashikaga as something of a kindred spirit, which was another reason he was willing to recognize him as the ruler of Japan. Yoshimitsu sent Zhu Di lavish gifts in exchange for continued good relations; money is the key that opens all doors.
Zhu Di also took an active interest in foreign nations. In 1403, Zhu Di sent messengers to Japan, the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, and to Malacca and Kōchin, two port cities in India. For a while, gifts poured in from other nations to congratulate him on his victory. Zheng He was ordered to leave Nanking and embark on a journey to discover more about the world that China had cut itself off from for so long.
This journey would be Zheng He's first sea voyage. In 1405, he left Nanking with a fleet of sixty-two ships carrying nearly thirty thousand men. It was accompanied by an escort of a hundred smaller ships; the fleet was so large that it stretched over the ocean and every port for as far as the eye could see. The larger ships were called junks; the largest of these were called treasure ships. Treasure ships were big enough to hold six hundred crew as well as passengers. They were forty-four jō and four sun wide, eighteen jō tall,4 and weighed about three hundred tons each.
The fleet didn't initially intend to stop in Japan, but Zheng He decided that he wanted to stop and resupply at Senshū before setting out on his longer voyage. The first person he contacted when he came to port was Chin Uiro, Hisamaro's medical assistant and friend.
Zheng He and his fleet were not allowed to enter the port at Senshū without permission. The regional governor visited Zheng He's ship personally and granted him special dispensation to make port there. Zheng He had hoped to meet with Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in person, but the regional governor wasn't authorized to arrange such a meeting on such short notice.
Seeing as the new Chinese Emperor had only just recognized Yoshimitsu as the ruler of Japan, such inconsiderate regard could be taken as a personal snub. Everyone knew that Zheng He had been appointed to his position by the Chinese Emperor himself. Did Yoshimitsu really think he could show Zheng He such disrespect and maintain good relations with China?
By bad luck, this was Zheng He's first visit to Japan; he had no friends in Senshū. Later in his life, he would travel all around the world and accomplish great deeds, but that was all in the future. It was hard to say exactly why he'd decided to stop in Japan at all. He did have his reasons, but he wanted to keep them secret. People speculated; didn't China sending such a large force mean that they wanted to attack Japan?
But that was not Zheng He's intent. He wished for his stopover in Senshū to appear to be the whim of a selfish nobleman unused to sea voyages. The winds had proved favorable to visit Japan; he could resupply and use the good weather in summer to help him on his voyages further south.
Zheng He had a genuine interest in Japan and its culture. He was certain the Chinese Emperor would grant him a few days in port to indulge his curiosity. The full circuit of his voyage would take at least two years; what did a few days matter?
Zheng He knew of Chin Uiro because of his famous translations of medical texts from around the world into the Chinese and Japanese languages. His decision to stop in Senshū and seek Chin Uiro out would change the lives of Jukai and his father forever.
On the day that Zheng He was set to depart from Senshū, Chin Uiro came to Hisamaro with a message. "The Grand Eunuch Zheng He wishes to make introduction," Chin Uiro said in skillful and precise Japanese. "He fears that he may not have the opportunity to meet again in the near future, so he requests a meeting immediately."
Zheng He's sudden stop in Japan was the subject of many rumors, so Hisamaro already knew that he was staying in the area, but he'd never dreamed that Zheng He would request a meeting with him. He stared at Uiro in confusion, then shook his head to clear it and said, "All right, I accept. I'll go to meet him with you; please wait a moment." Hisamaro was always considerate of Uiro, despite his much lower social position. He also knew that Uiro was off-duty at the moment just as he was, so it made sense for him to attend this meeting as well. Uiro agreed to accompany Hisamaro, then left to make his preparations for the meeting.
When Hisamaro informed Seiko that he would be going to meet with Zheng He, the eight-year-old Tajumaru5 begged to be allowed to go, too.
"Please take me with you, father!"
Hisamaro and Seiko exchanged glances. They both seemed surprised by the request.
"I'm going to a diplomatic meeting with the Grand Eunuch of the Ming Dynasty, who was appointed by the Chinese Emperor himself," Hisamaro said. "That's no place to bring a child."
Tajumaru was still a child, but he was familiar enough with Chinese politics—even at that age—that he wasn't about to give up on meeting such an internationally esteemed personage so easily.
"But he's already so famous! I'm sure he'll go down in history for his role in helping the Chinese Emperor gain his throne. I want to meet him, even if it's only once. I might never get another chance."
Tajumaru was deadly serious. His father looked into his eyes for a long moment, then nodded cautiously. "All right. Get ready."
Hisamaro sent a message ahead to Zheng He to explain Tajumaru's presence at the meeting. "Please beg the indulgence of his lordship Zheng He. My son's desire to meet him is so unshakable that I fear what he might do if I refuse."
The messenger nodded. He went ahead while another messenger guided Hisamaru and Tajumaru to an estate just outside the city. They were led into a guest room and asked to wait. Uiro was already there; he'd come on the pretext of discussing trade goods that had recently been shipped from Australia. The guest room was carpeted with a very fine Persian rug. All the furniture was inlaid with lapis lazuli and precious stones.
The cabinets to either side of the room were richly appointed with porcelain dishes and fine china. The carved stone table and chairs appeared to be European in origin. The porcelain was painted with metallic paints in Chinese and African designs. The craftsmanship of everything was exquisite.
Hisamaro was incredibly nervous. He crouched down next to one of the grand chairs, then sat seiza on the floor.
A well-muscled and remarkably tall man entered the room. Hisamaro recognized him instantly as Zheng He. He had to crane his neck to see his face. Zheng had a fine moustache and walked tall with his head held high. His face was well-proportioned and perfectly symmetrical. Aside from his small, neat moustache, he was completely clean-shaven. His earlobes were unusually long; they almost brushed his shoulders. His nose appeared small, but this was an illusion caused by his high cheekbones.
Tajumaru didn't know what to think now that he was finally seeing Zheng He in person. He'd only ever read about this man in his father's secret, contraband scrolls from China. Something about him seemed vaguely feminine, but Tajumaru had no doubt that he was a brilliant man who was worthy of his reputation.
Zheng He had been taken as a slave as a boy and castrated. The mere thought of such a thing ever happening to him made Tajumaru's own penis shrink back with terror. He was glad that Japan didn't castrate state officials.
Hisamaro and Zheng He exchanged formal greetings. Zheng He didn't understand much Japanese, but he smiled like he was greeting an old friend. Uiro poured wine for Hisamaro and Zheng He and served as their translator.
"I've heard of you," Zheng He said. "They say you're a doctor who is interested in advancing medicine through a variety of methods, some of them foreign. I'm not sure I entirely understand this. What are your specific interests?"
Drinking some of the wine seemed to calm Hisamaro. He tried to explain his expertise in simple Chinese words.
"Oh, surgery!" Zheng He said.
"Yes," Hisamaro said, "though my work as a court physician requires me to spend most of my time treating infectious diseases. I've heard that China has had specialized fields for their physicians since the Song Dynasty—fields like disease and neurology."
"Yes, that's correct. Many physicians in China are trained in a specialization from the very start."
"I confess myself a bit jealous at such rarefied training. A generalist like me can only dream of learning to use so much specific knowledge."
Zheng He smiled. "What do you think of the branch of medicine that deals with blessings, curses, and magic?"
"I don't believe that it has any value whatsoever. Demons and gods don't curse people; physical illness is always the cause of health problems. Discovering the cause of the disease is where all medical treatment must begin."
"I doubt most practitioners of Chinese medicine would favor your idea to throw out ideas surrounding blessings and curses." He was still smiling.
Hisamaro smiled back, but his expression was bitter with something like scorn. "Medicine isn't about slavish adherence to tradition. It's about saving people's lives."
"I agree, but the old ways of thinking are deeply entrenched in China. However, there are some prominent Chinese physicians who believe the same way you do."
Hisamaro had found a kindred spirit. When he spoke again, he was bursting with enthusiasm. "It is true that illness can be influenced by a patient's mental state. Bian Que includes his research on that in his Treatise on the Six Incurable Diseases. No real doctor that I know of truly believes in shamans and magic. Self-proclaimed doctors use such explanations to excuse their failures and explain away their mistakes."
"The six incurable diseases...those would be regulation of body temperature, a profound imbalance of yin or yang forces within the body, refusal to take medicine, and severe dehydration and malnutrition. That makes six, right?"
Hisamaro nodded.
Zheng He's expression became grave. "Lord Tanbano," he said, "for what reason did you decide to become a surgeon?"
"To help the countless people who have lost limbs in war."
"I am certain that the Japanese Imperial Court does not permit you to treat common peasants."
"You're right. They don't."
"You're openly defying all of established medical tradition."
"I'm prepared for whatever consequences I may face."
Zheng He tilted his head a little. "And what do you think about the study of anatomy?"
"Knowledge of anatomy is essential for practicing medicine. No one can hope to become a successful doctor if they don't learn the parts of the body."
"I expect you know that the study of anatomy is forbidden in both Japan and China."
"It is only forbidden because so many doctors are ignorant."
"In that case, how do you come to possess such knowledge?"
Hisamaro gave Zheng He a challenging smile. "Well, I have experience. My expertise comes from years of practice."
"You will almost certainly be punished for your knowledge if it is discovered."
"I'm not afraid."
Tajumaru looked back and forth between his father and Zheng He in astonishment. His father noticed his shocked expression and fell silent.
Hisamaro and Zheng He regarded one another warily for a few moments. Zheng He broke the silence first. "It seems a shame to leave you in Japan. My navy has innumerable physicians that specialize in treating diseases and wounds, but none have your same zeal for medical advancement and knowledge. Will you join me on my ship, Tanbano Hisamaro?"
"Your ship, lord?" Zheng He's offer pierced Hisamaro to the heart. "Are you serious?"
Hisamaro had standing and reputation in Japan's Imperial Court, but he was only stifled there. If he asked for dispensation to leave, he expected to be refused. Uiro knew that; it was likely that Zheng He did as well.
Uiro and Zheng He exchanged mysterious smiles.
"Lord Hisamaro, I have pressing business with your shōgun before my ship departs. I hope that we may meet again someday soon."
"I thank you for your offer and this meeting," Hisamaro said. "It is my dream to cross the sea and learn all I can of surgery and medicine. I pray that the time will come when I will be permitted to do that."
Hisamaro's words were entirely sincere. Tajumaru had never truly understood his father's bottomless appetite for acquiring medical knowledge, but this single conversation had done more to illuminate his father's desires than all of the other experiences of his life.
Zheng He stood up and prepared to depart. He shook hands with Hisamaro before leaving. "This is my first major voyage overseas, so I am still unacquainted with many things. It is my hope that I will discover more about the nations surrounding China so that I can bring that knowledge home and put it to good use."
Hisamaro blinked at Uiro's translation of Zheng He's words. The handshake he shared with Zheng He was firm and respectful on both sides.
Zheng He patted eight-year-old Tajumaru on the head. He asked for the boy's name; Uiro gave it.
"When you grow up," Zheng He said, "try to become a doctor just like your father. The world needs more men like him."
Tajumaru had no idea how he was supposed to respond, so he said the first thing that came to his head. "Uh, yes, sir."
Zheng He laughed brightly. Hisamaro, Uiro, and Tajumaru were treated to a magnificent feast, then escorted out.
By the time they left, it was dark: the sky glittered with silver stars. Hisamaro extended both arms over his head and took a deep breath. He appeared profoundly contented and at peace.
That night, Zheng He returned to his ship and began his long voyage to the south.
Translator's Notes:
1 Jingisukan is a Hokkaido specialty consisting of grilled mutton or lamb. The dish is always prepared tableside on convex-shaped grills. Guests are served with sliced meat, which can be plain or marinated, and are then encouraged to grill the meat themselves, along with various vegetables such as onions, cabbage, leeks, or peppers.↩
2 This paragraph refers to the Yuan Dynasty, established in 1271 by the Mongol Kublai Khan. In addition to Emperor of China, Kublai Khan also claimed the title of Great Khan. This dynasty remained in power until 1368.↩
3 Zheng He (Chinese: 郑和)) was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral, and court eunuch during China's early Ming dynasty. As a favorite of the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, he rose to the top of the imperial hierarchy and served as commander of the southern capital Nanking. ↩
4 forty-four jō and four sun wide, eighteen jō tall: These are Japanese measurements. The ships are 440 feet (135 meters) wide and 180 feet (55 meters) tall.↩
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