Yatagarasu Series
Volume 1:
Ravens Shouldn't
Wear Kimono
Author: Chisato Abe
Part 1: Spring
Section 3
Listen to this chapter!
"Asebi!" Princess Fujinami called out. She waved.
"Princess Fujinami! It is good to see you well," Asebi said.
“You too! I never expected we’d meet here.”
Princess Fujinami dismissed her attendants and walked with Asebi, smiling all the while. She was only twelve years old. She wore a deep purple kosode that made her appear severe and stern--the complete opposite of Fujinami's cheerful personality. Her soft hair was tied back by a red cord and secured further by a flower knot.1
Fujinami gave Asebi her full attention. She sighed in contentment. "I really am so happy that you're here. I've heard rumors about you, of course, but I haven't seen you in person for awhile. You are truly lovely."
"I thank you for your compliment," Asebi said with a slight smile. "I fear I am the plainest out of all the duchesses, though. The Imperial Palace is... overwhelmingly beautiful, I think."
Princess Fujinami pouted. "I'm not just flattering you, y'know. Of course all the duchesses are lovely. That includes you, too." She closed her eyes briefly, recalling the ceremony in Wisteria Hall. "The cherry blossoms always look so bright on the wooden floors," she said in a reverent whisper. "The formal robes, the dresses, the perfumes--it was like the goddesses of the four seasons all descended onto the earth at the same time."
Princess Fujinami grinned mischievously. "I believe that you were the most beautiful goddess of all, Asebi." Her smile softened. "We are of an age, but you are older than me. I sometimes wish that you could truly become my elder sister." Her face lit up in excitement at the very thought of that.
But then, Princess Fujinami's face clouded over. She glanced sidelong at Asebi as if she were nervous about her friend's reaction. "I, uh, apologize for earlier... the Empress was in a foul mood when she welcomed you all. I think that was my fault."
Asebi tilted her head, wondering what Fujinami meant.
"I suppose it could have been worse," Princess Fujinami said. "The Empress was kind enough to grant you a personal name--Asebi, she called you. I think it is a...charming name."
"Yes..." Asebi trailed off, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Why did Princess Fujinami sound so unsure about her new name?
Ukogi visibly flinched in surprise and exchanged an uneasy glance with Princess Fujinami. Something felt off.
As Asebi stood there, bewildered, a hearty laugh echoed behind her
“Are you truly happy about receiving the name Asebi?" Hamayū asked mockingly. "You really are a country girl, aren’t you?”
Startled, Asebi turned around and addressed Duchess Hamayū of Nanke formally.
"Just call me Hamayū. We're in the same faction, after all. Let's do our best to get along, yes?" Hamayū said in a more neutral tone of voice. She laughed again, this time low in her throat. She approached Asebi and then said, "Asebi is written with the characters for ‘horse’ and ‘to get drunk.’ Do you know why?”
Asebi's eyes widened. “No, I don’t.”
“That flower is poisonous. If a foolish horse eats it, it behaves like a drunkard and throws itself in a ditch or off a cliff. The Empress meant this as a jab at the Crown Prince for his taste in women."2
Asebi didn't completely understand Hamayū's meaning. She looked at Princess Fujinami and Ukogi, hoping for a clue--or a rescue.
Princess Fujinami frowned in displeasure. “If you have something to say, say it clearly," she said.
Duchess Hamayū blanched. She faced Princess Fujinami, no longer mocking or playful. "I apologize for my indirectness, Princess. I can understand that you would be upset, since the Empress insulted your elder brother in such a way."
All the blood drained from Princess Fujinami's face. "There are things that should not be said aloud, Duchess Hamayū," she said.
"You asked me to be plain," Duchess Hamayū said. "It is unreasonable to be upset with me, I think. I didn't insult your brother. Be angry at those who deserve it."
"Those who deserve it?" Princess Fujinami laughed nervously. "You expect me to lay my grievances at the feet of the Empress? What kind of fool do you take me for?" She flushed red with anger, then turned on her heel and left. She had nothing else to say.
“Princess Fujinami!” Asebi called out.
“Let her be, Duchess Asebi. She’s being childish and short-tempered. It's hard to believe she’s an imperial princess sometimes.”
Asebi looked at Hamayū with a hint of reproach in her gaze.
Hamayū leaned nonchalantly against the balustrade, unperturbed by Asebi's glare. "The Crown Prince is the Empress' political rival. They dislike one another for that reason. What she said to you by giving you the name Asebi was something like, 'The Crown Prince is shallow and has a specific type when it comes to women; do your best to make sure his dalliance with you is more than mere infatuation.' Or something like that. The use of the horse character in your name is an insult to you as well."
"How so?"
"I can answer that," Ukogi said. "People of lower status who work hard every day to earn a living are sometimes referred to as horses. It's a dehumanizing insult. It is not a very nice word, so those of noble birth generally avoid using the horse character, particularly in their names."
"Well..." Hamayū thought for a moment. "It's also a veiled insult to the Crown Prince, now that I consider it further. She expects him to debase himself with you."
"My name is many-layered, it seems," Asebi said. "I don't mind it, though. It's better than having no personal name at all."
Hamayū faced Asebi with a sly grin. "You must be quite sheltered, since you don't understand the meaning behind your name."
"I've never traveled far from the estate where I was born," Asebi said.
Hamayū straightened up. "You lie."
"No," Asebi said. "I suffered from many childhood illnesses, and I never had much opportunity to speak with men or many women of my own station. My summons to the palace was sudden, as well."
“Nonsense. That must be a joke.”
“It’s the truth,” Asebi insisted.
Displeased by Hamayū’s attitude, Ukogi cut in. "She was raised to avoid exposure to the outside air as much as possible. Even outings were limited to the main residence or, at most, cherry blossom viewing nearby.”
Hamayū pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a sigh of exasperation. “Why would your father send his uneducated daughter to the Imperial Palace? That’s just reckless.”
Asebi's father had told her to come back home when she could. Asebi’s expression tightened with worry. "I don't believe he was thinking too much about the why," she said. "Someone needed to go, so I went."
Hamayū didn’t seem interested in this vague answer.
“They say the Azumaya family is cunning. I’m sure there’s some deeper reason behind this. Maybe they’re saving their real candidate for later.”
“Their real candidate?” Asebi asked.
Hamayū gave her a knowing look. "The Crown Prince is not the eldest son of Souke, as is usual. It is the second son who will inherit. Were you aware of this? My guess is not. He is not even the son of the Empress, but of a different wife. The Empress does have a son of her own, but that son has no claim. The second son is presumed to be the true Golden Raven, so the eldest son was forced to abdicate."
Something about the way Hamayū said 'the true Golden Raven' struck Asebi as odd. Asebi frowned slightly.
Hamayū didn't seem to notice Asebi's reaction to her words. "Our Empress, Oumurasaki, is from the Nanke family. There was jealousy among factions--it seems that the concentration of power that Nanke possessed was considered a threat to imperial sovereignty, and so her son was disinherited as the Crown Prince. Things may seem calm now, but beneath the surface, there are still many who remain loyal to the former Crown Prince. The current Crown Prince is said to be a foolish and naïve young man.”
“Well then, why don’t you just leave if that's what you think? There’s no one here who would try to stop you,” a shrill voice cut in.
Startled, Asebi looked up. “Um, aren't you Masuho no Susuki?” she asked.
“Good day, Asebi. My condolences on your misfortune in meeting such a malicious person,” Masuho no Susuki said with a smile that did not reach her eyes. She glanced sidelong at Hamayū. “How can you speak ill of someone who might become your husband? If you dislike him so much, you shouldn’t have entered the Imperial Palace in the first place,” she continued.
“Idiot girl,” Hamayū said, giving her rival a fearless smile. “I never said I hated him. Foolish or not, I love him.”
“Do you love him for his position as the Crown Prince, or do you admire his other qualities?" Masuho no Sasuki asked.
“You already know, the answer to that question, I am sure," Hamayū said. "All women of Nanke are forthright and bold. We’re not like the Nishiie women, who are known for their flirtatious affectations.” Hamayū laughed in a low voice.
Masuho no Susuki gave Hamayū a cold stare.
Asebi took a tentative step backwards. Metaphorical sparks were flying between Hamayū and Masuho no Susuki. She had no desire to get caught in the crossfire.
“I was looking forward to meeting you. However, it seems we won’t be getting along, Duchess of Nanke,” Masuho no Susuki said.
“I feel the same, Duchess of Nishiie. I don’t care for gaudy women.”
“How dare you!” exclaimed the lady-in-waiting standing behind Masuho no Susuki, her voice rising in anger. “Do you know who you are speaking to? This is none other than the first duchess of Nishiie—”
"--And I am the first duchess of Nanke," Hamayū said, cutting off the lady-in-waiting with an annoyed expression. "Perhaps you should consider who you're speaking to as well. Servants should know their place," she said sharply, dismissing the woman with a glance. Then she faced Masuho no Susuki squarely. “There's not much you can do but watch me work. Even if you manage to win over the young prince personally, in the end, it is the strength of the family that matters. Your beauty won’t be of any use to you.”
Hamayū smiled confidently.
Masuho no Susuki responded with an elegant smile of her own. “I return those words to you exactly as they are. Everyone in the capital remembers what happened to His Majesty the former Crown Prince. I sincerely pray that you do not end up like Empress Oumurasaki.”
“How kind of you,” Hamayū spat out, turning on her heel with a sweep of her long skirts. “I’m not feeling well. We’re leaving.”
The lady-in-waiting accompanying Hamayū silently followed her. She hadn't said a single word during their conversation.
Masuho no Susuki snorted at Hamayū's retreating back. "That's the Nanke family, in a nutshell. They look calm and composed on the surface of things, but they’re actually under a lot of pressure. The Nishiie family has been gaining power recently, so it's no surprise that Hamayū is a bit unsettled.”
Startled by the intensity of the exchange she'd witnessed, Asebi awkwardly turned toward Masuho no Susuki.
“Unsettled?" Asebi asked. "How so?"
"Well... you understand, yes, that Empress Oumurasaki has been utterly disgraced? Political overreach always has its consequences." She gave Asebi an enigmatic smile that was entirely unlike the cold smiles she'd given Hamayū. Then she curtsied gracefully. "But where are my manners? I would be delighted if we could get along well, Duchess Asebi of Azumaya."
“Of course,” Asebi replied.
Masuho no Susuki's gentle smile was so odd to see after her brusque handling of Hamayū. Asebi had no idea what to think of the Nishiie duchess. Her thoughts were going a mile a minute.
"I also hope we can get along," Asebi said. "And I thank you for your guidance. I am quite inexperienced with the world. I hope my ignorant questions won't trouble you overmuch."
Asebi felt like she'd spoken awkwardly, but Masuho no Susuki appeared quite pleased. "You are truly as lovely and charming as you appear, duchess. I simply adore beautiful things.”
“Uh, thank you,” Asebi said. She felt herself frowning and tried to stop it. She looked around the hall to distract herself.
Masuho no Susuki showed no sign that she noticed Asebi's growing distress. She raised one delicate eyebrow, and then said, "As a connoisseur of the finer things, I can't help but think that the Nanke duchess is not quite up to our standard, don't you agree? Even if we leave her appearance aside, her personality would still be something of an issue. I'm surprised she was permitted to live in the Imperial Palace." She paused, and then trilled out a high-pitched laugh. "Though I suppose it doesn't matter. I am the one who will be living here permanently, not her. Isn't that right, Shiratama?"
"Yes, indeed," Shiratama said. The Hokke duchess had been standing some way behind Masuho no Susuki, in the taller woman's shadow. Asebi hadn't noticed her standing there before.
"Duchess Shiratama," Asebi said, her voice coming out louder than she wanted. She curtsied hurriedly.
Duchess Shiratama winced, frowning in annoyance. She covered her face with her fan.
Masuho no Susuki laughed, then placed one palm artlessly on her own cheek. "Duchess Shiratama is very shy, you see. That is why she chose such plain clothes for this occasion. She's just as beautiful as you or I, but she's dressed herself down so that fewer people will be able to tell." She faced Shiratama. "Would you like to borrow some of my clothes? I don't mind lending you a few. At least try them on and see how you look in them. They'll completely transform you!"
The Nishiie duchess' clothes were the most elaborate out of all of the duchess' attire. Her karaginu was beautifully embroidered with butterflies and flowers in gold thread.3 Layers of thin robes in shades of deep red draped her form. She looked as if a peony flower had taken on human form, so striking was her appearance. The ornaments on her head made a gentle, rustling sound when she moved, like wind gliding through a flower garden.
But such an outfit would never suit Duchess Shiratama.
Asebi thought back to Hamayū's clothes. Her karaginu had been a vivid blue color and patterned with waves of water embroidered with gold thread. Iris flowers bloomed above the waves. The design was bold and striking, like the woman herself. Hamayū likely knew the clothes that suited her best.
Asebi had chosen the clothing she'd worn today very carefully, herself. At first she'd thought that the deep crimson of her robes would clash with the relative lightness of her hair, but after comparing several outfits in the mirror, she'd decided that the color suited her. She guessed that Shiratama had gone through a similar process of selecting her own clothes.
Shiratama bowed her head to Masuho no Susuki. "I would be honored," she said.
That went against Asebi's expectation. If Masuho no Susuki had offered to lend her clothes, she would have refused as politely as possible. Asebi squirmed a little in discomfort.
Then Masuho no Susuki changed the conversation topic altogether. "Oh, my! I nearly forgot why I came over to greet you, Duchess Asebi. I have a gift for you. Kikuno, please present it,” she said to the lady-in-waiting that Hamayū had snapped at earlier.
Kikuno stepped forward, carrying a length of red silk that matched the red layers of Masuho no Susuki's clothes.
“This is sappan wood silk, painstakingly crafted by the most renowned artisans of our domain," Kikuno said. "Sappan wood is used to make a precious dye. The trees grow for a thousand years before they are harvested for this purpose. For this special occasion, spider silk has been used for the embroidery. Please note the exquisite cherry blossom pattern!”
The silver embroidery on the edges of the silk was a work of art in and of itself.
"I pray that you will accept this gift," Masuho no Susuki said.
“This... this is for the duchess?” Ukogi asked in an awed tone. She had not expected for Asebi to be presented with such a lavish gift.
Masuho no Susuki laughed. "Of course! Who else would it be for?"
Ukogi nervously accepted the silk on Asebi's behalf. She held it up to the light, appraising the fabric.
Asebi could not judge the value of the silk herself, but judging by Ukogi's reaction, it was very valuable. Asebi tried to express her gratitude. Masuho no Susuki brushed off her thanks, appearing delighted.
“I gave one to Shiratama earlier, too. Your hair is just as beautiful as mine, not quite as thick perhaps, but still lovely. I’m sure this fabric will look especially good on you. The color is just perfect."
Asebi opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. She was tired all of a sudden: exhausted and drained from the day's events.
“And please don't be too effusive in your thanks," Masuho no Susuki said. "I have so many of these that I could use them to sweep the floor if I wanted. Gentlemen are always forcing gifts on me. It happens all the time.”
Masuho no Susuki furrowed her brows as if she were troubled by her excessive beauty. There was no denying that she was an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
"Duchess, it is almost time for you to change clothes," Kikuno said.
"Oh, really?" Masuho no Susuki asked. She offered her apologies to everyone present, and then she left. She laughed before she left the hall, leaving the echoes of it behind her.
Masuho no Susuki swept out of the room like a windstorm, just as hurried as Hamayū but not with the same demeanor.
Shiratama's eyes, half-hidden behind her fan, tracked Masuho no Susuki as she left. They were full of fond exasperation.
Asebi and Shiratama were left behind like driftwood in Masuho no Susuki's wake.
"She is certainly beautiful," Asebi said. Masuho no Susuki was also completely overwhelming, but she didn't say that part out loud.
Shiratama gave her a tiny nod. Her expression mirrored Asebi's, which was comforting. She felt like Shiratama understood exactly how she felt.
"Is it really all right for her to be so carefree about this?" Shiratama asked.
Asebi looked at her, a bit surprised. There was a touch of anger in Shiratama's gaze.
"She thinks that the Crown Prince would never choose anyone but her," Shiratama said. "She doesn't see us as rivals."
Asebi blinked. She didn't think Shiratama was wrong, but she'd expected to come here and be on more or less equal footing with everyone. The power imbalances she'd observed were all unexpected.
"I forgot," Asebi said.
"What did you forget?"
Asebi flinched. Had she made a mistake here? "I think... I forgot my place, duchess. I am just a simple country girl. I cannot compare to you in any way. I wouldn't dare to consider myself your rival." Her reply to Shiratama's question came out in a halting way.
Shiratama's eyes went cold. "You were selected as the representative of your family to come here, Duchess of Azumaya. It would behoove you to show a bit more pride as regards your own position, I believe."
After that, Shiratama quickly excused herself. The elderly lady-in-waiting who accompanied her shot Asebi a reproachful glare.
Asebi was left behind feeling like everything had just gone terribly wrong.
"Ukogi... I don’t understand what’s going on at all."
Ukogi bit her lip in frustration. "That's my fault," she said. "I should have explained the current circumstances at court to you more thoroughly."
Asebi and Ukogi decided to retire for the time being. They returned to the Spring Hall via a long hallway. Asebi now possessed the key to the hall, so she was permitted to enter it.
The interior of the Spring Hall was less opulent than Asebi expected. It was designed and laid out in a similar way to the estate where Asebi had spent most of her life. The furnishings were all of high quality and reminded her of what she had at home.
One wall of the entrance hall was made up entirely of sliding doors. Asebi slid one open to look outside and took in a majestic mountain view. It was a bit chilly, but Asebi thought that this room would be wonderful when the weather turned warmer.
Asebi changed out of her formal attire and relaxed. It had been a long journey and she'd been busy all day, so it was pleasant to take a quiet moment now that the necessary court ceremonies were done with.
Ukogi brought out a round cushion and set it near Asebi. She knelt down on the cushion, and then she smiled feebly. “Well then, Duchess Asebi, I sincerely congratulate you on completing your audience with the Empress without any trouble.”
“Thank you. Though I'm not sure I caused no trouble at all.” She'd received the key to the Spring Hall, but her lack of a personal name had muddled events. It was impossible to say that everything had gone perfectly.
“The other duchesses were quite fierce, weren’t they?" Ukogi asked. "After all, they all believe that they're the best candidate. It has always been like this, no matter the era. When your father expressed his hope that you would make some friends, I honestly thought that it would be impossible in these circumstances."
Asebi recalled what Hamayū had said. The Nanke duchess' words lingered in her mind. "Duchess Hamayū mentioned something about factions at court. What are these factions? Duchess Hamayū seemed to think we were in the same faction or something."
"Ah," Ukogi said, nodding. Her face twisted in a frown. She signaled to a lady-in-waiting behind her. “It might be easier to understand if you look at this.”
The lady-in-waiting opened a scroll that displayed the genealogy summarizing the relationships between the imperial family and the four branch families. Tracing it from the top, it was clear that most consorts came from the Nanke family. Next was the Nishiie family. Hokke and Azumaya had only a handful of blood ties to the imperial family.
“The current Emperor has only two wives. The lady you met earlier, Oumurasaki, is the principal wife—in other words, the Empress. She married into the imperial family as a Nanke duchess."
The Empress and Hamayū were family, then.
Ukogi looked closely at Asebi's face to make sure she was paying attention. She pointed to the end of the genealogy chart with her fan.
"The Emperor and the Empress have only one child, a son. He is the brother of the Crown Prince, and he used to be the Crown Prince himself. He is, without a doubt, the eldest son of the Emperor. Do you understand up to this point?”
Asebi nodded several times. The chart helped her organize the relationships that Ukogi was describing in her mind. "Yes, I believe I understand."
"Then let me tell you about the Emperor's other wife. She is someone you know well, Duchess Asebi. She is Princess Fujinami's mother. Although she married into the imperial family as a concubine, she gave birth to two children."
"Those children are Lady Fujinami and the current Crown Prince, right?"
"That's correct. The mother of both the Crown Prince and Princess Fujinami is from the Nishiie family."
"The Nishiie family..." The same family that Masuho no Susuki belonged to.
"About ten years ago, a political conflict arose between the Nanke family and the Nishiie family. The Nanke family supported the Emperor's eldest son to succeed him, naturally. The Nishiie family wanted the second son to inherit. The Hokke and Azumaya families had to choose who to support as well. There were quite a few people at court who were angry at the Nanke family's arrogant behavior. The Nanke family monopolized trading rights with the Tengu, among other things, and generally exercised their power for their own benefit.4
"The Hokke family sided with the Nishiie family. As a result, the second son became the Crown Prince, and the eldest son was deposed. At that point, it was believed that the Azumaya family would side with the Nishiie family, but things weren't quite that simple."
Asebi had a bad feeling about what Ukogi was saying. Judging from the timeline, it was highly likely that the head of the Azumaya family at that time was her own father.
“No…”
“Yes. Duchess Asebi, your father did not side with Nishiie."
Father… Asebi felt all her strength leave her body. “Why did he do that, I wonder?”
Ukogi gave her a tired, unenthusiastic laugh. "He was trying not to make the conflict even worse. People thought he would support Nanke, but he actually tried to remain neutral. The balance of power shifted when Hokke sided with Nishiie, and Azumaya neutrality was dismissed out of hand."
Asebi guessed that this state of affairs had happened because of faction lines at court.
Ukogi kept speaking, and now she sounded subdued. “In any case, the lord himself insists that he never meant for this to happen. The Duke of Nanke is highly displeased with him for not making his loyalties clear."
Asebi understood more of what Hamayū had said. “So, does that mean our family is considered manipulative and scheming?”
“That is what some people say at court, yes."
Asebi and Ukogi stared at each other for a moment. Asebi felt like crying.
“I just want to go home already.”
“Don't give up just yet. It's only been one day. At any rate, the power of the former Crown Prince's faction and the new Crown Prince's faction are now evenly matched. Nanke and Nishiie are more at odds than ever, and they believe that the balance of power can be shifted by one of their duchesses. Whichever duchess marries the current Crown Prince will gain political standing that will carry through to the next generation. It is no exaggeration to say that both Nanke and Nishiie are pinning all their hopes on Hamayū and Masuho no Susuki."
No wonder, thought Asebi. She sighed. "I guess it's no surprise that Masuho no Susuki and Hamayū both ignored my place in the Rite of Ascension."
After hearing what Ukogi had said, the attitudes of the Nanke and Nishiie duchesses made much more sense to her. She was saddened at the general state of things. Who would have thought that she'd be walking into such a mess?
“That’s not true," Ukogi said. "They may have tried to downplay your claim, but all four duchesses--including you, Asebi--have much to gain from being chosen as the Crown Prince's wife. Duchess Shiratama has a serious claim and certainly wants the role. Hokke is poorly represented inside the Imperial Palace, but all of their court members are important military officials. Hokke boasts the greatest military strength in this mountain range. If Duchess Shiratama is chosen, it will upset the balance of power in a completely different way."
Asebi understood that this logic held true for herself as well. If she was chosen as the Princess of Sakura Palace--and the Crown Prince's future wife--the Azumaya family would gain commensurate political power. There was no need for Asebi to step aside and let the other duchesses win. She should consider the good of her family and try to marry into the imperial family.
That was what Ukogi seemed to think, at least.
"Nanke and Nishiie are far too forceful in their actions. Many times in the past, an Azumaya duchess would have been chosen if not for the underhanded tactics of those two families."
Asebi went pale. She'd never seen Ukogi speak so intensely before. The last time Asebi had seen Ukogi in such a state of high dudgeon was when she had secretly gone out alone to view the cherry blossoms.
Ukogi took a deep breath to steady herself. "If I may be so bold... I have only the highest hopes for you, Duchess Asebi. The Azumaya family and those who serve them are waiting with bated breath. They have waited such a long time for an Azumaya duchess to be crowned as Empress."
Asebi said, “I see," in a half-hearted sort of way. She tried to move away from Ukogi; she needed to think.
Ukogi followed Asebi as she retreated, reached out and gripped her shoulders. She brought her face very close to Asebi's.
"Please don't worry about anything," Ukogi said. "I will protect you with everything I have. You will definitely win the Crown Prince's favor!"
It’s good that she wants to protect me, Asebi thought. But she also believed that it would be better to be in a position where she didn't need to be protected at all. And she feared that, in her intensity, Ukogi might be the one who killed her.
Asebi's shoulders hurt for a long time after Ukogi let her go.
Translator's Notes
1 The kosode (小袖) is a type of Japanese garment, and the direct precursor to the modern kimono. Literally meaning "small sleeves," the kosode is a T-shaped garment with a distinctive, relatively small sleeve opening. It evolved from earlier, more voluminous robes and eventually became the foundation for the kimono, particularly during the Edo period. A flower knot, also known as the Chinese flower knot or round brocade knot, is a decorative knot. It's characterized by a woven central design with five large and six small petals, and when completed, it often has an opening in the center that can be used to hold a stone or other decoration. The knot is a symbol of completeness, balance, and good fortune.↩
2 There are many ways to spell Asebi in Japanese, but the version Hamayū is referring to is 馬酔木, literally "horse-drunk-tree (or plant)".↩
3 The karaginu (唐衣) is a Chinese-style jacket worn by women during formal occasions in Japan's Heian Period (794-1172). It is part of the formal court attire known as jūnihitoe, which also includes the mo (a long, pleated train). The karaginu is typically a waist-length, wide-sleeved jacket, often decorated with brocade, embroidery, or painted images.↩
4 Tengu (Japanese: 天狗, lit. "Heavenly Dog" or "Heavenly Sentinel") are a type of legendary creature found in Japanese folk religion. They are considered a type of yōkai (supernatural beings) or Shinto kami (gods). The tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey and monkey deities; they are traditionally depicted with human, monkey and avian characteristics.↩
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