At the end of the seventeenth century, Lord Yamanouchi of Tosa Province decided to take his tea master on an official trip to Edo, the capital of the ruling Tokugawa shogun dynasty. The tea master was not at all happy about this trip, because he was not a samurai, and Edo is not at all such a calm place as Tosa, where he has many friends. In Edo it was possible to get into such a mess, where it would get not only his master, but also himself. The journey was very risky and he did not want to embark on it. However, his master did not want to hear any objections, probably because a highly qualified tea master would bring good fame to his master. The tea ceremony was highly valued in high-ranking circles. The tea master was forced to obey the order, but decided to change his tea master garb, which went unarmed, to the garb of a samurai with two swords.
Upon arrival in Edo, the tea master did not leave the master’s house, and finally the master allowed him to go out for a walk. Dressed like a samurai, he visited Ueno at Shinobazu Pond, where he noticed a samurai resting on a rock glaring at him. The samurai politely turned to the tea master and said: “I see that you are a samurai from Tosa, do me the honor of trying my art in a duel with you.” From the very beginning of the journey, the tea master had a presentiment of some kind of trouble. Now he stood face to face with a ronin (masterless samurai), a wandering samurai, a mercenary of the worst kind, and did not know what to do. “I’m not a samurai at all, although I’m dressed like one, I’m a tea master and I’m not at all ready to be your opponent,” he honestly admitted. But, since the ronin’s true desire was to rob his victim, in whose weakness he was already completely convinced, he continued to insist on the duel.
The tea master realized that he could not avoid the fight and set himself up for inevitable death. But he did not want to die in shame, because the shame would fall on his master, the ruler of Tos. And then he remembered that a few minutes ago he passed by a fencing school located next to Ueno Park. He decided to go there for a minute and ask the teacher how to use the sword correctly, how to use it in such cases, and how he could face his inevitable death with honor. He said to the ronin: “If you insist so much on the duel, then wait for me a little, I must first tell my master, for whom I serve, something.”
Ronin agreed and the tea master hurried to the fencing school. The gatekeeper did not want to let him in because the tea master did not have any letters of recommendation for the fencing teacher. But still, seeing the seriousness with which the tea master behaved, he decided to let him pass.
The fencing teacher calmly listened to the tea master, who told him the whole story and expressed his adamant desire to die like a samurai. The teacher said: “You are truly unique. Everyone comes to me to learn how to use a sword to live, and you came to learn how to die. But before I teach you the art of dying, please teach me how to make tea and treat me to a cup of tea. After all, you are a tea master.” The tea master was very happy. For the last time he could perform the tea ceremony - his life's work, so dear to his heart. Forgetting about everything, he began to prepare tea with all sincerity and complete dedication. He did everything that was necessary, as if now it was the most important thing in life for him. And the fencing teacher experienced a deep feeling when he saw with what concentration, with what enthusiasm the tea ceremony was performed. Imbued with deep respect for this man. he fell to his knees in front of the tea master, took a deep breath and said: “You do not need to learn to die! The state of mind you are in allows you to fight with any swordsman. When you approach the ronin, first think that you are preparing tea for a guest. Greet him nobly, apologize for the delay, and tell him that you are now ready for the fight. Take off your haori (outer clothing), fold it carefully and place yours on top fan, as you usually do at work. Then tie a tegunun (a type of towel) around your head, tie up your sleeves with a rope, and pick up your hakama (skirt-pants). Now you can start. Take out your sword, raise it high above your head, be ready to strike the enemy with it, and, covering your eyes, gather yourself mentally for the battle. When you hear a scream, hit him with the sword. This will be the end, mutual killing.” The tea master thanked the swordsman for his instructions and went back to where he promised to meet the ronin.
He carefully followed the advice given by the swordsman, executing them in the state of mind he was in during the tea ceremony for his friends. When he stood firmly in front of the ronin and raised his sword, he suddenly saw a completely different person in front of him. And there was no way he could utter a scream before attacking, because he didn’t know at all how to attack. Before him was the perfect embodiment of fearlessness. And instead of rushing at the tea master, the ronin began to retreat step by step and finally shouted: “I surrender! I surrender!” Throwing down his sword, he prostrated himself before the tea master, asking forgiveness for his rudeness, and quickly left the battlefield.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru