Samurai’s Tale Reading Guide-Write you answers on this guide.
The meaning of Samurai is “one who serves”.
Intro: Samurai’s Tale is a piece of historical fiction. Taro is a fictional character but the battles between the Lords
actually took place during the 1500’s.
There are many lords in this book. The questions in the reading guide will help you to keep track of them as they
weave in and out of the story. It is important to know that there are greater lords and lesser lords. It is kind of like
our military hierarchy where we have different ranks and the lower guys obey the orders of those above them. The
problem is that they all just carry the title of “lord” and many of them carry the same family name. (We would call it
our “last name”.).
Much of the info given in the first few chapters will be needed to understand the battles at the end of the book. I
will give you recaps as you go along to help you sort them out. If you have questions you can always email me.
I have included a map of the areas controlled by:
Lord Takeda, Shingen (Middle)
Lord Uesugi, Kenshin (To the north) Lord Oda, Nobungada (To the south)
Refer back to the map when they start fighting.It will help you to see what they are fighting over.
If you go to http://www.maproom.org/00/05/sub1/2.html you can click on the name of the lord and it will zoom in to
show you the land involved.
Preface and Chapters 1-3(24 pages):
Synopsis: They leave the land that was formerly ruled by Lord Murakami (a lesser lord that served Lord
Uesugi Kenshin) and enter into the great level plain of Kai that housed the mansion of Lord Akiyama.
1 .What is a Bushi?
2. How old was Taro in chapter 1?
3. Who was his father and how did he die?
4 . What was his name before being renamed by “officer” Akiyama?
5. Who is Togan and what position did he have on the grounds of the mansion?
6. What kinds of things did he teach Taro?
7. How did Taro feel towards Togan?
8 .Taro only had one desire. What was it?
6. Describe the “Wakatano” (AKA Takeda, Katsuyori)?
7. How old was Taro at the end of the chapter and how did he feel as he watched the archery contest held for the
son’s of Samurai as they reached the age of manhood?
We were introduced to 2 warring Daimyos and 2 of the men that served them. We were also
introduced to Lord Shingen’s second son who will be important in the end of the book. (Retainer: servant,
Recap:
a person working in the service of another . Another word for “retainer” is vassal.)
Lord Takeda Shingen
His “retainer” is Lord Akiyama.
Lord Uesugi Kenshin
His” retainer”was Lord Murakami.
I am using primary source images in my recaps but an artist drew pictures of the characters if you need some help
“picturing” the characters in your mind.
http://www.powayusd.com/teachers/dsykes/The%20Samurai's%20Tale.htm
Chapters 4-5 (17 pages):
Synopsis: We begin to learn how things worked in feudal society. We learn how the lord of the area was not only in
charge of protecting the land but also served as judge and executioner in all dealings that he came in contact with.
We also see how servants had a hierarchy amongst themselves.
1. Chapter 4 mentions Ninjas. List all the facts you can find about Ninjas.
2. How did Lord Shingen feel about Ninjas?
3. What role did the “youngest among them” play?
4. Who was Lord Jiro’s father ?
5. What did he and Lord Shingen’s son try to do?
6. What happened to Lord Obu Toramasa? What happened to his servants?
5. What happened to Yoshinobu, the eldest son of Lord Shingen?
6. List the land and resources that Lord Akiyama had at his disposal.
7 .What was the seating arrangement at the stable?
First Quiz on chapters 1-5( 41 pages)
Chapter 6
Synopsis: In this chapter we begin to see how important loyalty and honor are in their society. We are also
introduced to the idea of Seppuku. Seppuku is when a warrior takes his own life in a special ceremony because he
did something disgraceful. A warrior can make up for his disgraceful behavior by facing his death with courage and
bravery. A friend assists him in his suicide by cutting off his head to end the pain from the stab wounds in his belly.
1.
Taro is 14 years old in chapter 6. Lord Akiyama challenged Taro by asking him to prove his loyalty. What
did he want Taro to do?
2.
How did Lord Akiyama want Taro to “respond” or “behave” after the mission?
3.
What does a saddle symbolize?
(Seppuku (切腹?, "stomach-cutting") is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally
reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai honor code, seppuku was used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor
rather than fall into the hands of their enemies, as a form of capital punishment for samurai who have committed
serious offenses, and for reasons that shamed them. Seppuku is performed by plunging a sword into the abdomen and
moving the sword left to right in a slicing motion.)
4.
What is a Kaishaku-nin?
5.
Who usually fills this role?
6.
What ended up happening at Toko-Ji temple?
Recap: Katsuyori’s background:
Lord Shingen
Defeats____________
Lord SuwaYorishege
Shingen took the loser’s land.
He took his daughter and turned her into his
mistress.
Lord Shingen and the daughter have an
illegitimate son.
His name is Takeda Katsuyori.
This is the guy who accompanies Taro on the night mission.
Chapter 7(8 Pages):
Synopsis: We meet Lord Akiyama’s father.
1. What was Taro’s motivation for learning to write?
2.
Chapter 7 talks about Taro’s father. What does it say?
3.
What were Ronins? What do you think Taro meant when he said they were “for sale”?
4.
How did Taro act when he approached Lord Akiyama’s father (Lord Nobutora)?
Chapter 8 (7 pages):
Synopsis: There is talk of an upcoming war.
1. Who was Lady Suwa and what was her life like?
2.
What class of people ended up being messengers of Lord Shingen?
Recap: There is to be a war over who will rise to be the next shogun of Japan. The tree contenders are:
Lord Uesugi Kenshin
from the north.
Lord Takeda Shingen
1.
Chapter 9(6 pages):
Synopsis: Taro’s position changes.
How many children did Lord Akiyama(Taro’s lord) have?
2.
What was Taro’s new position? What were his duties?
3.
Who was Yoshitoki?
Chapter 10(7 pages):
Synopsis: Taro and Yoshitoki are given older swords.
1.
2.
How old is Taro in chapter 10?
What is the reward for Samurai that come back as heroes?
3.
How did Taro feel about Yoshitoki?
Chapter 11-12 (12 pages):
Synopsis: Yoshitoki goes to war.
1.
How did Taro feel about the first name Lord Akiyama gave him?
2.
3.
What was Taro’s new name?
What did he receive besides his new name?
Chapter 13 (5 pages):
Synopsis: We learn more about Oda Nobubaga
1. How old was Taro in Chapter 13?
2.
Describe:
Lord Shingen
Lord Oda
3.
What is Ferocity?
4.
What did Lord Akiyama do to prepare for war?
5.
What equipment did Murakami Harutomo still need?
What is clemency?
2nd Quiz Chapters 6-13 (44 Pages)
Lord Oda Nobunaga from
the south.