Hen

ARTICLES ON EMERGENCIES

Fui kokoroeru beki koto

POINTS ABOUT UNEXPECTED EVENTS

Fui means anything that happens unexpectedly – for example, fires, earthquakes, rain storms, gales, thunder storms, blizzards, floods, fights, attacks by gangs of thieves, people running at you in madness, people coming to you for sanctuary and people who have collapsed on the street. There are more than can be listed here. However, in any unexpected situation it is most likely that you will become confused. Therefore, the first thing to do is to settle your mind before dealing with the situation at hand. If you are unaware of this, more often than not you will lose the initiative because you will feel rushed. Therefore, always calm your mind and be prepared for this type of situation – this is a key aspect of our school.

Tsuneno sonae aru koto

ALWAYS BE PREPARED AT NORMAL TIMES

Both natural phenomena and emergencies in human affairs can be predicted through kiki – sensitivity to chi. Those who are experienced in military matters show acute discernment in this regard, but this is not a level normal people can reach. Therefore, normal folk should just try to deal with an emergency by being prepared at all times; details on this were mentioned earlier. When actually dealing with an emergency there are some things to keep in mind and these are mentioned in the upcoming points. This includes points on fights, gangs of thieves, sanctuary seekers and fights to the death.

Seion odorokazaru koto

NOT ACTING SURPRISED WHEN AN ALARM IS RAISED

You may be surprised when someone informs you of an emergency. The level of the emergency can be gauged by the person’s speech pattern; some report minor matters as if they were more urgent or talk of an emergency as a minor matter. There are many points to be learned so that you can judge the urgency of a situation.

Saishi katazuke no koto

EVACUATING WIVES AND CHILDREN

Whether you are engaged in official duties or at home, if an emergency arises know in advance how you are going to evacuate your wives and children appropriately after reporting to your section captain or the section commander. It is often the case in such a situation that you spend too much time dealing with wives and children. Even if you are away, be prepared and instruct them beforehand, specifically on how they should evacuate in any given situation.

Jishin kaji fūu kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES, FIRES AND STORMS

Large earthquakes are as if a huge boulder has been thrown to the earth and all the ground shakes. Before earthquakes, there is a strong wind called a jifu.¹²⁷ This will help you to pre-empt larger earthquakes. Also, small fires can grow into infernos depending on the wind. Floods happen after large rains, gales break even bamboo groves and houses, wind tends to accompany rain and fires often happen after earthquakes. The saying, ‘Jishin no atama kaze no naka’ means, ‘Earthquakes are strongest at the start while wind is strongest in the middle.’¹²⁸

Shukka kokoroe no koto

POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND AT THE OUTBREAK OF A FIRE

Most fires happen at night. Instruct everyone in your house, down to the servants, of how to evacuate in this situation. For example, tell them in advance and have them understand that if a commotion or fire occurs and they need to leave the house in haste then they should meet at a specific place so that there will be no confusion. In a fire, if you leave your property and treasure behind and exit without greed then all will be well, no matter how suddenly the fire comes on. If life is lost in a fire it is because people have tried to save their property or their treasures. Important items should be kept in a storage pit to protect them from fire.

Gunshū sōdō kokoroe no koto

POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CROWDS ENTER INTO CONFUSION

When you are out in public and find yourself in the middle of a commotion, various problems may occur, such as your servants losing their sandals or becoming separated from you. You should prepare your servants to deal with such issues in advance.

In the case of a commotion caused by a fire during the daytime, have something to be used as a marker in front of the gate and at night have a lantern or marker pole, positioned at the front gate that has the family crest on it. Also, position lights at various places around the residence and try to be calm. If you rush, you will always become flustered and lose composure – never allow this to happen. Keep this in mind at all times.

Kaji-baori no koto

CONCERNING FIRE JACKETS

Old teachings say that it is preferable for a fire jacket to be made of leather. However, cloth ones work better because if cloth garments are soaked well and then put on they will not catch fire, no matter how intense the blaze. Leather will shrink if it comes too close to the flames, so make fire jackets of cloth instead of leather and have the family crest upon them. It is up to the master to decide on the pattern.

Gyōgi ushinawazaru kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT MAINTAINING GOOD MANNERS

In emergencies people normally become flustered. Samurai should keep themselves from wearing a single-wrap sash, a sash with the knot turned to an improper position, a sash with the knot to the front, long hair that is not tied up and so on, as such lapses of decorum will cause even more agitation. Calm your mind and work on all things serenely. Some people say that if you keep a calm mind then you cannot work at speed, but you can if you follow hichō no hō – the way of flying birds.¹²⁹ As a samurai, remember that in emergencies fear is born from a confusion of the mind. It is important to concentrate your chi.

Jishin kokoroeru beki koto

POINTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES

During an earthquake immediately open the doors and paper sliding doors and get outside. However, if you panic and are too eager to get outside you may injure yourself. On the other hand, not being fast enough is negligent. Being crushed and killed by a house is a dog’s death, so exit quickly. The way to walk in an emergency is called ashinami. This involves concentrating on the big toe.

Kyūka kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT SUDDEN FIRES

If a fire breaks out close to your residence, have people climb onto your roof to defend against the fire. You yourself should not go up there. Have the servants climb up while you hold the ladder and give orders. If you climbed up and the ladder fell away it would cause a problem. Also, if you were up on the roof it would be difficult to determine what needed to be done regarding any people in confusion or any goings on at ground level.

Hi wo fusegu kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT PREVENTING FIRES

Fire-fighting tools are called hikeshi no dōgu and there are many kinds in existence, so not all of them can be mentioned. The first thing to note is which direction is windward and which is leeward. A large fire will be difficult to extinguish, therefore the surrounding houses should be broken down and removed. However, if it is extremely windy then there is not much point taking away the surrounding houses. Instead, give orders that will prevent people from becoming injured. Confucius says, ‘Ask about people and not their horses.’¹³⁰

Ryokō jishin kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES WHILE TRAVELLING

If you are at the bottom of a mountain during an earthquake, consider that the mountain may collapse. If you are close to the sea, take the correct measures in case of a tsunami; furthermore, if you are below the level of a body of water, know that the bank may collapse. Make sure to stay clear of valley entrances. If you are in a house you should have no problem as long as you leave the house immediately.

Ōkaze kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT GALES

In a gale, keep doors shut. In such cases, take to and hide in the mountains. Sometimes houses collapse, but they do not do so in an instant; instead they will make a groaning noise before they actually fall. Also, do not get too close to large trees. People have their own ways to prepare for rain storms and floods; therefore, they are not dealt with here.

Kaji take wo tomurau koto

HELPING SOMEONE WHOSE HOUSE IS ON FIRE

If a fire breaks out in a nearby house and you help to put it out, then you should inform the master of the house of this and start work in either the interior or exterior. Wear a fire jacket, and do not start helping until you have announced yourself to the house master, even if you are close friends. Remember, it will be difficult not to lose any tools due to the crowds. Always inform the master of the house, in a loud voice that ‘I [insert name] have come to give aid’ and do not start to help until the house master accepts your offer. If done like this, the master will remember you; otherwise, they will often not remember any assistance you gave due to the large number of other people fighting the fire. In fires and commotion, it is difficult for normal people to remember others. That being said, there are different points for dealing with relatives.

Kaji idokoro no koto

WHERE TO POSITION YOURSELF DURING A FIRE

If there are rules in place for where samurai should go, then just follow these guidelines. If you are called to an audience with the lord, work in accordance with his orders. It is ungraceful to be moving around by yourself and making a fuss.

Rinka shukka no koto

IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT NEXT DOOR

If a fire breaks out next door, whether during the day or the night, first send someone to observe the status of the fire itself. If the source of the fire is under control and if all flames have been extinguished then there is nothing more to worry about. Know that it is difficult for people to abandon property and treasure. Their first thought is normally how to save as many possessions and treasures as possible, which means that they are often too busy to fight the fire itself, and a small fire can get out of control. Therefore, if a fire breaks out in the neighbourhood or among the townhouses, collaborate and get there with speed, identifying how strong or fair the wind is and extinguish the fire by giving orders to your men. There are more things that should be kept in mind.

Ensei shinogiyō no koto

ENDURING SMOKE

If smoke is strong in the leeward direction and it is hard to breathe then it is best to put a piece of Japanese radish in your mouth. Also, medicine for breathing is mentioned in the scroll Gun’yaku Yōhō. If you are surrounded by fire, then make your escape by holding onto the mindset of gunshi no kokoro – a military death. It is known that smoke does not go lower than one shaku from the floor. Therefore, if you crawl with your face downwards you will not choke on the smoke.

Tōzoku kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT THIEVES

Here are things to keep in mind for when thieves infiltrate. Sometimes a number of them may come and break into a virtuous person’s house. Thieves steal gold and silver to suppress the hunger of that day and have minds that allow them to indulge in ease at the cost of other people’s hardship, so they are not brave warriors in the truest sense. How can a samurai who has a sense of loyalty and justice fear them? They always fight in large numbers – this shows that they are weak.

Isō kokoroe no koto

POINTS ABOUT STRANGE APPEARANCES

Lower-class people tend to be afraid of those whose looks and outfits are out of the ordinary. Many of those who cultivate a fearsome image turn out to be thieves and the like. Even though they look strong, they actually do not have the mindset that a loyal samurai has, making it easy to defend yourself against them. If this is understood then it is easy to fight off roadside killers and murder-thieves without endangering your own life.

Concerning defence against intruders:¹³¹ ways to deal with people who have pierced a hole in your storage house or are climbing the outer wall were mentioned previously and will be expanded on later.

Ranshinmono torisabaki no koto

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE INSANE

If all of a sudden an insane person enters through your gate, send him back to his parents or brothers. If he does not have a home or you do not know who he is, then immediately inform the local authorities. If he is carrying a blade or grasping a drawn katana, strike it with a staff so that the blade drops to the floor and send him back home at once. Generally speaking, if you talk gently to those who are insane, giving them an impression of timidity, their insanity will become more intense. This also applies to people who are violently drunk. Insanity develops because of insubstantial chi. If they injure someone with a bladed weapon, you should not forgive them; however, this will of course depend on the situation. Sometimes the person may be one who has been possessed by a fox, but know that these people will not fight those skilled in our school. Also, violently drunk people will return to their true self as time passes. If you are sitting in the company of a crazy person and he draws his katana or wakizashi, strike it out of his hand with intent using any weapon – his spirit will deflate. Make sure the person actually is insane, as it is an intolerable slight to strike the weapon of someone who is in full possession of his sanity.

Gunshū gechi no koto

GIVING ORDERS TO A CROWD

When a large crowd of people is creating a commotion, instruct the heads of neighbourhood units to restore order. If the commotion does not settle, know that the people will not calm down even if you go there yourself and repeatedly tell them to be quiet. In this case, summon five or ten of their leaders and reason with them. Then these key people will return to the crowd and go around telling everyone to settle. While this is happening, you take a position at a higher place and have illumination so that you can see everything and then order the crowd to be quiet from this vantage point. At this they will settle. There are things to learn about how to address a large audience from a higher position.

Zōsetsu hakarishiru no koto

KNOWING AND JUDGING CURRENT RUMOURS

Zōsetsu are rumours and people of all ranks need to know where they come from. If you discover that they are in fact orders from district governors or local governors then they should be taken seriously, but for other kinds of circulating news do not become flustered, no matter what people say. During times of war it is possible that some of these rumours will be fabrications, although this is much rarer during times of peace. Also, be suspicious of any report of a thunder storm, a large flood, a large earthquake, the death of a governor or shōgun through illness, or any other disaster.

Kyōkimono enryo subeki koto

MAINTAIN A DISTANCE FROM THE INSANE

There are ways to identify someone who is acting out of insanity. Be aware of these traits when you are sitting in a room with other people. Know that insane people may be silent and then erupt into speech, or they may talk constantly and then suddenly fall silent – the point is that their pattern of speech is inconsistent. Also, carefully observe the look in their eyes and the tone of their voice. If you believe someone to be insane, take a seat at a distance from them, even if in the same room. There are many points to be kept in mind.

Fui kyūshutsu no koto

TO DEPART UNEXPECTEDLY

If you have to leave urgently for a certain destination, sometimes you may have to wear long undergarments, a chain-mail headband and a chain-mail shirt; therefore, have them prepared and ready in a set place. However, in some cases you may not have time to get dressed in these items. If so, instruct a servant to bring them after you have gone ahead. When you arrive, if there is no time to don such garments then it cannot be helped, but put them on if there is time. As a general rule, you should be prepared with these things at all times. Concerning the outfit to wear in the case of a fire, when you leave inform your servants to bring it to the destination; this should also be arranged beforehand. These points are also to be kept in mind at normal times. When having to leave urgently, take grilled rice with you. However, if you wait for any servants to prepare such things then you will be late. Therefore, inform those servants of the destination and have them catch up to you. In short, if you simply leave your position quickly, you will arrive sooner, so leaving your lodgings should be done as quickly as possible.

Δ Tradition says:

The following six points are traditions for the above twenty-five points. Keep them in mind and know them for what they are. They are known as hiden – secret traditions–and are points for urgent events, fires and earthquakes.

Sassoku no kadode

LEAVING URGENTLY

If a situation is truly urgent, just leave immediately and have your servants catch up with you. Also, you cannot spend time preparing a meal, so have grilled rice ready to carry. For an emergency, have straw sandals, long undergarments and a three-foot cloth stored together. For a samurai it is preferable to be early – know that having someone wait for you shows a lack of preparation on your part. Keep this in mind and it will become a part of your being.

Bōkei betsuni motomu

CREATING INTENTIONAL MEASURES

When things are hectic or if all of those below you are complacent and unprepared, then intentionally create trouble so that they will become prepared. An example is leaving tools for setting fire.¹³²

Henka osorezu

DO NOT FEAR CHANGE

If you cannot stop worrying about death, then you will fear everything. It is said that nothing is a greater change than your own death – think on this. This is the same as to stop breathing through a fear of ageing.

Suichū yakazu

TO NOT BURN IN WATER

This is the same as the suichū ikki used in water as mentioned earlier. If you are determined when dealing with fire and if you move at speed, then you will not be burned. ‘Fire cannot burn you and water cannot drown you.’ Remember, if you draw your hand across fire pokers with speed you will not burn.¹³³

Kaimu sōsei

STRANGE DREAMS AND WAKING UP ON TIME

A children’s saying states, ‘If there is a specific time you wish to wake, then think of that time and bite your thumb three times and you will wake at that hour.’ If you have a calm mind then you can wake up at any time that you wish.

A poem states:

Your wife has risen and you remain in pleasant slumber.

Hayaashi futō

FAST WALKING WITHOUT FALLING

Putting power and thought into the big toe when walking at speed will prevent you from falling and will prevent cramp in your calves. Walk like this in an urgent situation.

The above twenty-five points are about urgent situations, emergencies as well as teachings on fire and earthquakes, with the addition of six secret traditions. This adds up to thirty-one points in total.

The following points are for fights and duels, as well as seppuku and killing people. The ideogram for ‘strike’, , has been put at the top. There are twentythree points and nine points on traditions, which adds up to a total of thirtytwo points.

127 ‘earth-wind’.

128 – ‘Earthquakes from the head, wind from the middle.’

129i.e. the mind should be calm and the body should move with speed.

130Taken from an incident where the house of Confucius burns down and he enquires about humans over horses, even though the horses are considered of higher value. Found in Book X of the Analects.

131 nigekomori – people who hide or take refuge in a samurai’s property without permission when fleeing from someone.

132 – tools for arson. The idea is that when the servants discover the arson tools, they will think that someone has tried to break in, which will make them more attentive in future.

133The reference to ikki concerns ‘controlled speed’ – to do things with a single-minded determination but with control.