The Ghost of the Tokaido Inn Vocabulary

bushido

"the way of the warrior," the strict code by which Japanese samurai were supposed to live

haiku

3 unrhymed lines (5, 7, 5) usually focusing on nature

whorls

A coil or ring

kimono

A loose robe, fastening with a sash, the principal outer garment in Japan.

pilgrims

A person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

scabbard

A sheath for a sword

millet

A type of grain

edicts

An official public order or law put forth by a ruler

ruefully

Causing sorrow or pity

prospective

Expected or likely to happen or become

virtuous

Having excellent morals; righteous

sake

Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice

yashiki

Large group of buildings for the Daimyo

lamenting

Showing sorrow

hideous

So extremely ugly as to be terrifying

entice

To attract by offering reward or pleasure

meditating

To engage in deep thought

parried

To ward off as in fencing; avert; to turn aside, evade, or dodge;

eerie

Weird; mysterious; strange and frightening

obi

a broad sash worn around the waist of a Japanese kimono

abacus

a calculator that performs arithmetic functions by manually sliding counters on rods or in grooves

trove

a collection of valuable items

silhouette

a dark outline against a light background

hachimaki

a headband or bandana that is worn as a symbol of perseverance or effort

samisen

a musical instrument, a traditional Japanese three-stringed lute with a square body

kago

a type of transportation; a chair or passenger-box carried on poles by two men

audibly

able to be heard

jikininki

an eater of human flesh (ghost)

warily

cautiously, with great care

curlicues

fancy curls or twists

geta

footwear usually with wooden soles

ferociously

in a physically fierce manner

skeptical

inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true

humiliated

made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride

enraged

made very angry; made furious

Buddhist

one who follows the teachings of Buddha

terrace

paved outdoor area adjoining a residenc

revelers

people who are having fun at a lively party or celebration

chrysanthemums

popular plant, family of the daisy

unsheathed

removed from a protective case

beckoned

signal with hands or a nod to come over

tatami

straw mats that are traditionally used to cover floors in Japan

hilt

sword handle

textures

the way a surface looks or how it feels when you touch it

mulling

to think over something