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