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 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?

Recap: 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, a person working in the service of another . Another word for “retainer” is vassal.)

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.

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 servantshad 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?
  1. How did Lord Akiyama want Taro to “respond” or “behave” after the mission?
  1. What does a saddle symbolize?

(Seppuku (切腹?, "stomach-cutting") is a form of Japaneseritual 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.)

  1. What is a Kaishaku-nin?
  1. Who usually fills this role?
  1. What ended up happening at Toko-Ji temple?

Recap: Katsuyori’s background:

Defeats______

Chapter 7(8 Pages):

Synopsis: We meet Lord Akiyama’s father.

  1. What was Taro’s motivation for learning to write?
  1. Chapter 7 talks about Taro’s father. What does it say?
  1. What were Ronins? What do you think Taro meant when he said they were “for sale”?
  1. 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?
  1. 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:

Chapter 9(6 pages):

Synopsis: Taro’s position changes.

  1. How many children did Lord Akiyama(Taro’s lord) have?
  1. What was Taro’s new position? What were his duties?
  1. Who was Yoshitoki?

Chapter 10(7 pages):

Synopsis:Taro and Yoshitoki are given older swords.

  1. How old is Taro in chapter 10?
  2. What is the reward for Samurai that come back as heroes?
  1. 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?
  1. What was Taro’s new name?
  2. 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?
  1. Describe: Lord Shingen Lord Oda
  1. What is Ferocity? What is clemency?
  1. What did Lord Akiyama do to prepare for war?
  1. What equipment did Murakami Harutomo still need?

2nd Quiz Chapters 6-13 (44 Pages)

Chapters 14-34

Chapter 14

1.)Lord Akiyama was preparing for battle. He not only had to assemble his soldiers, he also had to gather other workers to provide support for his troops.

  • What job did the Konidatai do?
  • What type of work did the Shinsu do?

2.) Taro (Murakami Harutu) was assigned to another job after his job as messenger. What was it?

3.) How did he feel about this position?

4.)Another lord is introduced in chapter 14 (Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu). Who is he?

5.)What is the battle plan according to “The Master of More Than Rice”?

Chapter 15

1.)What orders was the Master of Rice given?

2.)Who was Denji?

3.)What kind of responsibilities did Taro have? (Collect information from throughout the chapter.)

Chapter 16 Entering the territory of Oda Nobungata:

1.)Why did he say,” If I had been Lord Oda , I would attack the Konidatai and not bother to engage the army”?

2.) What is a ronin?

Chapters 17-20 Getting ready for the Siege if Iwamura Castle:

1.The author uses the story of Hanagata Minbu to show us their rules about loyalty towards one’s lord. What does Wada Kansuke tell Taro about his duties to Lord Akiyama?

2.How did Murakami “earn” his helmet?

3. Part of Akiyama’s war strategy was to destroy the villages. Why did Akiyama burn all the villages?

4.Describe the “nature of war” according to Kansuke?

5.What were the 2 needs of Wada Kansake?

6.Describe what happens in a siege?

7.The Kanidatai were responsible for the distribution of rice. What was expected of the peasants who worked on the Konidanti?

8.Describe Wada Kansuke.

9.Describe the ninja (Ietsugus).

In Chapter 21, they talk about “a plan.” How might this plan affect Taro?

  1. How did Murakami get his suit of armor?

Chapter 22

  1. What happens at IwamuraCastle?
  1. How does Lord Akiyama treat the people within the castle?

Chapter 23+24

  1. Murakami seems to be turning into an effective leader. What are some of the wise choices he makes? What does he say about “making decisions?”
  1. Collect details on Lord Zakoji.

3.Why did Taro get a fine new of armor?

Chapter 25

  1. We finally met Lord Shingen. Describe him .
  1. What must all great warlords have to succeed?
  1. What is a wakatono?
  1. Add to your collection of details about Lord Zakoji,
  1. Who is Haruchika? What is he like?
  1. What will happen if Lord Shingen dies?

Chapter 26

  1. Add to the details concerning Lord Zakoji. What was he good at? What kind of man was he?
  1. What does “hime” mean?
  1. Taro is turning into a romantic character. How old is he in chapter 26?

Chapter 27, 28 and 29

1.Why is it important to keep Lord Shingen’s death a secret?

  1. What was to be decided at the council meeting at Kofuchu?
  1. What did the older Samuarai fear most?

4. What happened to Lord Takeda Katsuyori’s generals and officers?

Chapter 30

  1. What type of weapons did Lord Oda use?
  1. What happened to Yoshitoki?
  1. Who else died in that battle?
  1. What was the ratio of Lord Oda’s warriors to that of Wakatono?
  2. What did Lord Akiyama do to prepare for the siege?

Chapter 31-34

  1. What messages does Taro need to deliver?
  1. What is Lord Akiyama’s plan?
  1. How long can Lord Akiyama withstand a siege?
  1. What happens to Lord Akiyama in the end?
  1. What happens to Aki?