Ghost Hunters Extraordinaire

Bravo · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject: An old story

Once, there was an evil landowner in ancient Japan, he was a terror to the people in his lands.

Many Samurai lost their lives trying to kill the landowner.

Then one day, a Samurai made an attempt. He waited for night, and got past the outer guards and into the perimeter. He made his way into the house stealthily. He got past the internal guards, and waited for a breath outside the bedroom of the evil landowner.

He drew his courage and entered the bedroom. There was the landowner, with 6 of his guards. The Samurai fought bravely but was eventually overcome and captured alive.

The landowner decided to make an example of the samurai, so her ordered all the local people to come and witness the warrior getting burned at the stake. Out of sheer fear, they all did as they were ordered, thus a large crowd was gathered to witness the death of the samurai.

He was tied to the stake, the wood beneath him set alight.

The landowner cackled as the flames licked around the samurais feet.

Then the fire engulfed the samurai, burning the bonds that tied his wrists. He grabbed the sword that the landowner was wearing and thrust it into his heart killing him instantly.

It was his last act, as then, before the eyes of all the witnesses, he turned to ashes.
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evergreen · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

I havent' heard that story before. I'm guessing its part of Japaneese folklore?

The moral to the story is?
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Bravo · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:34 am Post subject:

evergreen · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

oh yes I see that.....

nearly like becareful what you wish for
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Bravo · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

Its the epitome of Budo, the martial way.

No matter what is put in your way, keep going. Even if it is with your dying breath, achieve your goal....or your dreams
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Raymond · Avatar Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 5611

The peasants were obviosly jealous because the landowner had money and they didn't.
I find it interesting that in a lot of these fables the villian is usually rich.

I have a book about old English fables and folklore and the villian of the piece is usually a witch (if it's a woman) or rich (if it's a man).

Interesting.

Bravo · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

Perhaps the story is like Tantra.

The onus is on you to find the meaning and from that to learn about your own likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, etc
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Bravo · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

Indeed, very good point David.

If you see it from the viewpoint of the landowner, you could interpret it as a warning about not abusing your power.

Without wanting to post too much, I have looked from different peoples shoes in the story, and drawn differing conclusions about what the story could tell us. If indeed it tells us anything, maybe it's just a story.

Maybe not.
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Raymond · Avatar Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 5611

david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

I think that another aspect could be to treat your enemy's with respect. A warrior should have a warriors death and not be humiliated for the ego of the powerful.

To respect your enemy's is perhaps to respect yourself and to show true strength in dignity.

In the end it was the landowners disrespect for a worthy opponent which caused his downfall.
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Bravo · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

I'm so happy you see this story on different levels.

What at first seems like just a little tale to tell children, gets more and more complex each time you look at it.

Is it a story about goals? Or love? Respect? Power?

It could be about all of them, or none of them, or more. What it is about could say something about you, how you see it....

Do you see it the same way you feel it? Or hear it?
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david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

Raymond · Avatar Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 5611

But what did this landowner actually do to make him "evil", charge the peasants rent for using his land?
That doesn't make him evil it makes him a businessman.

It doesn't seem to matter what country or culture these stories come from there always appears to be a similar theme, the "have's" are evil and the "have not's" are downtrodden.

Maybe it would be better to start some new folklore tales in which the have-not's are encouraged to work thier way out of poverty.

meiah · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

I wonder why violence must always be met with violence?

Why did the Samurai need to kill him?

evergreen · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

to me the lesson is they both die so nothing is achieved ....

but then I understand that is the samuri way..

though that does not make it the right way. It seems to me so much waste so much death and little learning is taking place - why do they not talk and learn from each other?why is it that one is right and the other wrong and death is the only conclusion?
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Raymond · Avatar Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 5611

Ahhh, well that's Men for you EG. lol

No seriously, sometimes violence has to be met with violence. Sometimes you can only fight fire with fire.

There's only so far you can go with talk and reason and if they still won't see your point of view then beat it into them.

david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

I think the story is about the purity by which each man lives.

They each do what they will.

Boxers stand toe to toe and try to knock each other out round after bloody round.

Very violent, but very pure. Nothing but man and man.

Better to die in action than to have a nurse bring you the dirty news in a jar.
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evergreen · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

ew David.... LOL

better to live and die by the sword than to sulk away like a coward who has no belief in anything
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Bravo · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

Interestingly The Sumari was freed by the very force that was intended to kill him, fire.
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david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

So then if you attack in a dishonourable way perhaps you are tempting the gods of war to destroy you.
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evergreen · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:00 am Post subject:

david hobbs · Avatar Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 8144 Location: Essex

Well that's men for you is not an answer.

Big bums

Well thats women for you.

Or it might be to much food or genetics etc

Nothing wrong with a generous botty though

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evergreen · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

I have no idea what yo are talking about David.. the reference to big botty has me lost

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