The Rogue Princess and the Onna Musha

PRINCESS HSI LING SHIH

Princess Hsi Ling Shih was beautiful, creative, intelligent, and a very resourceful woman. She lived with her father emperor Huang Di and  stepmother within an ornate rectangular walled palace within a walled city. The inner court was composed of three major groups of women: concubines, palace servants, and the royal princesses. Her stepmother had birthed a daughter who was also a princess however, Princess Hsi Ling Shih was favored by the emperor because she was first born.

The complex housed the head of state, along with quarters for court officials’ wives and concubines, artisans, scholars, and military personnel. Extensive rock gardens and shaded pavilions overlooked ponds and riverbeds with lotus pads of flowers surrounded by whipping willows and mulberry trees. Many would crave to live in elaborate surroundings.

However, titular nobles were forced to live in virtual seclusion continual and direct surveillance by appointed officials. Their financial affairs were strictly regulated thus their political relevance was nonexistent. Although the nobles’ contributions in cultural achievements were significant and widely admired.

Emperor Huang Di assigned scholars and noble men and women to educate his daughter Hsi Ling Shih about military warfare namely the Art of War by Sun Tzu and its application. The scholars addressed calligraphy, mathematics, poetry, history, planning and strategy, political theory, central and provincial government, Imperial Court, and religious orders. Courses were also designed for city planning, health, medicine, and astrology.

The emperor was concerned about his subjects’ living standards, so, he and his daughter Princess Hsi Ling Shih worked tirelessly designing scale models of wooden framed houses, carts, and boats. Upon completion the scale models were released to craftsmen, who were engaged to replicate the models to the dimensions indicated. Demolition of the old began as city planners laid out a new city outside the palace walls. New quarters and business centers were established. The hutong housing were arranged in the residential areas with courtyard areas according to the social. The city’s  redevelopment stimulated the economy, as his subjects enthusiastically supported the city’s revival.

The Princess and her father were also interested in the art of war, espionage, misinformation, tactics, and strategy which all had become part of her imperial training ground. Another significant achievement was a modification to the single action recurved cross-bow. By inserting a sleeve to accept multiple arrows and insert the sleeve within the forearm of the recurved cross-bow’s body.

The mechanical trigger was designed so that the archer’s recurved crossbow was able to repetitively release arrows without tiring the crossbowman’s arms. Also, a crossbow for palace women and scholars was of a non-recurve redesign with pistol hand grip and a sleeve to accept multiple poisoned darts. It had been said that the venom of the many-banded krait snake was on the tip of each dart and when struck within two steps the targeted would fall.

Princess Hsi Ling Shih was a compulsive woman, between eighteen to twenty years of age. She was highly skilled in the arts, history, strategy, and tactics of warfare. However, her stepmother also bore an heir to the throne but only as the first courtesan. The stepmother’s jealousy festered into dishonorable behavior towards Hsi Ling Shih. The stepmothers’ slanderous comments within the court forced the Princess to flee to escape her grasp and the treacherous reach of the other courtesans.

Somehow, God only knows how, she was able to find a hollowed-out log boat to escape. It is possible that her father made the arrangements with a trusted eunuch. However, she was never able to identify her benefactor. Being a resourceful woman, she fled the place on a moonless night on a pathway to the river that flowed directly into the ocean. Climbing into the hollowed-out log, closed the waterproof hatch. All alone she began to set sail with her pet cricket in a bamboo cage. Her seal was in an ivory box tied in a pocket to her kimono, along with some extra clothing, and a small basket of cooked vegetables dumplings. Some would call this impulsive; however, she was desperate to leave and seized the first opportunity presented.  

Never realizing this was the beginning of the typhoon season and that perilous waves often capsized ships. She actually sailed off all alone on an arduous journey but to where was the question. She was tossed about for days on end; the sail was torn apart, and its mast stood erect. Her hollow-out boat with weighted keel appeared to be a ghost ship.

All alone depending, she was drifting at sea, as streams of rain swelled up in the sky. Fortunately, sea sickness did not prevail; but she was close to starvation due to food spoilage. This experience gave Hsi Ling Shih a new perspective about life.

She was unaware of the typhoon’s lull in ferocity since the waves continued to hammer into the boat sides. By chance, the rains had stopped, and the waves paused. Wakegorō, a fisherman, decided to launch his boat and collect his lobster pots and fish traps during the lull. As he was steering towards his fishing area, he saw a mast as the wave crested then dropping a boat hard against the sea. What struck his curiosity was the bulbous keel that appeared to be attached to a large log. The log was actually a hollowed-out boat that was drifting towards him. He rowed towards the boat and cast a line to its cleat several times before the balled end was able to attach itself to the cleat.  

Securing the line to his boat, he rowed back to a deserted beach. He was rigorously tossed into the air several times and seriously thought about cutting the boat loose. But curiosity got the best of him. He caught a huge wave and both boats road the wave high and mighty as they glided to shore. Both crafts lay on the beach. His flat bottom boat was upright as the bulbus keeled boat laid on its side.

Upon closer examination, he found a hatch and opening the cover, he found a woman, about eighteen years old, inside the hollow-boat (Utsuro-bune). Seeing daylight for the first time in days, Hsi Ling Shih screamed either in delight or fear of the unknown that awaited, all the while trying to describe her journey to 'Wakegorō'.

His mind was in turmoil. How did this starving girl of possibly eighteen years of age survive the typhoon in this boat. He realized it was the weighted keel that kept it upright. Fortunately, the boat was just a short distance offshore of Gogoshima island. This island sits nearest the coastline of Matsuyama, dominating the skyline with its mountain Ko Fujiyama (little Mt. Fuji).

Being saved by Wakegorō was her karma. The waves and wind started to kick up again and luckily the island had isolated beaches and stone caves beyond the tree line. Unknown, to her, her fate was secure with Wakegorō and away from prying eyes of the Matsuyama warrior clan.  

Once on dry ground she gasped for breath and sputtered her thankfulness as she tried to describe her journey to Wakegorō. Wakegorō escorted an exhausted Hsi Ling Shih from the beach to a nearby cave. The walk was invigorating as the wind and rain to her hair washed away the dirt and fear. During her recovery she told him that she was the daughter of the Chinese emperor Huang Di, and her name was Hsi Ling Shih. She continued by saying she had been forced to flee to escape her stepmother. They continued to walk to the cave and once inside Wakegorō prepared meals for both as they waited for the storm to subside.

Wakegorō was not comfortable with her story, especially when she said we were connected by karma. Wakegorō was well aware of this fundamental Buddhist doctrine and its meaning. However, she was definitely a woman of class and culture. His first observation was her silk clothing, well-spoken, soft hands, erect posture, facial features not exposed to the sun, and a pouch containing a box which she clung to.

After a few hours of conversation and her devouring Wakegorō’s food she started to revive. His fisherman survival instincts kicked in telling her that, from this moment on your name is Wake-hime meaning princess Wake.

In order for you to be accepted in the fishing village we must tell everyone that you are my wife’s sisters’ daughter. Before entering my village, the plan was to stop at the temple, where she could bathe, in an Onsen (hot Springs) to revive herself, enjoy another meal, and rest. The sisters would care for her. Afterward, he told the sisters that Wake-hime was my niece. 

Six days had passed bye before Wakegorō returned. Together they were off to Wakegorō's village. During that time Wakegorō' (和気五郎) asked Wake-hime if she was interested in contacting her father Emperor Huang Di. She said yes, this way I can tell him I am safe. Sometime during their stay Wakegorō said that he studied Buddhism at Mount Song. Wake-hime said she is familiar with Mount Song.

Then testing Wakegorō she asked, where is Mount Song, and who was his mentor." Wakegorō responded by saying, it is in an isolated mountain range in North Central China’s Henan Province along the southern bank of the yellow river. Wakegorō' responded by saying his mentor is known as Roshi, a Sōhei Buddhist warrior monk. He is the spiritual leader of the White Lotus warrior monks. Needless to say, Wake-hime was starting to feel more at ease.  

Wakegorō' sensed her calmness and explained a Shaolin monk would be the intermediary. He was not sure which Shaolin warrior monk would be willing to contact the emperor on her behalf. However, it would be one of Buddhist master Batuo's first disciples, either Huiguang, Sengchou, or Huike all of which were his friends. The fisherman believed if Wake-hime was truthful, she would respond favorably especially once she knew a monk would act as intermediary to her father.

As time passed on the island Wake-hime learned that Gogoshima island was an outpost for a maritime Kōno family clan of Japan originally went by the name Kaizoku, sea tribes. In other words, privateers, and assassins. Oh, what a surprise this was. She questioned Wakegorō about this island being an outpost for pirates and his response was everyone is looking for good fortune and by the Kōno family protecting you we may be able to help each other achieve success.

Because of her familiarity with the emperor’s court of skullduggery Wake-hime said yes. She continued saying that she expected the monk to act with caution and exercise careful judgement since her life would be in his hands. The fisherman assured her all three of his friends were competent and managed sensitive correspondence for his village. In turn Wakegorō' sent messengers to contact his three trustworthy Buddhist monks’ friends to be her emissary.

Wakegorō explained to Wake-hime that he must be quite open about her in his description to his trusted friends. When either one of his friends accepted the task of approaching the emperor. His reasoning was he must know some facts that only the emperor would know about his daughter. In this way the Monk would be accepted as a true intermediary. With that she untied the pouch and opened the ivory box that contained her seal. Having this seal demonstrated her truthfulness since the carrier would be beheaded if it was not theirs.

Wakegorō in turn contacted Roshi the Buddhist master and mentioned that he had a secretive mission for Batuo that could be to everyone’s advantage.

The monk camped outside the palace with his begging bowl in hand for weeks as low-ranking eunuchs wearing a long grey robe under a shorter dark blue coat passed by. He is waiting for an opportunity to meet a high-ranking palace eunuch wearing ornate robes of brilliantly embroidered colors which defined the eunuch’s status, confidence, and loyalty to the emperor.

Finally, after several months of waiting good fortune would have it the emperor’s most trusted eunuch guard stopped to drop a few cions into the monks begging bowl. A few secretive gestures were made, and incoherent words were spoken. Then the monk in turn handed an encrypted message from princess Hsi Ling Shih to the eunuch. The encrypted message was sealed with Hsi Ling Shih chop. The eunuch recognized the seal and realized that only the emperor could decipher her message. Instantly the eunuch knew Hsi Ling Shih was alive and he rushed off to meet with the emperor.

THE EUNUCH’S FUNCTIONARY ROLE

Eunuchs also had to preserve the aura of sacredness and secrecy that surrounded the Imperial Presence. In addition, the emperor considered them more reliable than the scholar-officials, trustworthy servants, and as political advisers. It was believed Huang Di had a mystical Mandate of Heaven that sanctified his right to rule.

To help his daughter and her protector Wakegorō of the Kōno Kaizoku maritime clan, Huang Di funded the eunuch and provided silk garments, gold and silver coins, and paper currency.  

With that the eunuch return and met with the monk. Instructions were passed on to the monk. They were instructed to travel together to Gogoshima island and contact Wakegorō. The eunuch and his guards were commanded to file a full report about Hsi Ling Shih wellbeing and her encounters. The emperor had instructed the eunuch to impress upon her that she was to disguise herself as a merchant. Also, when required to avoid detection to dress as a commoner. Huang Di also stipulated everyone will leave Gogoshima island, when the timing is right, and not before.

Wakegorō Maritime Village

Furthermore, Wakegorō’s monk was to make advanced arrangements through his network for a stealth security force to care for her during their journey to Ayutthaya a major trading center in Siam. They were to travel from villages to towns with a clandestine security force. This force would increase or decrease depending on the area and environment. In addition, once everyone left a town for the next leg of their journey several members would stay behind and monitor the town for new arrivals. This group stayed for several days or more to ensure they were not being followed.

Wakegorō’s monk understood this to be a long and arduous journey to the prosperous Siamese kingdom city of Ayutthaya. As necessary the monk would engage the services of the Triad and Tong for land and sea crossings. The monk mentioned this to the emperor. The Emperor Huang Di responded saying the eunuchs’ guards will cover all expenses.

Also, before leaving the palace Princess Hsi Ling Shih’s father promised that the prince of Siam (Prince Iyo) would make other protection available, and aid as needed for her to survive her stepmother’s wrath. In addition, Prince Iyo would help in establishing her