Shusaku Endo's 'Samurai' 侍

Shusaku Endo is the most important writer, he led the onset of post-war critique literature. He is an exceptional figure, namely, he was born in Japan, however most of his lifespan he spent in China, he learnt or rather acquired two different cultures, and two contrary systems of virtues. France gave him not only an educational background but also an insight to Europe, so different form Asia, so much more open and free, unlike China. He accepted diversification of worlds and described its variety, and beauty in his masterpieces. Travelling gave him topics, scenery, characters, an observation, it made his novels such as 'The Samurai', ' Wonderful Fool' so diverse.

“The Samurai” is perplexed piece of work, it condemns persecution and violence, the decline of Christian churches in Japan. Endo himself was a Catholic, the faith, the belief was an important factor in his writings.

“The Samurai” marks the journey, the passage that must be taken form one place to another to find the origins, to find the beginning of everything that has been lost, or long time forgotten.

The title of the novel might be a bit disappointing in notion, we will not find samurai one is shown in Hollywood super-productions, it is rather a notion of “service to only one, supreme master”. Rokuemon Hasekura is a main and the most important figure of the novel. Not the only one of course but prime one. He is having a friend, a fellowman called Velasco – a missionary from Franciscan church. Both men are very devoted to their masters, Rokuemon Hasekura is devoted to o Lord Ishida and Velasco is devoted to the Christ. Yoko is a vassal to Rokuemon, he is a samurai as well. The whole story begins in Japan in a small village where Hasekura and his family live. We may say his family are new-comers to the new land which is about to be settled again, yet, it is difficult, it is very barren, unfertilized and hostile, poor in every sense of this word. But there is a hope, a hint of life seen in two white swans;

“...They know lands I will never visit in my entire life …”

Swans represents freedom, capacity of deciding to fly or rather remind still where they are, they are white, innocent, they never experienced violence, hatred, jealousy, evil. Rokuemon envies them their 'knowledge', they can fly and stop by in lands far, far always from Japan, they see unknown, He wishes he had seen as much as they, in contrary, He feels his destiny, He feels being condemned and chained to this empy land of his. His family is his only hope.

Velasco is a focused man, though, we first encounter him in Japanese prison, the persecution of Christians and Christianity led to destruction of all the missions, the Tokyo was badly affected by the outbreak of violence. Velasco is not at all a broken man, he is very pompous, very ambitious, he wants to become a Bishop of Japan one day, and by no means, he is about to achieve the goal. As a samurai Rokuemon serves his master entirely, obediently, he is chosen to sail to other unknown lands, he is having other samurais with him; Matsuki, Tanaka and Nishi. They go to Nueva Espana with a mission, Rokuemon will translate the legal documents. He will be their official interpreter. Before the trip started Rokuemon feels anxiety, he worries, he wants to be a loyal to his master, to serve him as the code directs, yet, He has doubts, He doubts the enterprise. The onset is rough, the sailing is dangerous, filled with storms, squalls and treacherous winds that broke masts. Even though he likes the ocean, the vast blue surface, the marine animals, especially whales.

During one of the violent storms, the servant – Yozo dies, the wooden crate fell on his chest. Velasco stays with him all night, till he died. Shortly after they reached Acapulco, Rokuemon thought of Acapulco as of something out of ordinary, vivid, livid, rich and prosperous, the name Acapulco sounds so merry, rhythmical, instead, He felt disappointment, there was just a small harbor, nothing more, nothing out of ordinary. The Mexico City gives them nothing but hostile looks and no welcoming at all, the samurais are perceived as conquerors, intruders. Local community does not have to show them respect, and greet them with honors. The chancellor of Mexico City does not want the audience, mostly because of the persecutions of Christians in Japan, but Velisco persuaded him, he explained him, that despite the bitter fight for Christianity in Japan, there are still Japanese people who want to become Christian, they want to be converted to Christianity. However, the newcomers must be Christians, otherwise, any goods can be sold, they must be Baptized.

“...even if these merchants intend to use baptism and indeed the Lord Himself for the sake of riches and commerce, God will not abandon them once they have received baptism...”

To do business Japanese merchants are baptized, even though, Velasco sees they have been betrayed. The Chancellor of New Mexico wants to go to Spain, he wants to see official documents that enables newcomers to explore the new land and purchase its goods. There is no merchandise documents, therefore he refuses any further cooperation. The political upheaval is evident, the samurais need something more than another long sailing trip to Spain (which Velisco took to resolve a dispute matters and grounded the Christian reformation in Japan) to finish a dispute, they need a wisdom of someone wiser, therefore they went to small village to Tescali where a Japanese monk lives, as a child he was orphaned and brought up in Manila, then he reached New Mexico, but left the place to join the native Indians, and he stayed with them in Tescali. The monk is a very important character, he represents individuality and freedom of choice; he wanted to become a monk, an independent thinker and he did it, he succeed. He is a Christian monk, devoted to God, he praises him with his love. Rokuemon admires the monk, because Christianity is a very strange religion for him, different religion, unknown one.

“...Once again the samurai had the feeling that he was defying his own destiny by going on this journey. When he had known nothing but the marshland, he had never thought of anything except his life there. But now he realized that he had changed ...”

Velisco failed in his mission, the Council of Bishops portrayed the document stating that Britain will be guaranteed to build the trade harbor in north of Japan, not Spain, there will be no Catholic enhancement, but there will be a Protestant Britain, Velisco understood it is over, all is gone.

“...for the first time I feel somehow that we have all been bound together by a single cord ...”

But Velasco wants to fight, even he doubts so significantly, he wants to try again, he went to Rome, he showed Pope a letter, in which is described that most of the churches in Japan were expelled. His mission failed, it is a complete failure, but, he stand in front of Pope asking him for help and support. Pope does not say any confirmations, yet, He assures he will be prying for Veliscu and for Japan. Defeated Veliscu and his companionship return home to Japan, one of them commits suicide, commits a sin, in Catholic church it is unforgivable sin, Tanka cannot be buried with dignity and proper ceremony, he and his body had been condemned and left behind. They reached the Japanese harbor, they are welcome with respect and happiness. They also witness the changes, political changes they will have to obey. The Shogun forbade Christianity all who believed and wanted to follow Christian religion were expelled. To protect his family Rokuemon has to destroy all Christian documents and all Christian elements he has ever encountered. Even though he tried to protect himself he is banished to death, the sympathy of Lord Ishida gives chance Rokuemon's family to survive, namely, only he will be executed, his son will live. The tales of the old monk did not help, but, harm, people died in the name of religion, in the name of doctrines they didn't fully understand.