The Ring Of Earth Part 30

For the Pocket Money Puffin series

VIRTUAL KOMBAT.

NOTES ON THE S SOURCES.

The following quote is referenced within Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth (with the page number in square brackets below) and the source is acknowledged here: (with the page number in square brackets below) and the source is acknowledged here: 1. [Page 77] 'The usefulness of a cup is its emptiness' by Lao Tzu (Philosopher and founder of Taoism, 600531 BC BC).

j.a.pANESE G GLOSSARY.

Bushido Bushido, meaning the 'Way of the Warrior', is a j.a.panese code of conduct similar to the concept of chivalry. Samurai warriors were meant to adhere to the seven moral principles in their martial arts training and in their day-to-day lives.

Virtue 1: Gi Gi Rect.i.tude Rect.i.tude Gi is the ability to make the right decision with moral confidence and to be fair and equal towards all people no matter what colour, race, gender or age. is the ability to make the right decision with moral confidence and to be fair and equal towards all people no matter what colour, race, gender or age.

Virtue 2: Yu Yu Courage Courage Yu is the ability to handle any situation with valour and confidence. is the ability to handle any situation with valour and confidence.

Virtue 3: Jin Jin Benevolence Benevolence Jin is a combination of compa.s.sion and generosity. This virtue works together with Gi and discourages samurai from using their skills arrogantly or for domination. is a combination of compa.s.sion and generosity. This virtue works together with Gi and discourages samurai from using their skills arrogantly or for domination.

Virtue 4: Rei Rei Respect Respect Rei is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour towards others. This virtue means to have respect for all. is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour towards others. This virtue means to have respect for all.

Virtue 5: Makoto Makoto Honesty Honesty Makota is about being honest to oneself as much as to others. It means acting in ways that are morally right and always doing things to the best of your ability. is about being honest to oneself as much as to others. It means acting in ways that are morally right and always doing things to the best of your ability.

Virtue 6: Meiyo Meiyo Honour Honour Meiyo is sought with a positive att.i.tude in mind, but will only follow with correct behaviour. Success is an honourable goal to strive for. is sought with a positive att.i.tude in mind, but will only follow with correct behaviour. Success is an honourable goal to strive for.

Virtue 7: Chungi Chungi Loyalty Loyalty Chungi is the foundation of all the virtues; without dedication and loyalty to the task at hand and to one another, one cannot hope to achieve the desired outcome. is the foundation of all the virtues; without dedication and loyalty to the task at hand and to one another, one cannot hope to achieve the desired outcome.

A Short Guide to p.r.o.nouncing j.a.panese Words Vowels are p.r.o.nounced in the following way: 'a' as the 'a' in 'at'

'e' as the 'e' in 'bet'

'i' as the 'i' in 'police 'o' as the 'o' in 'dot'

'u' as the 'u' in 'put'

'ai' as in 'eye'

'ii' as in 'week'

'' as in 'go'

'' as in 'blue'

Consonants are p.r.o.nounced in the same way as English: 'g' is hard as in 'get'

'j' is soft as in 'jelly'

'ch' as in 'church'

'z' as in 'zoo'

'ts' as in 'itself'

Each syllable is p.r.o.nounced separately: A-ki-ko Ya-ma-to Ma-sa-mo-to Ka-zu-ki

ashiko foot hooks foot hooks b wooden fighting staff wooden fighting staff bjutsu the Art of the the Art of the B B bushido the Way of the Warrior the samurai code the Way of the Warrior the samurai code daikon long, large white radish long, large white radish daimyo feudal lord feudal lord densho the ninja book of secret techniques and principles the ninja book of secret techniques and principles Dim Mak Death Touch Death Touch dokujutsu the Art of Poison the Art of Poison doma the area within a building with a floor of packed earth the area within a building with a floor of packed earth futon j.a.panese bed: flat mattress placed directly on j.a.panese bed: flat mattress placed directly on tatami tatami flooring, and folded away during the day flooring, and folded away during the day gaijin foreigner, outsider (derogatory term) foreigner, outsider (derogatory term) gotonpo the Art of Concealment the Art of Concealment hakama traditional j.a.panese trousers traditional j.a.panese trousers hanb short staff (90 cm) used in martial arts short staff (90 cm) used in martial arts hashi chopsticks chopsticks Hifumi hachi gaeshi alms-begging song, 'One, two, three, pa.s.s the alms bowl' alms-begging song, 'One, two, three, pa.s.s the alms bowl'

hikyaku 'Flying Feet' (a courier) 'Flying Feet' (a courier) honkyoku 'original pieces' of music for the 'original pieces' of music for the shakuhachi shakuhachi flute flute ikki goken the 'five blades in one breath' technique the 'five blades in one breath' technique inro little case for holding small objects little case for holding small objects Jin ninja hand sign for reading the thoughts of others ninja hand sign for reading the thoughts of others kachimushi old word for dragonfly, lit. 'victory bug' old word for dragonfly, lit. 'victory bug'

kaginawa three-p.r.o.nged grappling hook on a rope three-p.r.o.nged grappling hook on a rope Kai ninja hand sign for 'sensing of danger' ninja hand sign for 'sensing of danger'

kajutsu the Art of Fire the Art of Fire kama sickle-shaped weapon sickle-shaped weapon kami spirits within objects in the Shinto faith spirits within objects in the Shinto faith kanji the Chinese characters used in the j.a.panese writing system the Chinese characters used in the j.a.panese writing system kataginu winged, sleeveless jacket of the samurai winged, sleeveless jacket of the samurai katana long sword long sword kenjutsu the Art of the Sword the Art of the Sword kesagiri double diagonal cut double diagonal cut ki energy flow or life force (Chinese: energy flow or life force (Chinese: chi chi or or qi qi) kissaki tip of sword tip of sword koan Buddhist question designed to stimulate intuition Buddhist question designed to stimulate intuition Komus Monk of Emptiness Monk of Emptiness kuji-in nine syllable seals a specialized form of Buddhist and ninja meditation nine syllable seals a specialized form of Buddhist and ninja meditation kusarigama sickle and chain weapon sickle and chain weapon kyusho vital or nerve point on a human body vital or nerve point on a human body manriki-gusari chain weapon with two steel weights on the ends chain weapon with two steel weights on the ends menp protective metal mask covering part or all of face protective metal mask covering part or all of face metsubishi blinding powder, used as ninja defence blinding powder, used as ninja defence mikan satsuma, orange citrus fruit satsuma, orange citrus fruit mikkyo secret teachings secret teachings mon family crest family crest mushin lit. 'no-mindedness' lit. 'no-mindedness'

nagamaki large large katana katana-style blade with an extended shaft.

nagare flow or roll flow or roll naginata long pole weapon with a curved blade on the end long pole weapon with a curved blade on the end nikky wristlock move in wristlock move in taijutsu taijutsu ninja j.a.panese a.s.sa.s.sin j.a.panese a.s.sa.s.sin ninjat ninja sword ninja sword ninjutsu the Art of Stealth the Art of Stealth ninniku the philosophy of the ninja, 'cultivating a pure and compa.s.sionate heart' the philosophy of the ninja, 'cultivating a pure and compa.s.sionate heart'

Niten Ichi Ry the 'One School of Two Heavens' the 'One School of Two Heavens'

nunchaku a weapon comprising two sticks connected at the ends by a short chain or rope a weapon comprising two sticks connected at the ends by a short chain or rope obi belt belt ofuro bath bath omamori Buddhist amulet to grant protection Buddhist amulet to grant protection origami the art of folding paper the art of folding paper Rin to meet or to face, but interpreted as strength for to meet or to face, but interpreted as strength for ninjutsu ninjutsu purposes purposes sake rice wine rice wine sakura cherry-blossom tree cherry-blossom tree samurai j.a.panese warrior j.a.panese warrior sarugaku form of popular entertainment, similar to the modern-day circus, form of popular entertainment, similar to the modern-day circus, saya scabbard scabbard sayonara goodbye goodbye sencha green tea green tea sensei teacher teacher Sha ninja hand sign, interpreted as healing for ninja hand sign, interpreted as healing for ninjutsu ninjutsu purposes purposes shakuhachi j.a.panese bamboo flute j.a.panese bamboo flute Shichi H De the 'seven ways of going' (disguises) the 'seven ways of going' (disguises) shikoro-ken sword with a saw-like edge, also known as the 'Sword of Destruction' sword with a saw-like edge, also known as the 'Sword of Destruction'

shin.o.bi another name for ninja, literally 'stealer in' another name for ninja, literally 'stealer in'

shin.o.bi aruki stealth, or silent, walking stealth, or silent, walking shin.o.bi shozoku the clothing of a ninja the clothing of a ninja shoji j.a.panese sliding door j.a.panese sliding door shuko climbing claws climbing claws shuriken metal throwing stars metal throwing stars shuriken-jutsu the Art of the the Art of the Shuriken Shuriken sohei warrior monks warrior monks soke t.i.tle meaning 'head of the family' or grandmaster t.i.tle meaning 'head of the family' or grandmaster sui-ren water training water training suizen 'blowing Zen', practice of playing flute for self-enlightenment 'blowing Zen', practice of playing flute for self-enlightenment tabi traditional j.a.panese socks traditional j.a.panese socks taijutsu the Art of the Body (hand-to-hand combat) the Art of the Body (hand-to-hand combat) Ta-no-kami G.o.d of the rice fields G.o.d of the rice fields tant knife knife Taryu-Jiai inter-school martial arts compet.i.tion inter-school martial arts compet.i.tion tatami floor matting floor matting tengu a mythical j.a.panese devil bird or demon a mythical j.a.panese devil bird or demon tetsu-bishi small sharp iron spike small sharp iron spike ukemi break falls break falls uki-ashi floating feet technique floating feet technique wakizashi side-arm short sword side-arm short sword washi j.a.panese paper j.a.panese paper yakitori grilled chicken on a stick grilled chicken on a stick yamabushi Lit. 'one who hides in the mountains'; Buddhist hermits who live in the mountains Lit. 'one who hides in the mountains'; Buddhist hermits who live in the mountains Yama-no-kami G.o.d of the mountains G.o.d of the mountains yukata summer kimono summer kimono Zai ninja hand sign for sky or elements control ninja hand sign for sky or elements control zazen seated meditation seated meditation

j.a.panese names usually consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, unlike in the Western world where the given name comes before the surname. In feudal j.a.pan, names reflected a person's social status and spiritual beliefs. Also, when addressing someone, usually consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, unlike in the Western world where the given name comes before the surname. In feudal j.a.pan, names reflected a person's social status and spiritual beliefs. Also, when addressing someone, san san is added to that person's surname (or given names in less formal situations) as a sign of courtesy, in the same way that we use Mr or Mrs in English, and for higher-status people is added to that person's surname (or given names in less formal situations) as a sign of courtesy, in the same way that we use Mr or Mrs in English, and for higher-status people sama sama is used. In j.a.pan, is used. In j.a.pan, sensei sensei is usually added after a person's name if they are a teacher, although in the Young Samurai books a traditional English order has been retained. Boys and girls are usually addressed using is usually added after a person's name if they are a teacher, although in the Young Samurai books a traditional English order has been retained. Boys and girls are usually addressed using kun kun and and chan, respectively. chan, respectively.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

This fourth book in the Young Samurai series presents a new chapter in Jack's adventures. But the team behind it remains very much the same only more dedicated than ever. My thanks go to all of them: Charlie Viney, my Loyal agent; Shannon Park, my Honourable editor at Puffin; Wendy Tse, my Honest copy-editor; Vanessa G.o.dden, Lisa Hayden, Tania Vian-Smith and all the Courageous Puffin team; Francesca Dow, the daimyo daimyo of Puffin Books; Tessa Girvan, Franca Bernatavicius and Nicki Kennedy, my Benevolent overseas agents at ILA; Trevor, Paul and Jenny, my Respectful booking agents at Authors Abroad. You're all true samurai upholding the code of of Puffin Books; Tessa Girvan, Franca Bernatavicius and Nicki Kennedy, my Benevolent overseas agents at ILA; Trevor, Paul and Jenny, my Respectful booking agents at Authors Abroad. You're all true samurai upholding the code of bushido bushido!

There are so many other people I'd like to thank, but I would need a whole book for that. So I'll just mention these few in this edition: all the independent bookstores who have supported me from the start, including Mark at Mostly Books, Abingdon; David and Gill at The Mint House, Hurstpierpoint; and Vanessa and Julie at The Book Nook, Brighton; David Ansell Sensei of the Shin Ichi Do dojo (www.shinichido.org) for all his samurai sword training; Sensei Peter Brown at the Shin.o.bi Kai dojo (www.shin.o.bi-kai.net) for all his ninja knowledge; the exceptionally dedicated Sensei Mary Stevens and Sensei Rob King at the Oxford School of Martial Arts (www.schoolofmartialarts.com) and, of course, Team Taurus the real Young Samurai behind the book!; Rob Rose for your feedback and reviews (and for looking after Karen so well!); as promised, a mention to the Butcher Boys for all their sausages, steak and banter; and most importantly to my loving and supportive family, the Moles Simon, Sue, Steve and Sam, and all the cousins and especially my mum, dad and Sarah, I couldn't do it without you.

Lastly, I once again offer a bow of respect to all the librarians and teachers who have supported the series and to all the Young Samurai readers out there thank you for your loyalty to the series. You can keep in touch with me and the progress of the Young Samurai series on my Facebook page, or via the website at www.youngsamurai.com Arigat gozaimasu!