The Mask Carver's Son

The Mask Carver's Son by Alyson Richman Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: The Mask Carver's Son by Alyson Richman Read Free Book Online
Authors: Alyson Richman
Tags: Historical, Art
by no points of laughter, and nothing of his soul was exposed in his eyes.
    She thought of Kitano Yoshiro and his laughter. She thought of the sparkle of his eyes, the sweet melody of his voice, and shuddered at the contrast between the two men. She had often allowed her mind to wander, to dream of what it would be like to be alone with Yoshiro. But her sense of duty always overpowered her girlish fantasies. Her mother’s harsh words still echoed in her head: “You have no future with the son of a merchant!”
    Dragging her back from her dreams, she heard the mask carver’s faint voice: “I come with humility and great respect for the Yamamoto family. I only hope that Etsuko will allow me the privilege of being her husband.”
    No longer could she hear her own voice in her head. It seemed so crowded in her mind. And as she lowered her head and agreed to accept my father’s proposal of marriage, she could not help but think of the dream that had recurred throughout her childhood. As she uttered her words of compliance, she saw herself once more at the Buddhist altar, offering herself up in sacrifice, so that, in return for her meager life, her family might be bequeathed a son.
    *   *   *
    To my grandfather, the
o-miai
went as planned. My parents were presented to each other, and on the same day, their engagement was announced. He chose the day of their marriage and then welcomed his future son-in-law as his own.
    Grandmother, however, did not respond to the news as she had expected. That evening she lay awake, stray pieces of tatami pricking her like thorns. Her mind and her heart raced. She wanted to wake her husband and tell him to reconsider. It was all wrong. But even in his sleep his noises were loud and furious, and she feared telling him her truest thoughts. So she spent the remainder of that evening sleepless. She would spend every evening thereafter in the same manner: silenced by fear and tormented by her guilt. During the preparation of her daughter’s hair before the
o-miai
, she had accidentally inserted
four
tortoiseshell hairpins underneath the beautiful lacquer combs that had been placed in my mother’s bun. The word
shi
—four—never to be spoken, the number four always to be avoided in groupings; the word whose double meaning was death.

FOUR
    T he preparation of a Japanese bride is much like the wrapping of a splendid present, and Mother was no exception.
    Her dressing would take several hours to complete. First there was the arrangement of five layers of colored cloth around her neck. Grandmother had carefully selected each color. She chose the
ukon
yellow, derived from the turmeric plant, for its vibrant color; the
suou
red and safflower pink for their sign of wealth; and a malachite green because it personified eternity. But the last layer that she placed on her daughter’s shoulders was the prized
konjyou
blue. This dark blue-purple, made from a rare mineral imported from China, was said to evoke dignity and spiritual composure; it was said to symbolize the resolution of the bride stepping into her new life.
    Layer upon layer, Mother was prepared for her waiting bridegroom. The temperature of her body soared with each additional garment. Red underclothes peeked from underneath a white silk robe girdled by a small red obi, and then a thicker white robe was placed on top and girdled with a slightly broader white obi. Grandmother’s colorfully patterned wedding kimono was placed over Mother and allowed to remain open, revealing the multiple layers of robes underneath, and trailing behind her nearly four feet. Last, a fan was placed in the outermost sash. Gold on one side, silver on the other. The sun and the moon. Closed and compact. Neatly tucked at her waist.
    Grandmother went to the corner of the room where the
tsuno-kakushi
, the bride’s ceremonial horn hider, and the large black wig remained. She had hesitated the night before, when she went to place the decorative combs throughout

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