A Daughter of the Samurai · Chapter
Worthless Treasures explained
Etsu-bo and her children visit Sister's godown, where they explore a collection of family heirlooms and treasures from Nagaoka.
What happens
Etsu-bo and her children visit Sister's godown, where they explore a collection of family heirlooms and treasures from Nagaoka. The children marvel at a palanquin, a bathtub, and other artifacts, while Etsu-bo is reunited with the saihai of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Sister also shows them the sacred robe, wedding garments, funeral items, and her own death-robe, prompting reflections on tradition, memory, and the passage of time.
Themes in this chapter
Loss and Memory
The godown is filled with 'worthless treasures' that hold precious memories of family and the past, highlighting the emotional weight of objects tied to lost loved ones.
Tradition vs. Modernity
Sister notes that the new order has diminished reverence for sacred items, and the children view heirlooms with a mix of wonder and modern detachment.
Family and Ancestral Duty
The preservation of heirlooms like the saihai and sacred robe underscores the duty to honor ancestors and maintain family legacy.
Characters to notice
- Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
Leads the children through Sister's godown, reflecting on family treasures and memories.
- Hanano
Explores the godown with curiosity, sitting in the palanquin and examining artifacts.
- Chiyo
Discovers the bathtub and other items, showing a childlike wonder and making comparisons to America.
- Sister
Hosts the visit, shows the treasures, and explains their significance, including her own death-robe.
- Father
Mentioned as the user of the palanquin on official trips and as having a pragmatic view of the saihai's healing paper.
- Mother
Recalled as giving away paper from the saihai for healing, and her funeral is referenced.
Key passages
“The greater part of our ancient treasures were now only worthless burdens, but there were some things that I wanted the children to see; for, in the old days, they had been both useful and beautiful, and, to me, were still full of precious memories.”
Most of our old family treasures were now just useless objects, but I wanted the children to see a few that had once been practical and lovely, and that I still cherished for their memories.
Etsu-bo reflects on the emotional value of heirlooms despite their practical obsolescence.
“It is as natural and commonplace for everyone in Japan to be ready for the last journey as it is in America to have a trunk in the house.”
In Japan, preparing for death is as ordinary as keeping a trunk ready for travel in America.
Etsu-bo explains the cultural norm of having a death-robe prepared, comparing it to American travel readiness.