The Sword that Cut the Burning Grass

This book is intended for young readers, grades 5-8. It is well enough written to amuse older readers as well. I myself read it while sitting vigil at the Hospital.

Seikei is a fourteen year old samurai. His adoptive father, Judge Ooka, is a famous official, renowned for his honesty, and for the wisdom that lets him see through to the truth of many puzzling situations. Seikei is also gifted at solving mysteries, more by strength of perseverance than great wisdom.

Now Seikei is given a task. The Shogun himself, supreme military ruler of Japan, wants him to visit with a boy, and persuade him to resume his duties. This boy is the same age as Seikei, and it is hoped that they two will build a rapport that will make the job easier. The boy is Yasuhito. He just happens to be the Emperor. The problem is he does not think he is the Emperor.

The Emperor has many important duties. He must ritually plant the first crop of the season to insure a good harvest. Only the Emperor can do this, because only the Emperor is descended of the Goddess Amaterasu, and as such, a Kami, or spirit. So the Emperor must be persuaded to resume his duties quickly, before the planting ceremony.

Seikei quickly learns that nothing is as simple as it should be. First, he encounters the Captain of the Guardians of the Inner Garden., a sort of secret service, designed to protect the Emperor. Yabuta Sukehachi does not seem to like him; he feels he should be sent to retrieve the Emperor.

Second, the Emperor himself is not what Seikei expected. Plump, and knowing he can not be forced, he is rather inflexible. Oddest is his conviction that he is not in fact the Emperor. When asked why he feels this, he mentions a Scroll in the Royal Library, but will say no more.

Seikei finds the third obstacle to be two fold, the Minister of the Left, and the Minister of the Right. The Emperor must be given balanced information to be able to make informed decisions; therefore, he has two ministers to tell him each side of an issue. These two, who must agree before progress can be made, form the biggest obstacle in the Celestial Bureaucracy. Finally, it is petty theft that gets the scroll into Seikei's hands.

Then the Emperor is kidnapped! And Seikei realizes that is entirely possible that Yabuta has set him up to take the fall!

Now Seikei is in a desperate search to locate the Emperor before he is arrested and executed, with only the help of Hato, a servant girl who is convinced he is the Emperor, and Reigen, a spry old man of astonishing abilities.

And how do the three artifacts play into this? The Sacred Jewel, The Mirror of Amaterasu, and The Sword that Cut the Burning Grass, the unbeatable sword that only the Emperor can wield all are being stolen!

So what does Seikei have to work with? His friends, Hato and Reigen, an understanding of human nature, and Hato's recipe for Ginkgo nut porridge; will that be enough?

This is a great little book. It flows well, sweeping the reader along, something important for sitting vigil in the hospital. Also, it is interesting enough, providing a window on a historic period, to elevate it above, say, a Hardy Boys Mystery. The characterization is simple, but deep enough to engage you so you care what happens to Seikei. All in all, a well done piece of Juvenal literature, one that will await my niece and nephews getting old enough.