bamboo
a giant, woody variety of grass, widely harvested for food and as a building material
grove
a small wood, orchard, or group of trees
first watch
the first part of the evening; in the narrative, this indicates that it is around 8:00 PM
samurai
a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, especially a member of the class of military retainers of the daimyos, who were equivalent to lords
plume grass
tall, reed-like perennial grass with thick, jointed stems that generally have high sugar content
Binzuru
Japanese version of the Sanskrit name Pindolabharadvaja, one of the Buddha’s more important disciples and a focus of popular worship
Kyoto
an industrial city in central Japan, on the island of Honshu; founded in the 8th century, it was the imperial capital from 794 until 1868
Wakasa
a province; several days’ journey on foot to the northeast of Kyoto
Yamashina
a village lying just beyond the hills from Kyoto
Toribe Temple
a temple situated in the foothills between Kyoto and Yamashina, connected with a burial ground
Kiyomizu Temple
a major site of popular worship
Awataguchi
a familiar northeasterly point of entry from the hills to Kiyomizu Temple
magistrate
from the Japanese Kebiishi, literally “Examiner of Misdeeds”; a Kyoto city official who exercises both police and judicial authority
bodhisattva
in Mahayana Buddhism, an enlightened being who compassionately defers entry into Nirvana in order to help others attain enlightenment
burial mound
mounded graves that prehistoric Japanese aristocrats were often buried in, containing jewels, weapons, and other valuables
Kanzeon
bodhisattva of compassion
death rattle
a gurgling sound heard in a dying person's throat
