The Smoking Pipe

I

Maeda Narinaga, lord of Kanazawa Castle in Kaga Province, always took his favorite smoking pipe with him whenever, during his attendance in Edo, he went up to the main enceinte of Edo Castle. It was a pipe made by Sumiyoshiya Shichibei, a pipe dealer famous at the time: solid gold, lavishly decorated with scattered sword-plum-bowl crests, an object of highly refined taste.

By the shogunate's system, the Maeda house had, since the fifth-generation lord Tsunanori, held the rank of those assigned to the Great Corridor, and in precedence had for generations come immediately after the three great branch houses of Owari, Kii, and Mito. Needless to say, in wealth as well, among the great and lesser daimyo of the day there was scarcely a single man who could compare with them. So for its head, Narinaga, to carry a solid-gold pipe was really no more than possessing an ornament appropriate to his station.

Yet Narinaga took enormous pride in that pipe. To be clear, however, his pride did not come from cherishing the pipe itself in any sense. What pleased him was the superiority of his own power, which allowed him to put such a pipe to his lips in daily life, surpassing the other lords. In other words, he was proud that Kaga's million koku had become a solid-gold pipe he could carry anywhere he pleased.

For that reason, while he was at the castle he hardly ever let the pipe leave his hand. Whether he was speaking with others or sitting alone, he would take it from his robe, place it grandly between his lips, and leisurely puff out the richly fragrant smoke of Nagasaki tobacco or something similar.

It may be that this pride did not amount to such arrogance as actually flaunting the pipe, or the million koku it represented, before others. But whether he meant to show it off or not, attention within the castle clearly gathered upon that pipe. And the awareness that it was attracting such attention gave Narinaga considerable pleasure. Indeed, after a fellow daimyo seated with him had said, "That pipe of yours is so splendid I should very much like to take a look at it," even the familiar tobacco smoke seemed to stimulate his tongue more pleasantly than usual.

II

Among those dazzled by Narinaga's solid-gold pipe, the people who most enjoyed making it a subject of conversation were the so-called priestly attendants. Whenever they gathered, they put their heads together and let their favorite chatter run on over "the Kaga pipe."

"Just what you'd expect of a daimyo's accoutrement."

"Even among implements, something like that would be easy to pawn."

"If you put it up as security, how many ryo do you suppose you'd get?"

"As if anyone but you would pawn it."

That was more or less their tone.

One day, five or six of them were sitting in a row with their round heads close together, taking a smoke and gossiping about the pipe as usual, when by chance Kawachiyama Soshun, one of the tea-room attendants, came by. He was the man who in later years would play a leading role among the "Six Immortals of Tenpo."

"Hmph, the pipe again."

Kawachiyama cast the assembled monks a sidelong glance and whistled airily.

"The engraving, the metal, it's a magnificent thing. For poor fellows like us who don't even own a silver pipe, it's painful just to look at..."

Ryotetsu, one of the attendants, had been warming to his own speech when he suddenly noticed that Soshun had, without anyone realizing it, pulled over Ryotetsu's tobacco pouch, packed tobacco from it into his pipe, and was calmly blowing smoke rings.

"Hey, hey, that's not your tobacco pouch."

"Doesn't matter."

Without even turning toward Ryotetsu, Soshun packed in more tobacco. Then, after he had smoked it down, he gave a great yawn, tossed the pouch back, and said,

"Ugh, bad tobacco. You call yourself a connoisseur of pipes?"

Flustered, Ryotetsu put the pouch away.

"Still, if it were a solid-gold pipe, I'd put up with even that for a puff or two."

"Hmph, the pipe again," Soshun repeated. "If you're that grateful for solid gold, why don't you go and ask to be presented with the pipe?"

"Presented with the pipe?"

"That's right."

Even Ryotetsu seemed taken aback by the other's brazen insolence.

"Come now, even if I am greedy... if it were silver, that would be another matter. But anyway, that pipe is solid gold."

"Obviously. That's exactly why I'd take it. Who ever goes to be presented with some brass trifle?"

"But that seems a little too audacious."

Ryotetsu tapped his neatly shaven head, putting on a gesture of embarrassment.

"If you won't get it, I will. Mind you, don't go envying me afterward."

So saying, Kawachiyama flicked the ash from his pipe, shook his shoulders, and sneered.

III

Not long after that, Narinaga was, as usual, sitting in one of the castle rooms and enjoying his tobacco when a pair of gold sliding doors painted with the Queen Mother of the West quietly opened, and a single monk, dressed in black-striped yellow Hachijo silk and a black crested haori, respectfully crawled out before him. With his face still lowered, it was impossible to tell who he was. Narinaga thought some matter of business had arisen, so as he tapped out his pipe he addressed him with easy largeness of manner.

"What is it?"

"I, Soshun, have a request."

Kawachiyama paused there for a moment. Then, as he went on, he slowly raised his head until at last he was staring fixedly at Narinaga's face. He looked with that peculiar charm possessed only by a certain kind of man, and with eyes like a snake watching its prey.

"It is nothing extraordinary, but I should very much like to receive that pipe at your hand as a gift."

Involuntarily Narinaga glanced at the pipe in his own hand. His gaze had scarcely fallen upon it before Kawachiyama pressed on at almost the same instant.

"What do you say? Will you grant it to me?"

What lay in Soshun's words was not mere entreaty. Mixed into them was also the element of intimidation that the class of priestly attendants held over every daimyo. At court, where elaborate precedent was held in honor, even the greatest lords in the land had to follow the guidance of these attendants. In that respect Narinaga had a weakness. And on the other hand he also wished, for the sake of appearances, to avoid gaining a reputation for stinginess. Besides, to him the solid-gold pipe itself was by no means an irreplaceable object. When these two motives came together, his hand almost of its own accord extended the pipe toward Kawachiyama.

"Very well, take it. Bring it here."

"My deepest thanks."

Receiving the solid-gold pipe, Soshun reverently raised it to his forehead, then withdrew at once beyond the Queen Mother of the West doors. As he was withdrawing, someone tugged at his sleeve from behind. Turning, he saw Ryotetsu there, his somewhat puffy face twisted into a grin as he pointed covetously at the solid-gold pipe resting in Soshun's palm.

"Here, have a look."

Lowering his voice, Kawachiyama thrust the bowl of the pipe right under Ryotetsu's nose.

"So you managed to snatch it after all."

"Didn't I tell you? It's too late to envy me now."

"Next time I'll go and ask to be presented with one myself."

"Do as you please."

Kawachiyama weighed the pipe lightly in his hand, then, glancing once through the sliding door toward Narinaga, shook his shoulders again and laughed scornfully.

IV

As for Narinaga, who had had his pipe carried off from him, did he feel displeased? Not necessarily. One could tell as much from the fact that when he left the castle that day he wore an unusually cheerful expression, to the puzzlement of the attendants in his retinue.

He actually felt a certain satisfaction in having given the pipe to Soshun. Indeed, that satisfaction may well have been greater than the pleasure he felt when he possessed the pipe. And that is only natural. For, as has already been said, what made him proud of the pipe was not that he cherished the pipe itself. What he was really proud of was the million koku taking the form of a pipe. And if so, then his vanity could be satisfied by using a solid-gold pipe, but perhaps even better satisfied by giving that pipe away to someone else without a trace of reluctance. Even if, when he gave it to Kawachiyama, outside circumstances had to some degree forced his hand, that did nothing to diminish his satisfaction.

So when Narinaga returned to his residence in Hongo, he said cheerfully to one of his close attendants:

"I let that monk Soshun have the pipe."

V

Those in his household who heard this were astonished by Narinaga's magnanimity. But three officials in particular frowned at once: Yamazaki Kanzaemon of the administrative office, Iwata Kuranosuke of the storehouse bureau, and Ueki Kurouemon of the finance office.

Of course, to the economy of the Kaga domain, the cost of a single solid-gold pipe was nothing at all. But if every time Narinaga went up to the castle on the festival days, the new moon and full moon days, and the twenty-eighth of the month, he was bound to lose one pipe apiece to these attendants, it would become no trifling expense. It was not impossible that the domain might even have to increase levies in order to make up the cost of the pipes. That would be disastrous. These three loyal retainers all feared as much before it could happen.

Accordingly they opened a council at once and set about devising countermeasures. There was, of course, really only one possible measure: to change the metal of the pipe entirely, so that the monks would not want it. But when it came to the question of what metal to use, Iwata and Ueki differed.

Iwata argued that, for the dignity of their lord, it was improper to use a metal baser than silver. Ueki, on the other hand, argued that if the point was truly to curb the greed of those monks, nothing would be better than brass; to concern themselves now with appearances was short-sighted half-measure. Each clung stubbornly to his own view and tried with all his might to refute the other.

At that point the veteran Yamazaki proposed a compromise: both opinions were perfectly reasonable, but first they should try silver, and if even then the monks still desired the pipes, it would not be too late afterward to use brass. Naturally neither of the other two could object to this. And so the council finally resolved to order Sumiyoshiya Shichibei to make a silver pipe.

VI

Thereafter, every time Narinaga went up to the castle, he took with him a silver pipe. It too was exquisitely made, bearing scattered sword-plum-bowl crests.

Naturally he was no longer as proud of this newly made pipe as he had been before. In the first place, even when speaking with others he rarely took it in hand. If he did, he soon put it away again. The same Nagasaki tobacco did not taste as good as it had when smoked from a solid-gold pipe. But the change in the pipe's metal did not affect Narinaga alone. Just as the three loyal retainers had expected, it also affected the monks. Yet in the outcome, that effect completely betrayed their expectations. For once the monks saw that the gold had been replaced by silver, even those who until then had held back out of deference to solid gold began racing one another to ask for the pipes. And since Narinaga had not been attached even to the solid-gold pipe, there was no reason he should feel reluctant to part with a silver one. He tossed them away as freely as they were requested. In the end, he himself could hardly tell whether he went up to the castle in order to give away pipes, or gave away pipes because he went up to the castle.

When Yamazaki, Iwata, and Ueki heard of this, they once more gathered in gloomy council. Matters having come to this, there was no help for it: just as Ueki had first advised, they would have to order a brass pipe. So, again as before, an order was about to be sent down to Sumiyoshiya Shichibei when, at that very moment, one of Narinaga's close attendants arrived to convey his lord's instruction.

"His Lordship says that when he carries a silver pipe, the monks' requests become unbearable. From now on it is to be changed back to a gold pipe, as before."

The three men were struck dumb and knew not what to do.

VII

Kawachiyama Soshun watched with inward irritation as the other monks competed to get Narinaga's silver pipes. In particular, when Ryotetsu happened to receive one during some castle attendance on the first day of the eighth month and was delighted with it, Kawachiyama even showered him from head to toe, in his usual shrill voice, with cries of "Idiot!"

It was not that he had no desire for a silver pipe himself. But to go trailing after the same pipe in company with the rest of the monks was beneath a man with too much "gilt" upon him, as it were. Tormented by the struggle between his pride and his greed, he kept thinking, Just wait, I'll show them up yet, and though he affected an air of indifference, he never took his eyes off Narinaga's pipe.

Then one day he noticed that Narinaga was once again calmly smoking with a solid-gold pipe like the old one. Yet none of the monks seemed to be going to ask for it. So he stopped Ryotetsu, who happened to be passing, and quietly signaled with his chin toward Narinaga as he whispered:

"Hasn't it turned back into solid gold again?"

On hearing this, Ryotetsu looked at Soshun with an expression of astonishment.

"At least be greedy within reason. When even the silver pipes are begged for like that, why would he bring a solid-gold one?"

"Then what is that?"

"Brass, obviously."

Soshun shook his shoulders. He refrained from laughing aloud only because he had to be discreet.

"Fine then, let it be brass. I'll go and ask to be presented with it."

"But why do you insist it's gold?" Ryotetsu's confidence seemed to waver.

"Our lord knows what you fellows are thinking. He brings solid gold while making it look like brass. For one thing, no lord of a million koku would quietly carry a brass pipe."

Rattling this off, Soshun went by himself toward Narinaga, leaving the bewildered Ryotetsu behind before those same gold doors painted with the Queen Mother of the West.

About an hour later, Ryotetsu ran into Kawachiyama again in the tatami corridor.

"Well, Soshun, how did it go?"

"How did what go?"

Pushing out his lower lip, Ryotetsu stared hard at Soshun's face.

"Stop pretending. The pipe."

"Ah, the pipe. If it's the pipe you want, I'll give it to you."

Kawachiyama pulled a yellow-glinting pipe from his robe and flung it at Ryotetsu's face, then strode off.

Rubbing the spot where it had hit him, Ryotetsu grumblingly picked up the pipe from the floor. It was an elaborately tasteful pipe, adorned with the sword-plum-bowl crest in scattered patterning: a brass pipe. With an irritated look, he threw it back down onto the tatami and raised his white-tabi-clad foot, making an exaggerated show of stamping on it. ...

VIII

After that, the monks abruptly stopped asking Narinaga for his pipes. For Soshun and Ryotetsu had together proved to everyone that the pipe Narinaga carried was brass.

So the three loyal retainers, who for a time had deceived Narinaga by passing off a brass pipe as gold, held another council and in the end once again ordered Sumiyoshiya Shichibei to prepare a solid-gold pipe. It was exactly the same, down to the last fraction, as the one Kawachiyama had taken before: a pipe decorated with scattered sword-plum-bowl crests. Narinaga carried this pipe, inwardly expecting the monks to ask for it, and went up to the castle in high spirits.

Yet not one of them came to request it. Even Kawachiyama, who before had asked for as many as two identical solid-gold pipes, merely cast it a sharp glance and went on with a slight bow at the waist. The daimyo seated with him, of course, said nothing about wishing to inspect it and simply remained silent. Narinaga found this strange.

No, more than strange. In the end it somehow began to make him uneasy. So when he saw Kawachiyama passing by again, this time he called out first.

"Soshun, shall I let you have this pipe?"

"No, I am much obliged, but I have already received one before."

Soshun seems to have thought Narinaga was mocking him. He replied in polite language, but with a sharp edge hidden inside it.

When Narinaga heard this, his face clouded with displeasure. Even the taste of Nagasaki tobacco no longer suited his mouth. It suddenly seemed to him that the power of his million koku, which until now he had felt so strongly, was vanishing as lightly as the smoke rising from the tip of this solid-gold pipe. ...

According to what old men have handed down, in the Maeda house after Narinaga, Nariyasu and Yoshiyasu too all used brass pipes. Perhaps this was the result of Narinaga, chastened by his experience with the solid-gold pipe, leaving some admonition to his descendants.

(October, 1916)