[27] He has played on the ideographs—極醉の宴 and 曲水の宴, kyoku-sui no en; the last meaning—"Winding water entertainment," cf. "Benkei" Vol. II. p. 195.
[28] The yoriki is hard to place—"commanding officer." He was not of the office, yet as of rank was chosen to lead these more dangerous and trying expeditions, or to act in more important arrests.
[29] In the conspiracy of Shōsetsu such did exist, directed to the house of one of his followers, placed not far off in another street. [But recently such a tunnel was discovered under the garden of Baron Sakatani at Haramachi, Koishikawa, Tōkyō; believed to belong to the Hakusan Goten, and dating 250 years back. 20th May, 1917].
[30] Brinkley's Dictionary gives it—Ichiju no kagé ni yadori, ichiga no nagare wo kumu mo, mina kore tashō no en narubeshi.
[31] Shōhō 3rd year the New Year fell on 16th February (1646) of the modern calendar.
[32] Rangiku ya: kitsuné ni no se yō kono sugata. Rangiku = Caryopteris mastachantus.
[33] In Buddhist theology the seventh day is one of the important dates of the hotokés (deceased spirit) sojourn upon Earth.
[34] Pradjna—"highest of the six pâramitâ, principal means of attaining Nirvana, knowledge of the illusory character of all existence." Eitel—p. 119.
[35] The quotation and what follows is from Hōgyūsha Tōkō—"Banchō Sarayashiki." The exactness of these old temple registers in essential dates is worth noting.
[36] Tsunayoshi 1646-1709. A vassal of Akita Danjō killed a swallow. He was executed; his children were executed; and he and his are but one case out of many.