[D11, EM] A stroll with a Seppun (Expecting)

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded at his words about family.

"I wondered about educational initiatives. What role the Imperial court has played before. What has been tried at the clan level. Actions. Consequences."

"The role, at the Imperial level, has been exclusively related to the founding and purposing of libraries. That has precedent. And at this court, there is a new Imperial library approved. Decisions about it might be a forum to test ideas about content that is both centrally guided, and yet supportive of diversity at the level of clan."

"At the clan level, the Lion at least value standardized curriculum. They use the dojo as the point of dissemination. All dojo contain texts approved by Akodo. There is also a copy of the Tao, but it is never to be opened." A slight apologetic frown at something she had found disappointing.

"Any efforts to teach peasants to read that I have found so far have led to terrible consequences for them."

"But I find less barrier to the idea of itinerant teachers so long as the role is to read key texts to listeners, but not to teach reading itself."

[Seppun Tomaru]

"That is a strangeness," Tomaru says.

"I do not doubt that you report what you have read, young Dragon, not at all. But I think it strange that, given the use of peasant scribes, the notion that teaching peasants to read at all is so anathematic. There are such scribes even in the Capital, and it is also known that many monks and nuns are of other-than-noble birth--yet they read."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Your words may help guide me to better examples. Yes, I limited my search to examples of educational initiatives targeting peasants. Laborers. I agree that there is great flexibility for those on monastic paths to learn to read, and other social ranks above laborers. It may be good to find specific examples."

"Perhaps 'peasant scribe' is a term I should be searching for. That is not an example I am familiar with."

"And the question may be ... to what extent the education is offered to those who 'belong' to another. A child given to a monastery is the monastery's to train. But a samurai generally needs their Lord's permission to become a monk. A farmer's child with an injury that prevents farming work may be offered training to a role like scribe, but their healthy brother who can farm may be expected to continue to farm, and only be taught training related to farming."

"It is helpful to consider. Finding the positive examples can do such good. I appreciate you guiding me to find them."

[Seppun Tomaru]

"I do what I can, young Dragon," Tomaru replies easily. "Sometimes, it's little enough. Sometimes, it's more than could be hoped."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled.

"I do not ever presume to speak for you, Seppun-sama. But the better informed I am, the better I can answer questions and put to rest anything that does not align with your goals, should conversation of that kind ever occur."

"I know you follow the Tao, and think deeply about the impact of each action, with a heart of compassion for Rokugani of all social strata."

"But I am yet a beginner on that path, compared to you. I still have much to learn."

“The words of the Tao are simple. Following the Tao is complex. So does the simple show the outward things, The complex reveals the soul.”

[Seppun Tomaru]

Tomaru smiles.

"That I know the way I found things does not mean I know how you will find them," he says.

"I paraphrase, of course."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"Each learns by their own path. Enlightenment does not require following another's path, nor learning exactly the same thing that another did. It is a way of thinking, rather than a specific knowledge acquired."

"And..." her thoughts connecting in ways they hadn't before "... that is a reason that education shouldn't be narrowly defined as 'book learning'. The Tao is found at the riverside, in the elements, in the pine and the cherry blossom. In the breath and in the temple. In whatever is a person's 'home', their day-to-day, whatever they appreciate as beautiful."

[Seppun Tomaru]

"You are not wrong, Agasha-san," Tomaru says. "There are lessons in everything."

[Agasha Yuna]

"More education for more people" - his original words to her - "...that could be all kinds of initiatives. It could be farmers sharing farming ideas with other farmers. It could be physicians sharing knowledge with each other. It could be clans preserving and reinforcing all that is unique about their culture and values within their own borders, with no imperial interference beyond perhaps an invitation to share that which they would like shared - their best art, their best essays, their accounts of individuals they'd like glorified - to a central repository like the new imperial library. It could be text read aloud, texts on library shelves, people mentoring other people. It could be flexible and dynamic. Balanced. Responsive to need."

[Seppun Tomaru]

"I take your meaning, young Dragon," Tomaru replies. "Although it may not be that there should be so much curation as you might suggest. There is danger in the lack of oversight, as previous generations showed. But, yes, while I do think literacy should be a focus, I do not think it should exclude other pedagogies."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Lack of oversight? Do you mean in how the clans presently preserve history? Or something else?"

[Seppun Tomaru]

"Yes."

That Tomaru is a father several times over is shown in that reply, if in nothing else he has said.

[Agasha Yuna]

That was certainly a challenge to Ikoma Ryota, who she had understood to have played his role faithfully overseeing the Ikoma Libraries. But was that just an assumption? How could she know? He did seem devout to Tenjin-o-kami. History and truth.

He had ... he had seemed troubled. And she had comforted him, but not actually asked him why, beyond the obvious grief at the loss of the Empress and likely concern over the incidents like the earthquake.

She thought about it. And thought about it.

And then stopped short.

"Do you mean that you fear the Ikoma Library has not faithfully reported something? The library's very founding was because Akodo Tenjin was truthful in a way that Hantei III found offensive. The Emperor commanded that Tenjin be executed, and then imme­diately thereafter disease and pestilence fell on the Imperial Court. And then the Emperor begged the spirit of Tenjin for forgiveness and created a temple to honor his memory. The Ikoma Library was that very temple."

"But ... disease and pestilence... that is actually predicted to follow this court. The Scorpion have medicine hoarded because of it. And there was the earthquake."

"Is Tenjin-o-kami angry? Was something not recorded honestly and faithfully?"

[Seppun Tomaru]

"The Fortune of Writing would not be alone in anger," Tomaru says. "But that is part of what must be determined; what is the source of the anger? I know there is research going on, although I have not been part of it; I have other assignments."

He glances at her. "I imagine, young Dragon, that your help would be greatly esteemed in that endeavor."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"I do want to help. It is a question of both who is angry, and why."

"If you have any thoughts, I could certainly bring them to my research. Or, if you know who is presently leading the effort. Should I ask Seppun-ue?"

[Seppun Tomaru]

"I know the Lady Seppun is involved," Tomaru says. "I also know she is exceptionally busy. But I have heard that Asahina Honoka is doing much."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

She had a favor she could call in with Lady Seppun if needed.

And... "Asahina-san has invited me to help investigate a matter later today. Perhaps it is all connected."

And she did write to her family. They might have part of the puzzle, too. She could hope.

[Seppun Tomaru]

Tomaru nods.

"That will be well, then," he says. "And all will be well, and all manner of thing will be well."

[Agasha Yuna]

"That is all I could wish for this court and for Rokugan."

She smiled at him.

She could believe it, walking beside him. He would be so good for Rokugan, if he could just have the chance.

[Seppun Tomaru]

For his part, Tomaru is content to walk a ways in silence. It's companionable.