The Samurai would shave the middle part of his head, called a chonmage, where the remaining hair was oiled and waxed before being tied into a small tail folded onto the top of the head in the characteristic topknot, so that his helmet (kabuto) fit tightly onto the head when donning his armor for battle. With less hair, the samurai would also not suffer from the buildup of heat on the head when wearing the helmet.
Shoji in Japanese architecture refers to the sliding doors and windows made of a latticed wooden frame covered in translucent white paper. In summer, Shoji doors are often completely removed to open up the house to help alleviate the humidity of the season
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that was signed in 1494, in the namesake town in Spain. In this treaty, Spain and Portugal agreed to divide the New World between themselves for colonization, conversion, and administration by setting a line of demarcation that had ran from north to south at a meridian about 370 leagues (one league is equal to three miles) west of the Cape Verde islands. Spain would be granted everything to the west of this line, while Portugal would receive everything to the east. This corresponded roughly to most of eastern modern Brazil and Africa being conceded to Portugal, while Spain would take the rest of the New World. It would later be revised by the Treaty of Zaragoza (1529), which included Asia, since neither party had considered the world's spherical shape at the time of drawing the line of demarcation, and they quickly realized they would need a second line to divide the world into two hemispheres. The Portuguese hemisphere included Japan, as well as the rest of Asia to the west, leaving Spain with most of the Pacific Ocean but none of mainland Asia, with the exception of Spain given the right to trade in the Philippines. Though the treaty was largely ignored by other European powers, particularly when the Protestant Reformation took root, Spain and Portugal followed it fairly faithfully, though it did require some amendments as more of the world was charted.
William Adams, the historical figure which the character John Blackthorne was based on, spoke a number of languages, including Portuguese.
Vocabulary:
- Samurai - A warrior class (equivalent to a Knight in Medieval Europe), bound to a code of conduct and a sworn duty
- Shogun (pronounced sho-goon) - Supreme Military Commander and ruler of Feudal Japan
- Taiko - Grand Chancellor of the Emperor (equivalent to a Prime Minister in the United Kingdom, especially the relationship over the Royal Council of Advisors, Privy Council). Technically, it was the role of the Kanpaku, translated as Regent or Chief Advisor to the Emperor of Japan, who was the real power behind the throne, at least during the Heian Era (794 AD - 1185 AD). The Kanpaku, therefore, was the de facto ruler of Japan. The Kampaku is the most esteemed of all the regents and is considered the Emperor's most trusted advisor. Kanpaku was the highest rank allowable for someone who did not have the necessary bloodline to claim the Shogun title. Sometimes, he would appoint a successor to ensure the regime's stability and retire, taking on the title of Taiko (translated as Retired Regent or Elder Statesman).In fact, the Taiko would continue to rule through the Kanpaku, being the power behind "the power behind the throne".
- Busho - A great feudal lord (Daimyo in Japanese) possessing vast hereditary land holdings. Five Busho compose the Council of Regents. They are essentially the Taiko,or Kampaku, split into five parts who share the same title.
- Karo - (Japanese for house elder) A high-ranking samurai official and advisor to the daimyos. The karo were part of a collegial system with two to a few members in the clan administration.