Chapter 8 Part 1 - Since I was reborn as Saito Yoshitatsu, I'm aiming to hand over the territory to Oda Nobunaga and live longer!
1535 (Tenbun era, year 4)
TL: YuinaEditor: Yuina
[1] A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay into pottery, tiles and bricks.
Chapter 8: Careless Words
Now then, since Nohime, also known as Kichou, has been born, I must make an effort to get along with her. It would be unbearable to be killed or exiled by Nobunaga in case of any mishaps. Though I would cherish her regardless.
However, this childbirth has also revealed an issue that needs attention.
One of them is that there is no thermometer in this era.
A thermometer is indispensable for medical examinations. While I believe I can somehow manage to create a stethoscope, making a thermometer is much more complex. It requires not only the craftsmanship but also the creation of scales and units like Fahrenheit or Celsius from scratch.
In modern times, a thermometer is a common tool found in every household, serving as an indicator for monitoring one's health. However, such a device does not exist in this era. The physician must solely rely on experience and intuition.
That poses a problem, as it is necessary to create one. I know the required materials, but I lack the technical skills to manufacture it myself.
Are there any glass artisans in Japan? I recall them being called "Ruri" or "Hari" during that time in history. I should conduct some research.
There are other missing elements as well. Although I managed to obtain good-quality suribachi mortars [2] from Seto [3] and Bizen [4], I couldn't acquire glass products like flasks, nor ceramics with high levels of airtightness.
Considering my age and position, my abilities are limited, so I can only progress one step at a time.
Regarding ceramics, the kiln operated by the Tsumaki clan produces decent results. However, Seto [3] offers superior quality. I came to this realization when I accompanied my father on a visit to observe their work.
"Somehow, the shape of the kiln feels different."
The thought slipped out of my mouth. I couldn't help but compare it to the kiln owned by Inazawa-san (74), a potter whom I used to visit in my past life. I remember his kiln being taller and even slanted.
"Toyotamaru-sama, how is the shape of this kiln different?"
"Oh, well..."
Uh-oh. I was being questioned by Hirotada-dono of the Tsumaki clan.
"What do you mean? Which kiln does it differ from?"
His tone was quite severe. I had to find a way to divert his attention... Ah, the books from the Ming Dynasty. Those Ming books are really versatile and all-powerful.
"Well, in the Ming literature, there was an illustration of a kiln that showed only its exterior. It was a kiln built on a slope, where the firing process starts from a lower point and the smoke rises and exits from a higher point."
"Hmm... Shall I conduct further research?"
My father shot me a sharp sidelong glance. I've always been uncomfortable with that gaze; it would always make me break into a cold sweat.
"Toyotamaru, you are quite diligent. Are you really reading such books?"
"Father, um, you see, as the designated successor, I thought it would be necessary to incorporate new techniques from the Ming Dynasty, that's why I have been reading them."
"I see."
With my father's somewhat indifferent response, I guess I managed to deceive him for the time being. Nevertheless, I need tangible evidence soon. I wish to become proficient in writing as soon as possible.
What's with those twisted snake-like characters? Just as I thought it was an eel is wriggling around, it turns out those characters are actually abbreviations for concluding a letter.
Author's Note:
In the protagonist Toyotamaru's past life, what he saw was a multi-chamber climbing Kiln.
[1] A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay into pottery, tiles and bricks.
[2] Suribachi and surikogi are a Japanese mortar and pestle. These mortars are used in Japanese cooking to crush different ingredients such as sesame seeds. The suribachi is a pottery bowl, glazed on the outside and with a rough pattern called kushi-no-me on the unglazed inside. This surface is somewhat similar to the surface of the oroshigane (grater). The surikogi pestle is made from wood to avoid excessive wear on the suribachi.
[3] Seto, Okayama was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama, Japan.
[4] Bizen - a former province located in the southeast of present-day Okayama Prefecture.
Ah i see now
ReplyDeleteWhy he afraid of dosan because he dont want other know he actually a reincarnator and dosan rather sharp at notice other people thougt
Yes, that's one of the reasons. We'll know more about it as the story progresses.
DeleteI think it’s more the dude is huge with a face like a demon ?
DeleteYep, since he scares his little sister, and everyone else juste by looking at them. X)
Delete