Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Japan, 1745, is a land under the iron grip of the Tokugawa shoguns. Roads are monitored, dissent stifled, and order maintained through blackmail and an extensive network of informers. Amid rumors of rebellion, Kurosawa Kinko– samurai and monk– is expelled in disgrace as the head music instructor of his Zen temple in Nagasaki. He begins an odyssey across Japan, dogged by agents and assassins from an unknown foe. Along his journey, Kinko encounters a compelling cast of merchants, ronin, courtesans, spies, warriors, hermits, and spirits, on a quest to redeem his honor. Inspired by the life of the historical Kurosawa Kinko (1710-1771), master of the shakuhachi flute and founder of the Kinko-ryu school, Song of the Samurai takes the reader on a richly-textured exploration of feudal Japan and the complexities of the human spirit.
Kurosawa Kinko rises through the ranks of his temple’s monks, only to be stripped of his rank and status after falling in love with a married woman.
Author C. A. Parker brings 18th-century Japan to life in Song of the Samurai. Sent away from his temple home of almost two decades, Kinko embarks on a journey of self-reflection. Trading his samurai swords for a shakuhachi (a flute), he befriends a fellow monk, and they travel together for a short while.
Meanwhile, there are rumors of a possible insurrection generating unrest. Kinko must also dodge assailants seeking to punish him for his romantic dalliance. His journey is richly detailed, inspired by the travels of the real Kinko.
His efforts at redemption opened the door to many possibilities, some of which he had never considered. Ultimately, he finds peace in the most unlikely place.
Song of the Samurai delivers a richly detailed story of a Japanese monk who embarks on a personal quest for enlightenment.
For over twenty-five years, C. A. Parker has studied both the shakuhachi (an end-blown Japanese flute) and the martial art of Aikido, both in the United States and Japan. Prior to life as an author, Dr. Parker spent his career at the intersection of spirituality and social justice, and he has spent many years exploring the commonalities between Christian and Buddhist contemplative traditions. He lives in Washington, DC, with his two amazing and creative children, and two rescued pets (a grumpy old dog named Chewbacca and a neurotic cat named Luna).
