The Society of Upward Energy

Cultivation of Freedom

By C.D. Magone

“Therefore it is that the upward flow of the Living Truth is not blocked in humans, and their lot is to make the Right Cultivation of all the world their sole occupation, with no need to engage in other tasks. And thus it is, too, that among humankind there are no divisions into superior and inferior, noble and lowly, rich and poor. Humans do not eat humans and are not eaten by humans, they do not give or take from each other, and each finds his or her appropriate mate. This is the proper state of human society, whose essence is of the upward energy.”

Chapter 1: The Society of Upward Energy

Hikari had finished with his work in the fields for the day, his bare feet soaked to the point of wrinkling in the flood waters of the rice field. Proud of his efforts he stood up straight and his free hand and would wipe the sweat off his brow that was created from a combination of both his work and the oppressive mid-summer sun shining overhead. As he trudged through the man-made floodplain swarms of multi-colored rice fish would shoot away in every direction as his feet kicked up dull clouds of mud. When his feet hit the warm dirt of dry land and well trodden dirt paths he would sheath his nata in its wooden scabbard tied to the fabric belt around his waist. The tool in shape was nothing special, A hefty blade with no stabbing point only ending in a blunt squared off edge. Yet what made the farming tool special was how its blade glowed a brilliant scarlet like that of the setting sun along with lustrous patterned stripes of gold shining like this midday sun, for it was made from hihiirokane as were all the tools used by the people of this land. The wooden scabbard having been carved by Hikari himself from the wood of a cherry tree that had fallen over in a storm during his free time as a teen. Hikari waved to his father who was still finishing his work in his section of field as he walked passed. His father in turn waved back in acknowledgment before bending back over and returning his weeding of his section of field. Hikari smiled as he walked, it was good to see the old man back in the fields again. For his duties as the village physician kept him away for the past few days on account of an intense surgery required for a man who was attacked by a wild boar. With the man stabilized Hikari no longer had to work his father’s lot of the tanada and could enjoy some free time again.

Walking the brief walk between the terraced rice fields and their family home Hikari would light a fire in their stove and set about boiling a kettle of water for tea. As the fire began to heat the water Hikari would lean back against the counter and relax for a moment, before grabbing the wooden box they held their tea powder in and set about the lengthy ritual that was usual in preparing the tea for everyone. That was the unspoken family agreement, the first to finish their field work prepares tea for everyone else. It used to be his older sister who usually finished her work first, but ever since she married and moved a few villages over the expectation has generally fallen upon Hikari himself. With the tea now steeping Hikari walked down the creaking wooden floorboards of the hallway to his room and untied his nata and its scabbard from his belt and place it on his dresser, a hand carved wooden affair made by his grandpa for his father when he was a boy. When Hikari stepped back out into the kitchen he would see his mother followed by his younger brother of three years Shinzo. Shinzo looked especially tired though that was little surprise as he had been helping their father treat the man who had been attacked by the bore. For he was the one who actually agreed to continue the family tradition of medical work as opposed to Hikari who rejected the idea outright on account of an aversion to blood and other viscera. “A nice day isn't it? When do you think father will be done with his work?” Hikari asked their mother Haruka. “He said his hands are still stiff from the stitching work he did on that last patient, he'll be done some time before dinner.” Responded his mother as she walked over and poured herself a cup of tea. “If his hands are bothering him I can go help him.” Hikari quickly iterated as he poured himself a cup of tea as well. “No no he's been away from the field for two days already, if he doesn't get back in the rhythm of it soon he'll veer from his right cultivation. We're old but we're not helpless yet son.” Haruka chided in return as sat upon the hand stitched cotton cushion upon the floor next to their hand built wood table. Shinzo would nod in agreement as he poured himself a cup of tea and sat across from their mother at the table.

There before them sat a newfangled piece of technology within their home. A large upstanding rectangular box shaped from planks of cedar that were meticulously milled by hand and shaved down to fit against one another near seamlessly. The center of the top half of the rectangle was a circle of hand blown glass, having a minor imperfection which created a small black dot the side house spider’s thorax in the bottom left most part of the circle. Around the circumference of the circle was a rim of hihiirokane metal whose luster was dulled via a black dyed fabric mesh glued to it with resin. Underneath the circle and its metal rim was another hihiirokane sheet, this one shaped square with two circular cedar wood knobs, with again the metal's glowing luster being dulled by a black fabric mesh. “You think the broadcast is on yet?” asked Shinzo before taking a sip of his tea. “Maybe if they finished their crop work early today in the city too.” Hikari answered before we crawled over and turned the television on with a twist of the knobs. The screen popped and hissed before its usual gray reflection was overtaken a kaleidoscope of black and weight chaos before Hikari fiddled with the knobs and the monochrome madness was replaced by a handsome young man with short black hair sitting with his clasped atop a cherry wood desk. The man would then go on by speaking about the expected upcoming weather with a voice like velveted honey. Said broadcast would be interrupted by the entrance of the youngest sister Kaoru, a young woman barely entering her teen years. With the annoyed sigh of teenage angst she would trudge through the house and pour herself a cup of tea before slinking off to her room. Their mother would just shake her head and leave her be before finishing her tea and standing up. There she would walk over to the kitchen and stoke the embers of Hikari’s fire as she added new wood to the contained beast of fire as she went about making the evening’s dinner. When the distractions ended and both Hikari and Shinzo turned their attentions back to the tv the man on it would be wrapping up his weekly weather report. “In other news rumors of ogre attacks on humans around the Ōgasanmyaku have been undoubtedly proven true after travelers attempting to visit family in the nearby Kibatani village found the unfortunate corpses of numerous residents being guarded by their loved ones. This unprecedented attack marks the first large-scale conflict between humankind and ogres in over a century. Volunteer militia from around the region have flocked to Kibatani village in order to safeguard its residents and tend to the fields of their deceased.”

Hikari and Shinzo would look at each other wide eyed in response. “How could they do that?! Don’t we have a deal with them? What’s their problem?!” Shinzo barked in frustration. “There’s got to be something wrong surely, what reason would they have to attack now? We have broken any agreements that I'm aware of.” Hikari questioned in response. Though their burgeoning dialog would be interrupted by the sliding of wood upon wood as their father entered their house, the last to be finished with his day’s work in the field. “A bunch of ogres attacked a village by their mountains dad.” Shinzo blurted out to their father with haste. “That's a shame, after all that hard work your great grandfather did to get both them and the villagers to leave each other in peace.” Their father sulked as he poured himself a cup of tea before sitting down at the table and popping his back. “Should we go over and try to make a new deal?” Hikari asked as he leaned over the table with his chin on his hand. “No I don't think so, really it was nothing short of a miracle your great grandfather even got both parties to accept the deal to begin with. I doubt any of us could do near as well.” their father answered as he stared into his tea in thought. “Why don’t you two make your way over and investigate why the ogres have broken the agreement? The best case scenario is that the old agreement is simply reinstated again. I’d go but I've been out of the fields too much lately, I'm sure their doctors and the militia can handle it.” advised their father, nodding his head in approval of his own idea. “Are you sure we can handle it?” Hikari doubted in response. “You are by far one of the most dedicated and diligent sons this family has seen since the revolutionary Yasuo Hayato. You just need experience and confidence; you know none can force you, but I do urge you to go.” their father responded sagely before sipping his tea. “I uhhh…. Yes father, if you think we’re ready then I'll heed your wisdom and go.” Hikari answered with a nod of the head. “That’s the spirit big brother, we’ll get this sorted out in no time.” Shinzo cheered with a smile. “Then it’s agreed, best you two head out tomorrow morning. Your mother and I will pack you supplies for the journey, you two focus on resting tonight.” their father explained as he stood up with a dual popping of both knees and a slight groan before walking to the kitchen. Hikari and Shinzo would then bring their attention back to the t.v. the program having changed from the news to a sort of improvisational theater show that was the most common and popular form of entertainment programming. Time passed and the golden sun hung low in the western sky turning a shade of burning crimson and parting a violet hue on the western sky. Dinner was ready, a noodle soup dish made up of rice noodles, a vegetable broth, tofu, and whatever vegetables happened to be at hand, in this case edamame, eggplant, and chillies that resulted in a hearty and filling soup. A perfect meal to precede a journey.