On Thu, 26 Oct 1995, Roy Rim wrote:

	Hm...did I mention that it wasn't going to be like "real" feudal 
Japan.  Only loosely based on it?  Oh, well...sigh.

*shrugs*

	Actually, maybe this was a different time.  Early feudal period, 
a little after the Japanese had started basing their society on China's.  
From what I read, it was still a pretty crude time.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

There were a few periods where women warriors virtually disappeared, but 
this was due more to no-one wanting to take up the sword.  Remember the 
legend of how Japan rose from the sea, and what the Goddess gave to the 
first emporor.

	Not what I read.  According to one book, early feudal period was 
very, very concerned with blood.  Not that I'm trying to contradict you, 
just want to learn more.  See, I think this might be based around the 
1100's.  (was Tale of Masakado during this period?)  According to the 
book, rotos were NOT allowed to fight and to become a warrior one had to 
have noble blood.  But actually, you have made me come upon an idea.

They were.  The first Samurai were the descendants and protectors of the 
first court.  Unfortunately, due to a question about which person should 
be emperor, the war of the dragons occured.  Soon after, the invasion of 
the mongols took place.  It was in the period between the war of the 
dragons and the first invasion that members of the commoners were given 
family names and raised to Samurai.  It was slightly before the war of 
the dragons where retainers were being trained in fighting techniques.

That reminds me.  Ryouga would not have a family name as that would have 
confered Samurai status on him.

	Were women always allowed to fight, as in society basically 
accepted it?  And as I asked already, was there a period when it wasn't?  
If so, then something must have started it.

In a country where everyday was a strugle to survive, women of the upper 
classes were accepted as warriors, although most stayed at home.  Society 
did accept this, but it was a very determined woman who accepted the role 
of a fighting samurai that went to war.

	Even someone who was a bum?  Also this leads to my above questions.

Even so.  People of higher class were accustomed to disguising themselves 
as one of the lower classes in order to ensure that their retainers were 
treating the people properly.

	Hm...been considering since he was twelve.  He's stuck more in 
the female form cause getting hot water would be much tougher than now.  
Luanma's been female for...I'd say five years.

SO, having gone through the teen years as a young girl, will you be 
writing this appropriately?  The reason I asked is that Luanma seemed to 
dislike the male form.

	Whoops!!  Sorry Hi-chan!

I should say, I allow _ONLY_ Oneechan to call me that.

Ichinohei Hitomi
Hitomi@escape.ca