iNFORMATION SCROLLS #2:Pani Free Men (The Bugyô & Daimyo)

A Bugyô is a Magistrate Appointed by the Shôgun to oversees a specific government post for example finances, or construction in or about a large city, or a region. They like a Daishoya are required to have a High Level of intelligence, Social Observation and Judgement. They are the second in command on All matters who can speak or make judgements on behalf of the Shougun and only answers to the Shogun himself. Tis title is often given to the one that will Succeed the Shogun such as Son or his Chosen Heir.






The Daimyo were second in command to the provincial ruler or Shôgun of the Pani, similar to Second Swords, First Axe, Seconds. They were themselves Warrior like Swordsmen, Chujo, and Ashigaru.The only answers to the Shogun himself or his Bugyô.


“An interesting exception to this sort of thing is that a prisoner, or one on the verge of capture, may be accorded the right to accept a new daimyo or shogun. Once he does this he is then honor bound to serve the new leader, as he did his old, and, it seems, he may be depended on to do so. He is not a mercenary, but he is a loyal follower, whomsoever he follows."
–Swordsmen of Gor

”I looked up. The figure was in battle gear, and it removed from its head a large, winged helmet.” “Ah, said Lord Okimoto politely, “Lord Nishida”
– Mariners of Gor

“Both lords wore sandals.” The hair of each was drawn behind the head and fastened in a ball or top knot. This was the case with many of the Pani, not all.”
– Mariners of Gor

“In his belt, blades uppermost, were the two swords, the companion sword and the longer blade.”
- Swordsmen of Gor

“I was at Cabots side to protect his left. And as a man fell he was at the left of a Pani warrior with a large horned face concealing helmet the Pani warrior clutched a long curved sword with two hands. ”
– Mariners of Gor

“Rice fields, or paddies, are associated with each village. A daimyo or shogun will have suzerainty over various villages, which he protects, and from which he obtains the means to maintain his men. He who controls the rice, it is said, controls the islands.”
– Mariners of Gor
​

I was then prepared to leave the plaza, but, in turning about, I saw a sight which, to me, if not to Tajima, and his people, seemed exceedingly odd.

"What is going on there?" I asked.
"One is preparing to recover his honor," said Tajima.

On a small platform, in a white kimono, one of Tajima's people, which I will now refer to as the Pani, as that is their word for themselves, knelt. His head was bowed, and before him, on the platform, was a curved wooden sheath, which contained, doubtless, a knife. Near the fellow, also clad in a
rather formal kimono, white, stood a fellow with an unsheathed sword, of the longer sort.

"Do not intrude," said Tajima.
"What is the fellow with the sword doing?" I asked.
"It is sometimes difficult to perform the act," said Tajima.
"If it cannot be well completed the swordsman will assist. There is no loss of honor in that."
"Stop!" I called.
"Do not interfere!" cried Tajima, whose suave placidity was for once not at his disposal.

I thrust Tajima back and strode to the figure on the platform, who had now loosened his robe and drawn forth a small dagger from the sheath.
The man with the sword stood to one side, two hands on the hilt of the weapon. He regarded me. He did not seem resentful, outraged, or such. Rather, he seemed puzzled. He had not expected this intrusion, nor had the fellow on the platform. The fellow on the platform gripped the knife. I thought blood had drained from his hand. He looked up, not fully comprehending this disruption. He had already, I understood, given himself to the knife, and all that remained now was to finish the deed.

"Allow him dignity!" begged Tajima.
"I will not allow this," I said.
"Who are you to stop it?" asked Tajima

Once again in command of his emotions. The Pani are an extremely emotional, passionate race, as I would learn, and the calmness of their exterior demeanor, their frequently seeming impassibility, even seeming apathy, was less of a disposition than an achievement. Civility is not an adornment, but a necessity. Is the beast not always at one's elbow? Behind the facade of a painted screen a larl may lurk. Every chain can snap, every rope break. Savagery lies close to the precincts of civilization. The borderland between them is narrow and easily traversed. Courtesy, or politeness, you see, must not always be understood as a lack, a debility, or insufficiency. One must not recklessly part curtains. Behind them might be found things you would just as soon not see. He who writes poetry and sips tea, and waits expectantly for a flower to blossom, may, in a frenzy, on the field of battle, take head after head. In any event, it is unwise to take mountains for granted. They may conceal volcanoes.

"I am commander, I am captain," I told Tajima.
"This man is a coward," said Tajima.
"No," I said, "he is not."
It seemed to me that the act he contemplated was
sufficient evidence of that.
"He fled from a tarn," said Tajima.
"He will not do so again," I said.
"Do not interfere," said Tajima. "You can make no
difference. He will simply complete the act later, when you
are not present."
"No, he will not," I said.
"Why not?" asked Tajima, genuinely interested.
"Because I forbid it," I said. "I will have no more of this
amongst men who will dare the tarn."
"It is our way," said Tajima.
"Who is captain?" I asked.
"You, Tarl Cabot, tarnsman," said Tajima.
"It is not my way," I said.
"You are captain," said Tajima, quietly.
"I will not lose men in this fashion," I said.
"It is better to lose such men," said Tajima.
"If you want to die," I said to the kneeling figure on the
platform, "do so under the talons of the tarn."
"It is wrong for you to interfere in this, Tarl Cabot,
tarnsman," said Tajima. "One must recover honor."
"One recovers honor in life," I said, "not in death. If he
lives, he may begin again, and gain honor."
"That is not our way," said Tajima.
"But it is a way," I said.
"Doubtless," said Tajima.
"And it is my way," I said.
"Yes," said Tajima. "It is your way."
"And I am captain," I said.
"Yes," said Tajima. "You are captain."
"Return to your training," I told the fellow kneeling on the
platform. "You are late."

-Swordsmen of Gor pg 362-364