The Samurai of Ayothaya Page #2

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It is a secret that must die with me.

l will not allow anyone to tarnish

the reputation of the Japanese peopIe

by accusing us of treason against Ayothaya.

Painful memories are like a sharp blade

that can hurt us.

Since you don't want to talk about it

you don't have to.

At the time I decided

to leave my birthplace of Suruga,

Japan was a country in chaos

as warlords fought for power.

No matter who came to power,

those defeated would be killed.

I am just a soldier of a lord

who lost his power.

l have no relatives

which is why l thought about

finding a new life

and decided to come to Ayothaya.

We are volunteer mercenaries in the army

of King Naresuan.

A soldier is born to fight

no matter where he is.

Power struggles exist everywhere,

but it's a good thing

that Japan has never been

conquered by a foreign power.

It is different here in Ayothaya

because we are constantly attacked

by the armies of Hongsawadee.

Becoming a vassal state of your enemy

is not only physically painful,

but your honour is also compromised.

You wouldn't understand.

So, is this your Japanese martial art?

Can your Japanese martial art compete

against that of Ayothaya, White face?

I am sorry, Champa.

I didn't think it would turn out like this.

White face, don't fight with Master Sua.

You cannot beat him.

There is only one person

who can beat Master Sua.

What do you want?

I want to be your student.

Please teach me Thai boxing.

Your martial art technique is pretty good.

You don't need to learn from me.

Learning from an experienced teacher

for a single day is far better

than practising by oneself.

And why do I have to teach you?

Ayothaya's boxing is our national treasure.

lt doesn't belong to foreigners.

And more importantly your blood

is not the same colour as mine.

My blood is Ayothaya blood,

yours is Japanese.

Yes. But now I live in Ayothaya

and when I die,

the soil of Ayothaya will cover my face.

It is not my birthplace

but where my soul will rest.

Who taught you to talk like this?

All the people of Ayothaya here taught me...

Taught you what?

They taught me the difference

between an honourable death

and one that is not.

lf one dies for the country

and King Naresuan,

no matter how many lifetimes one is born,

it is still worth giving up one's life.

At this moment, my heart is Ayothaya.

ln Ayothaya, if someone wants

to learn any art or discipline,

they will need a teacher.

From now on, you have a teacher.

You must be virtuous and never use

Ayothaya's martial arts to bully others,

but only use it for protecting

the country and yourself.

You cannot fight with others

if you are not at peace inside.

lt is like a swordsman who only depends

on the sharpness of his blade.

In the end, he wiII never understand

the way of the sword.

Ayothaya's boxing is an intelligent

form of martial arts

handed down from generation to generation

since the Sukhothai era.

It is the art of attack and defence.

We use eight weapons,

two hands,

two feet,

two knees,

and two eIbows,

in battle for hundreds of years.

It is a martiaI art which has

beautiful movements

with hidden strengths and aggressiveness.

Meanwhile your Japanese martial arts

are smooth,

fluid and peacefuI.

You watch your opponent

and use his strength to take him down

by throwing him, pinning him down,

grappling rapidly

and forcefully.

lf you are able to combine

the best of both martial arts,

then nobody will be able to beat you.

Your boxing technique is much better,

Japanese.

I taught him myself because I saw he had

the determination to learn.

He can be useful to our country

in the future.

Sua, are you angry that I taught

Thai boxing to a foreigner?

No, sir, you must have

thought it out already.

And I am thinking of entering him

in the selection trials

for the King's bodyguards.

But he is a foreigner.

Can he actually do it?

Luang, listen to me.

Love for one's country

doesn't necessarily belong

to only those

who were born on the same land.

Love for one's country

can be born in the heart of anyone

who wishes that the soil of the country

covers his face when he dies.

You three, believe me...

This Japanese will become

an important force of Ayothaya.

I give this to you.

It's your sword.

You hammered it so it must be yours.

I have my own sword.

Where is it?

Does it belong to the Japanese?

Yes.

Is it as sharp as our swords?

Muen, you don't know anything.

Japanese swords are famous

for being extremely sharp,

sharp and thin but strong.

Just like the Ayothaya people

who appear to be peaceful and weak,

but will never give in to any enemy.

Use it to kill your enemies.

Your sword is a masterpiece, Japanese.

The blade is Japanese

but the handle is Ayothaya,

just like you and me.

Some Japanese swords

take a lifetime to make.

lt is so thin and sharp

that you can cut the head of

your enemy without him feeling the pain...

The heart of a samurai

is as strong as a rock,

but must be as sharp

as the end of the sword.

You made me reaIise that

a friend in need

is a true friend indeed.

This memory will remain

with me until the day l die.

The loyalty shown by the people of Ayothaya to their

country and King Naresuan

is so great

that l feel honoured to be living on this land.

What is Tanai Luek?

A Tanai Luek is one

of the King's personal bodyguards.

He is at His Majesty's side at all times

without bearing arms.

Hence, a Tanai Luek must be

extremely skilled with his bare hands...

...and skilled in the discipline of boxing.

We must select fighters of Ayothaya

who are loyal to their country

and are prepared to die for their king.

Every drop of ink tattooed into your blood

represents the sacred aIphabet of

Buddhist vaIues.

l am not just piercing your skin

with a metal rod.

Each sacred letter will remind you

to do only good deeds.

Remember that the only eternal thing

in life is being virtuous,

so when you die, your name

and your good deeds will not die with you.

So that is eternaI

and from now onwards

the blood that flows in you is Ayothaya's.

You are not from Ayothaya.

Even though you weren't born in Ayothaya,

I ask that your spirit belongs to Ayothaya.

From now on

you are my personal bodyguard.

The heart of a fighter

has to be ready to die at any given moment.

Dare to die if your death is for a good deed

and for your country.

What brought you here, Sua Pa Maew Sao?

King Nandhabureng of Hongsawadee

has sent 200 warriors from various tribes

to assassinate Your Majesty.

They have already set foot

over the Mae La Mao border.

I lost my son during the battle

with King Naresuan.

And he dares to mount

an attack on Hongsa.

lf l cannot bring an end to his life

to appease the spirit of my son,

I won't be able rest in peace.

Those of you tribesmen

who are able to bring me his head,

will enjoy the rewards

and riches for the rest of your life.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

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