Sword Trouble, Woman Trouble

Eiji Yoshikawa / 松月白Feb 2025

4.0

Word count: 188K words
Chapters: 157

Summary

Haru no Shinkurō is handsome but timid, trembling with fear at the mere sight of another man drawing a sword. Yet to avenge his brother, he resolutely sets out on the warrior's path, enduring countless trials and facing many master swordsmen, including Shigemasa Chikurō. His relationships with Chiran, Aen, and Lady Mitsuko also run a troubled course, so that he suffers the trials of the sword and the trials of women at once. Can Shinkurō achieve his goal, and how will the fates of those around him unfold? This was the author's first work published under the name "Eiji Yoshikawa"; it won wide acclaim and sparked a powerful response, marking the brilliant starting point of a "literature of a million people."

Editor's review

This is the first work Yoshikawa Eiji published under his real name, and an important starting point in his career. The story follows Kasuga Shinkurō, a beautiful but timid young man who sets out on the warrior's path to avenge his brother and repeatedly stumbles and matures through sword training and emotional entanglements. Its readability comes from the interweaving of two threads: Shinkurō's martial training in duels with masters such as Shigemitsu Jisai, and his turbulent relationships with Chiran, Oen, and Lady Mitsuko. The author sets 'the trials of the sword' alongside 'the trials of women,' creating tension between the protagonist's cowardice and perseverance; the result is both the brisk pleasure of a period novel and an observation of human weakness. It suits continuous reading in leisure hours, and also serves as an entry point for readers interested in the origins of Japanese popular literature. One caution: the handling of female characters bears the marks of its era, and readers may wish to understand it in light of the work's background.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Japanese period novels and swordsman stories
Researchers interested in Yoshikawa Eiji's starting point and early style
Readers drawn to a narrative arc in which the protagonist grows from cowardice
General readers interested in the interplay of bushido, revenge, and emotional entanglement

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting pure, hard-edged swordplay and straightforward vengeance
Readers sensitive to outdated gender attitudes and unable to accept the limitations of the era
Readers who prefer modern urban settings or short, fast-paced reading

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first and note the groundwork laid for Shinkurō's timid character before entering the revenge主线; this makes the extent of his growth clearer.
Read the sword duels alongside the romance plot and observe how the author uses both to squeeze the protagonist's situation.
After finishing, look up the background of Yoshikawa Eiji's early career to understand this book's place in his writing life.

版权信息
竞逐武名，血洒场中
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
桔梗河原的怪剑客
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
比武落败，音无濑川
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
紫纽，元服的觉悟
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
毒妇的媚笑与爱之投枪
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
武者鬼门·荒道场
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
爱欲流转·奇遇之岔路
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
忍之竹枝，男女二人虚无僧
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
伽罗之暗，谜样的御方
一
二
三
四
五
六
鹿岛使者·孤剑飘客
一
二
三
四
五
梦寐之中，劲敌出现
一
二
三
四
五
蜘蛛手段，奔赴冥府
一
二
三
四
五
六
花旋风，双面夜叉
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
如法之暗，夜鸦嗔恚
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
堕落贵公子的烦恼
一
二
三
四
五
女地狱，大川沸腾
一
二
三
四
五
六
苛责的远音，与痴迷之蝶的藏身处
一
二
三
四
五
六
仇怨难消，曙光初照
一
二
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四
五
所行之事，所求之愿
一
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三
四
大妻笼，无极太刀风
一
二
三
四
五
恋与剑，冰释前嫌
一
二
三
四
五
六
七

FAQ

I haven't read any Yoshikawa Eiji. Can I start with this one?

Yes. This is the first work he published under the name 'Yoshikawa Eiji'; his style was not yet fully formed, the storylines are clear, and the character relationships are concentrated, making it a suitable entry point for understanding his early work. If you want to experience his mature style first, you could also read one of his later representative works for comparison.

What exactly does the title 'Sword Trials, Women Trials' refer to?

It refers to the two-fold trials borne by the protagonist Kasuga Shinkurō: first, setting out on the warrior's path to avenge his brother and undergoing tests of swordsmanship and will in confrontations with masters such as Shigemitsu Jisai; second, the emotional upheavals involving Chiran, Oen, and Lady Mitsuko. The two lines advance interwoven and create the book's main tension.

Is the pace suitable for reading in one sitting?

The book links martial contests and emotional entanglements through the main revenge plot, and the chapters are tightly connected, making it suitable for continuous reading. If time is limited, you can read in segments along the two lines of 'revenge progress' and 'emotional change,' noting the subtle shifts in the protagonist's state of mind in each segment.

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About the author

Eiji Yoshikawa Author · Japan · 1892–1962

Eiji Yoshikawa (1892–1962) was a native of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and a leading author of Japanese popular literature, hailed as a “national writer.” After leaving school early, he worked as a printer and a shipyard worker, among other jobs, while continuing to educate himself. He entered the literary world in 1914 and later became known for his historical novels. His works are mostly drawn from Japanese and Chinese history, and he excelled at portraying personal growth and the sweep of an era within a framework of historical fact, in a style that is accessible and deeply engaging. His major works include Musashi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The New Taiko Chronicles, Kuroda Josui, and Minamoto no Yoritomo. This library holds 46 of his works, including several volumes of the Three Kingdoms series and the complete Musashi. His historical novels have long enjoyed a wide readership and have had a significant influence on the development of Japanese popular literature.

松月白 Author

Songyue Bai is a Chinese translator working in the field of Japanese historical and swordsman fiction. Public information about this translator is limited, with no clear records of biography, nationality, or dates of birth and death. Judging from the twelve works held in the collection, Songyue Bai has focused on introducing Japanese popular historical literature to Chinese readers, having translated works such as Uesugi Kenshin, Taira no Masakado, Yagyu Tsukikage-sho, Kumo no Enmacho, and the new edition of Chushingura. The translated works center on stories of Sengoku warlords, Edo-period swordsmen, and loyal retainers, while also touching on mystery and otherworld fantasy genres. The representative work Shinran, in three volumes, deals with the biography of a Japanese Buddhist figure. Overall, Songyue Bai's choices lean toward strongly narrative works rich in legendary characters, and the translations serve to convey the appeal of Japanese historical fiction, offering readable texts for Chinese readers interested in such subjects.