1. What does Tadashii teach Take about becoming a man and becoming a warrior? What is the role of teachers (tengus or not) throughout the series? How does Tadashii’s slow-paced game of Go (in which Take recognizes himself as one of the pieces) reflect the power struggle between the clans?

2. How does the magical Kudzu Vine Treasure Store reflect your own experience of a particularly powerful book that unlocked special wisdom for you?

3. In chapter 14, Yoshi observes that “all living beings fear death. That’s why we should not inflict it on any of them.” What do the experiences of Masachika and Chika say about destiny and “inflicted” deaths? 

4. Ascending to the Lotus Throne, the Emperor decrees that the domain of Maruyama will always be inherited through the female line, unraveling his predecessor’s increasingly harsh oppression of women. How did the suppression of women contribute to the suffering of men and women alike?

5. What does the closing chapter demonstrate about authentic power versus the love of power, and the power of love itself? What does Shika teach his son about the traits of a successful warrior?

6. From the origin stories of the tribe to the formative years of Takeyoshi (who is briefly mentioned in Heaven’s Net Is Wide), how does The Tale of Shikanoko enrich your enjoyment of other books by Lian Hearn?