Takuan

Please note: This article is about the member of Toturi's Army and Imperial Chancellor. For other uses of the term, please see Takuan (disambiguation).

Takuan
Born:	Unknown
Died:	1132
Parents:	Un-named trader
Titles:	Imperial Chancellor, Imperial Regent
People

Daidoji Takuan was cast out from the Crane Clan and became the ronin known simply as Takuan. He became a loyal follower of Toturi the Black. After Toturi was crowned Emperor of Rokugan, Takuan became his chancellor and after Toturi's disappearance he was the Imperial Regent.

Beginnings

Born of a vassal family of the Daidoji, son of a trader, Takuan began life protecting the mercantile interests of the Crane, and his father pulled many political strings in order to allow his son to train with the Akodo, Doji and the Kakita.

Outcast

After his gempukku, Takuan was assigned to guard a Daidoji caravan. He later discovered the caravan was merely a cover for an opium smuggling cartel, and immediately reported this to his lord, Daidoji Kichibei. Takuan struck Kichibei across the face. Takuan's lord drew his sword and demanded that the young samurai kneel before him, but Takuan refused, saying he could not serve a weak man. Takuan then knocked his lord to the floor and left in disgust in search of his own future. These events occurred when he was 24 years old.

Ronin

Takuan

Takuan served two years in the service of the Crab Clan at the Kaiu Wall, then as a caravan guard for the Ide family in the deserts north of Rokugan, and later was a diplomat for the Sparrow Clan.

Nanashi Mura Governor

In the year 1122 Takuan helped the village of Nanashi Mura grow under his leadership, and served as the head of the Eyes of Nanashi, where he made friends with the local magistrate, Mirumoto Taki. When he heard of the army that was growing under the leadership of Toturi, he felt that this could potentially help protect the villagers of Nanashi from the Lion Clan.

Toturi's Army

Toturi's Lieutenant

In 1127 the Eyes of Nanashi infiltrated Toturi's Army, with plans to assassinate Toturi if he were to be corrupted by his power. Satisfied that Toturi had the best interests of the Empire in mind, they willingly joined with Toturi the Black, and Takuan was granted the chui rank in the army. A group of Akodo ronin led by Utsuei left the Nanashi in disgust, blaming Toturi for their disgrace. Takuan would become a powerful warrior and a charismatic leader of Toturi's Army. He also became the leader of the Twelve Ronin.

Guarding Beiden Pass

After the Unicorn clan left Beiden Pass in 1128, Toturi's Army was released from their trap in the Lion lands. They headed toward the Crane lands to confront the False Hoturi. Takuan was left in charge of the pass.

Imperial Chancellor

Toturi as Emperor appointed Takuan to the office of Imperial Chancellor, reassigning Kakita Yoshi to be the Imperial Advisor.

Creating the Monkey Clan

In 1129 Toturi I appointed Toku as the new Captain of the Imperial Guard and granted him his own clan, the Monkey Clan. Takuan suggested that the fledgling Minor Clan, filled with ronin who owed their fame and respect to Toturi, would make an excellent pool of apolitical Imperial Magistrates. Its assigned duty was to keep law and order in the Empire.

The Disappearance of Toturi I

In 1130 in the Month of the Hare Toturi I announced a great festival for his second anniversary as Emperor, and important members of the Clans gathered at the Imperial City. But before the celebration began, a guard announced the sudden disappearance of Toturi. Upon searching the bloodied royal chambers, a scrap of Scorpion silk was discovered. The Phoenix Clan Champion Shiba Tsukune related that she had seen Bayushi Kachiko in the Emperor's chambers just an hour previous to the disappearance. Tsukune led the Imperial guards through a secret passage behind the Emperor's room where the investigators found an Akodo Dagger in the hands of the dead Bayushi Tagumura, a minor Scorpion Daimyo; he also clutched a piece of Toturi's cloak. Upon the dagger's tang was inscribed the name of its owner, Akodo Kage, a revered Lion sensei who had supposedly died during the Clan War. Only a Lion could have had this rare weapon, further confusing the matter.

Imperial Regent

Regent Takuan

Takuan, as the Imperial Chancellor, had to act as Imperial Regent. He now needed to keep the Imperial Court together and the Clans at peace, but was not yet ready for this task. Overwhelmed by the responsibility, he turned to the Imperial Advisor Kakita Yoshi for aid. Yoshi helped Toturi's regent maintain a semblance of control, sacrificing the stability of his clan for the stability of the Empire.

Scorpion Fostered

As the Scorpion were unable to answer for the testimonies brought against them, Takuan, on the advice of Emerald Champion Kakita Toshimoko, ordered the entire Scorpion Clan to be stripped of their lands and titles and exiled to the Burning Sands. All Scorpion children under the age of 12 were to be fostered to the Crane to ensure that the Scorpion did not attempt any subterfuge.

Chaos

Flattery begins

Lawlessness and banditry became rampant. The rising tides of ambition and loyalty threatened to crush the Empire in an iron grasp. Two months after Toturi's kidnapping, the Empire was in chaos. The Imperial Court saw the weakness of Takuan and the flattery began, with some whispering that he should create his own dynasty, the Takuan family.

Jade Championship

While exploring the archives of Otosan Uchi, Imperial scribes discovered the existence of the long-defunct office of Jade Champion. Takuan, seizing the opportunity to renew the magic lost during the Clan War, decided to hold the first Jade Champion tournament in three hundred years. In 1131, a Lion shugenja, Kitsu Okura, unexpectedly bested his opponents and won the title.

Hitomi Requests Imperial Aid

From Kyuden Hitomi Dragon ambassadors came to the Imperial Court, telling tales of genocide by the Naga, and speaking claims of peaceful intent. Hitomi sent a message of goodwill and unity and an offer of brotherhood to all who wished to join her in her 'quest for enlightenment.' Hitomi Kobai offered food in exchange for Imperial military support against the Naga army, and Takuan decided to assist the Dragon, as advised by Yoshi.

Siege of Kyuden Hitomi

Takuan defended Kyuden Hitomi against the combined armies of the Naga and Brotherhood of Shinsei during the Siege of Sleeping Mountain.

The Madness of Toturi

After his rescue from his capture and torture by the Lying Darkness, Emperor Toturi was never the same. In 1132 he began a purge of Otosan Uchi of everyone he deemed to be a Kolat--a word known by few and never before openly spoken of in the Imperial Court. Even the flimsiest evidence resulted in executions by Toturi. Takuan, horrified by his lord's actions, requested to be allowed to commit seppuku. What was left of the true Toturi begged his friend to stay by his side, and Takuan reluctantly agreed.

Death

Takuan's Seppuku

The day after Takuan and Toturi's discussion, however, the Emperor turned on his former friend, announcing to the Imperial Court that he had ordered the Chancellor to commit seppuku for gross incompetence during his absence. The final insult came when Toturi ordered Emerald Champion Seppun Toshiken, whom Takuan despised, to stand as the Chancellor's second. Takuan performed the requested seppuku.

See also

Shiryo no Takuan

• Takuan/Meta
• Takuan/CW Meta

External Links

• Takuan (Anvil of Despair)
• Takuan Exp (Hidden Emperor 1)

Preceded by: Kakita Yoshi	Imperial Chancellor 1128 - 1132	Succeeded by: Vacant until Bayushi Kaukatsu
Preceded by: Toturi I	Regent 1130 - 1132	Succeeded by: Toturi I

References

This Crane Clan related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.

This Ronin related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.

This Imperial Families related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.