Musui's Story

Japan in the late Edo period was a rigidly structured, class-based society virtually without social mobility. What evidence does the author provide for the societal hierarchy and the interaction between the different classes? How did the author try to bypass this hierarchy? What do you think about the way that Japanese society functioned?

Describe the gender norms in Japan during the late Edo period by using the evidence that the author provides.

The author’s purpose for writing his autobiography is to use himself as a negative example for his descendants to set them on a righteous path. Considering his less-than-perfect lifestyle, do you believe the author is equipped to administer such advice? Use textual evidence to answer this question.