The Rosary of Fate
On Breaking of the Spirit Beads:
Notice that when the 7 dog warriors follow Shinbei, they all "break" their beads. This is because Shinbei is already on the wrong path.
Shinbei is Sympathy, but he places his Sympathy on the plight of the Satomi family, thinking that he must defend the whole family from the evils of Tamazusa and Aboshi. Not realizing that Fuse's father is the real curse, he walks down the wrong path.
What happens to those who follow?
-
Shino is Fillial Devotion... Devotion to the family. However, what does Shino do while involved with Shinbei? He abandons his brothers to save the woman who looks like his Hamaji.
-
Dousetsu is Loyalty. He also abandons the brothers just to get away from Shinbei.
-
Sousuke is Duty. However, he draws his sword on Shinbei rather than carry out the mission of destroying the dam.
-
Genpachi is Faith, but look at his reaction to the kid. I mean...we see the kid has supernatural power and certainly proof of the forces that bind them, but he is the first to question why they are following the boy.
-
Keno is Wisdom, but Keno almost blindly follows Shinbei's instructions without thought of what is going on. I mean Shinbei almost attacks Keno because Keno called him a kid. Would a wise person trust such behavior?
-
Daikaku is Propper Form. Of course he is quick to point out that he doesn't understand what he's doing. Good ol' Shinbei tells him to simply follow without thought. As an aside...note that in the confusion, Daikaku stops to meditate as if to regain his way...and it works because he opposes Shinbei once he is done.
-
Lastly, we have Kobungo. Kobungo is the last to go. He is brotherly affection. He tries...tries so hard to reach Shinbei...but Shinbei cuts Kobungo. Shinbei already has family ties to Kobungo, but Kobungo finally draws on him... the final bead broken.
One last side note:
When Genpachi hurls the bead, thinking he has turned from his path...hurling his bead at Shibei... it comes back to him. Shinbei thinks this is a sign of his path being correct, but this is not the case. I think the bead comes back to Genpachi because Genpachi's choice is the correct choice. After all, when Douesetsu tried to act in an ignoble way...the birthmark caused him pain and he was forced to do the right thing... the action of the pearl seems to me to be in connection with that same kind of action.