Bathing is a cleansing, meditative ritual that is important to the Japanese. When the book begins, Blackthorne rarely bathes; few of the English do. By the time he becomes hatamoto, he sees the European custom of bathing infrequently as barbaric. His former uncleanliness revolts him, as does the stink of his old shipmates. 

The Portuguese trading vessel nicknamed the Black Ship represents the riches of Europe. It passes through Japanese waters each year, filled with weapons and goods, often worth in excess of one million gold pieces. Blackthorne has always wanted to seize the ship and take its plunder for himself. After the Erasmus burns, Blackthorne hopes to take the Black Ship to recoup his losses, enrich himself, build Toranaga’s fleet, and strike back against his religious enemies. 

This symbol of Christianity represents faith, conflicts between Christian sects, and priestly hypocrisy. Mariko’s crucifix is a cherished symbol of her faith—the purest of the novel’s religious symbols. Conversely, the ornately decorated crucifix that Blackthorne breaks in front of Father Sebastio—a symbol of Catholic outward showiness, which is one of the things Protestants decry—symbolizes Blackthorne’s hatred of the Jesuits.