The+Samurai's+Garden

by Gail Tsukiyama

Discussion Time: 4B, Thursday, January 13, 10:55-12:25

Group Members Nestor G F Stephen O'B Dan G- Facilitator Jon H Ryan McG Calvin P Ben S*


 * Covers**





**Main characters:**
__Stephen Chan__: main character in the book. He was a student at Lingnam University in Canton, China, but when he discovers that he has tuberculosis he travels to Tarumi, Japan, to his grandfather's house to rest. He loves painting and art. He is also the narrator of the story. His family is wealthy. He is attractive and he has black curly hair. __Keiko__: she is the Japanese girl who Stephen meets at the beach in Tarumi. She is shy and she has a lot of respect for her father. She is also a little afraid of him, because he is very authoritarian. She is very beautiful and she always wear//s// a //kimono//. __Matsu__: he takes care of the house in Tarumi. He has worked for Stephen family's all his life, since he was a kid. He loves gardening and he keeps an amazing Japanese garden (genken) at the house. He is quiet and he only talks when he thinks is necessary. But he also loves. He is athletic for his age and very strong. He is over sixty. __Sachi__: she is a woman over two years younger than Matsu. She lives in Yamaguchi, a village in the mountains near Tarumi where the lepers from all parts of Japan found their home. She got ill when she was very young. She is very nice. She grew up like person with the years. She also wears a kimono and she keeps a wonderful garden in the back of her house, made of sand and stone. __Kenzo__: he is the oldest friend of Matsu. They started being friends when they were kids. He own the Tea House in Tarumi. He provides Matsu everything he needs. He is a funny man. He is smart and he could be successful outside of Tarumi, but he never left. He preferred to take care of his parents and the Tea House. Stephen's Father: Although not present throughout the novel, Stephen's father gains larger importance once Stephen finds out he is having an affair. Stephen's father lives in Hong Kong, but often goes to Japan for his work.

The book is narrated by the main character Stephen. He makes really precise descriptions about the different situations and places in the novel. The book takes the shape of a journal. He doesn't write every day, but when he does he writes a lot. Also the novel "The Samurai's Garden" is organized by seasons.
 * Narration**
 * There are often gaps in time between when Stephen writes. What impact do you think that has on the flow of the novel?

"Isn't it interesting, Stephen-san," Matsu said, "how sometimes you must cut away something in order to make it grow back stronger?" I nodded. "It may seem lonely and barren at first, only to flower again in the spring." (192) "But what of all the Chinese civilians killed during the last year? Did Keiko and her family grieve for those sons and daughters, mothers and fathers? The madness of war destroyed much more than just the soldiers fighting in it. It picked apart everything in its way, so that no one escaped its clutches" (188). "But it was too late, for Keiko turned just in time to see me. She quickly took hold of Mika's arm and began to pull her away, but not before her father turned toward me. He stood there solid and unmoved. His unsmiling glare cut right through me, sizing me up." (110) "At the time," Matsu paused, in thought, "it was easier for Sachi to see someone she didn't care for." (49) Love The life in a war society/race The disease tragedy in a small village Death/Suicide Honor Beauty Culture Differences Setting Differences-Hong Kong vs. Tarumi Isolation Solitutde
 * Significant passages:**
 * Themes/Motifs:**

__**Setting**__ The novel takes place in Tarumi, a village in the coast of Japan. It also takes place at the beginning in Hong Kong, where the main character lives with his family. The story goes from the Autumn of 1937 to the Autumn of 1938. -How is devotion prevalent in this novel? -Race obviously plays a big role during the war. How does this effect each character? -How does Stephen's father's opinion of race effect him [Stephen] and his family? -Do you think this book is primarily about love? -Death and suicide play a large part in the novel, as does what consists an "honorable" death. Do you feel that Kenzo's death was honorable? What about Tomoko's? Is Sachi more honorable than the others for choosing life? -The painting of the garden is the only one Stephen completes throughout his entire stay in Tarumi. Do you think that holds any symbolism? If so, what? -The idea of prayer comes into play during the episode at the Tama shrine. What is it that you think Matsu prayed for? -Stephen makes many references to his being an outsider in Tarumi, and notices it most through the lack of other young men in the village, obviously due to the war. How does this affect him? How would this affect you? -Stephen does not seem to possess any desire to fight the Japanese, despite the atrocities they commit on his people. How would you feel about living in the a country full of people who were currently at war with your own? -How Does Kenzo's death impact the village differently than the outbreak/suicides of the Leprosy victims? Why do you think this is? -What do you think Sachi's feelings are toward Kenzo? -Stephen's father's infidelity destroys Stephen's concept of his family and what marriage means. How would you feel in his place? -What do you believe the white blossom Keiko left on the front gate symbolizes? What do you think Keiko was trying to say?
 * Tarumi is an extremely isolated village, as is Yamaguchi. How does this impact the novel? How does it impact the Characters?
 * Stephen moves from Hong Kong to Tarumi to rest. Do you think it is good for him going to Yamaguchi, a village where all the people are lepers?
 * Throughout the novel, Stephen contrasts Tarumi to Hong Kong. What do you think of the difference between the two and the effect on Stephen?
 * __Thematic Questions:__**

-Do you think Keiko loves Stephen? -What do you think about Kenzo and Matsu's argument? Who do you think is right? -What do you think about Matsu? Why doesn't he talk? -Who do you believe needs the other person more, Matsu or Sachi? -What does Kenzo's refusal to see Sachi once he realized she was alive say about his character? -A step further, what does Kenzo's suicide say about his character? -What does Matsu's tenacious loyalty to both Stephen's family and to Sachi say about him? -What are the traits that cause Matsu to be a "samurai of the soul?" -Sachi makes a brief, one line statement to the fact that she and Matsu had had a son, and that Stephen reminded them of him. Why do you think they had chosen to hide the information from Stephen? What does this reveal about the relationship between Matsu and Sachi? -Sachi makes a brief, one line statement to the fact that she and Matsu had had a son, and that Stephen reminded them of him. Why do you think they had chosen to hide the information from Stephen? What does this reveal about the relationship between Matsu and Sachi? -Matsu at one point makes a comparison between Kenzo and Tomoko, saying that they were probably best suited for one another. What does he mean by that? What unspoken feelings/messages might this send about Matsu's opinion of Kenzo? -What roles do Ching and Pie fill in the novel? How would Stephen be affected without them? -King's letters provide Stephen with unbiased information regarding the war in China. Through them Stephen reconnects with his Chinese roots during his stay in Japan. How do you think Stephen would have acted without them? -What do you think about the Japanese-Chinese cultural struggle for Stephen and his father? Which culture do you think they feel closest to?
 * __Character Questions:__**

-The author has stated that she often uses her own ancestry for inspiration in her novels. Do you think she has any direct link to the love story portrayed in this novel? -How do you feel about the ending? Do you think there was enough closure? -As stated above, the author bases a lot of her novels off of personal experience. How do you think she views the different sides of the conflict? -Seasonal organization is common in many Asian pieces of literature. How does this affect the novel? -How do you feel about the journal entry style of the novel? Do you like it? Do you think this was the most effective way to get the novels ideas across?
 * __Style of Writing Questions__:**

__**Factual Questions:**__ -How does Kenzo's death effect each character? -Which has the larger impact of Stephen? Keiko's rejection or Kenzo's death? -Why has Matsu stayed in Tarumi all these long years if he loved Sachi so much? -What are Stephen's Feelings regarding the war? -Why do you think Matsu and Sachi kept their child hidden from Stephen for most of the book?

__**Videos**__ @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-a4Ysfmqo This is an interpretation of the key parts of the novel made by some students for English class. It's not very well made but it gives you and idea of the scenes.

[|__http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/0312144075.asp__] A fairly good review of the novel that discusses most of the major topics.
 * Book Review**


 * Pictures**

Torii gates Kimono

Rock and sand Japanese garden (Sachi's)

Tama Shrine

Japanese Garden (Matsu's)

[] [] Basic (and comprehensive) information on leprosy

Talking point: Google Earth Tarumi. Take a look at what it currently looks like as compared to how it is described in the novel.