Analysis Of The Samurai's Garden By Gail Tsukiyama

In the novel, The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama, Stephen-san was on his way towards a full recovery, from tuberculosis, when he discovered the Japanese mythological system through his family’s servant, Matsu. Through his time, he spent in Japan he learned what roles the gods play in his everyday life and discovered a new way to view living and dying. He learned new ways to look at his life and understand his purpose. Stephan-san grew more than just physically in his time spent in Tarumi, Japan. He also learned what it meant to become spiritual and learned from this new spiritual realm he discovered. This mythological system affected how they went about their everyday lives, the gods they worshiped, the ways they worshiped the gods,

and what they believed the afterlife was like.
Stephan-san was a Chinese student in Canton, at Lingnan University when he contracted tuberculosis and his instructors ordered him home. His family decided to send him to their summer home, in Tarumi, Japan, to recover where the air was fresher then, in Hong Kong, where they lived.

While in Tarumi Stephen-san lived with his family servant, Matsu. One of the first things Stephan-san noticed at his arrival to his new home was how Japanese viewed cleanliness. Matsu demonstrated this by when arriving at the house he took off his outdoor shoes and replaced them with slippers for the indoors. This symbolizes how they did not want to transport dirt from the outside world to the inside. When Stephan-san was, younger and visiting their summer home he asked his mom why they had to change their shoes when entering the house and she replied, “it had to do with the Japanese custom of cleanliness, of not taking dirt from the streets into the house” (Tsukiyama, 10). This idea of keeping dirt out of

their home they found a deeper meaning in life, making sure they keep themselves clean to remain horoable. The first thing Stephan-san did when he arrived at the house in Tarumi was, take a bath to cleanse himself after his hot dusty walk from the train station, “it felt good after the hot, dusty walk” (Tsukiyama, 11). The Japanese also had an immense focus on honor, that is evident when they interact with each other and they bow to show respect for each other when they are greeting one another. When the disease, leprosy, swept through Tarumi and Matsu’s sister Tomoko contracted it she felt it was a more reasonable idea to commit suicide than to live with the disease, dishonoring her family. The Japanese did not view suicide as a negative deed, but a way to restore honor to their friends and family.
Stephan-san before arriving in Tarumi Japan had grown up with a Western Christian influence.

“My parents gave us all Christian names at birth since my father believes it an asset in the business world to be addressed with ease by Westerners”, because his father was a businessman he had the Christian faith as an influence of what spirituality was (Tsukiyama, 4). He had attended a catholic school and learned what religion was through his classes and studies. This belief carries over even after he had learned of the Japanese gods because he continues to celebrate Christmas, with Matsu, while in Tarumi. But while in Tarumi, Matsu took Stephan-san to the Shrine which, “housed what Matsu told me was the fox deity; the kami, Inari” (Tsukiyama, 89). However, before entering the shrine, they had to cleanse themselves with water to be clean in the presence of the gods. Worshipping the gods was something Matsu did only when necessary. He would travel to the shrine on important occasions or when he needed help from the Inari, the fox deity. Pleasing the gods was a way their lives were changed by their myth

system.
While at the Shrine they performed rituals to please the gods they were praying to. When Matsu and Steph-san entered the Shrine, Matsu clapped three times to express to the gods that they are at the shrine, then he told Stephan-san to do the same thing. Then they bowed low praying to the gods. The Japanese worshiped the gods by praying to them within the shrine. Matsu also brought, “some sticky rice to place in the glazed bowl before the shrine” as an offering for the Inari (Tsukiyama, 90). On January first, every year the Japanese celebrate New Year’s which to them is a spiritual celebration for a fresh start in the new year. They hung up a Shime-nawa, which is a rope of twisted straw that was supposed to keep evil spirits away in the new year. Another ritual they perform is the yearly bean throwing. The Shrine priest threw beans out onto the ground. With the beans, winter and its demons of cold and pestilence are thrown out as well. This is a way for them to get rid of the evil spirits and give honor to the gods in doing so. This is also a symbol of the beans impregnating the earth for plants to bloom in the spring. The Japanese believe in getting rid of their evil spirits not just to bring happiness in their lives but so they will be in a better place after death.
“When you reach the top of the bridge, you can see your way to paradise” is a quote from Sanchi when she was talking to Stephan-san in the garden (Tsukiyama, 58). This image of the bridge is a way they can imagine what life to death would be like. Life is like your travel up the bridge and when you reach the end of life, which is represented by the top of the bridge, you can see the paradise of the afterlife. Before arriving in Tarumi, Stephan-san had not experienced many people’s death. However, in his time in Tarumi, he learned more about death and the afterlife, through Kenzo’s suicide and stories about Matsu’s sister, Tomoko. After Kenzo’s suicide, bad spirits seemed to linger in his tea shop. This experience causes Stephan-san to begin to wonder what death was like. This was a new experience for him and he was trying to figure it out. August 16, 1938, was the celebration of O-bon where the Japanese honored the dead and celebrated the homecoming of loved ones. After death, the spirits of those who passed away can find peace. A tradition they do for O-bon is preparing food and take it to the graves of loved ones, to honor their memories.
The Japanese rely on their mythological system in their everyday lives and how they interpret situations in their lives. They live their lives with a focus on their spirituality and honoring others. To the Japanese, honor is very important and if they are found to be dishonoring to their family they find death more appealing then living in dishonor. They thrive off respect and honor and aim towards doing what they believe to be the most respectful and honorable action. They also use symbols to visualize ideas of the afterlife helps them to understand what death is like. Their mythology system dictates the way they live their lives, the way they worship, and what they believe the afterlife will be like.