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,

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

“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