Thousand Cranes Yasunari Kawabata Author information        Born in Osaka, Japan in 1899. Lost whole family by age 16. First published at age 26 (Diary of a Sixteen Year-Old) Wrote over 100 short stories, or tanagokoro no shoetsu (palmof-the-hand stories) Thousand Cranes published in 1949 in Japan and in 1958 in America Won Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968 Died in 1972 Themes in his works  Sense of loneliness  Thoughts of death  Focus on human relationships  Examination of nature  Thoughts on change and loss  Lonely and alienated individuals seeking comfort in unlikely relationships  Clashing cultures Motifs in the novel        Thousand Cranes scarf Flower arrangements and vases Fireflies Tea ceremony Tea bowls Colors Flowers (a motif is a repeated image) Nature in the novel  Nature is beautiful and harmonious, with order and rules—and a seemingly ethical or moral dimension.  The symbolic beauty of nature is the predominant subject of Japanese art and literature. Continued . . . Humankind exists within the order of nature.  Japanese people wish to be at one with nature.  This oneness is accomplished through works of beauty  Flower meanings  Morning glory – mortality – shortness of life – beauty, a joy to be remembered  Chrysanthemum – – – – flower of autumn symbol of longevity optimism, strength, courage coat of arms of Japan More flowers . . .  Peony – Flower of 20 days – Prosperity, happiness  Cherry blossom – National flower of Japan – Loyalty and filial love  Japanese Irises – Heroism, flower of boys, heraldry and royalty  White Roses – Innocence, silence, devotion More Flowers …  Carnations – Fascination, distinction, love  Oleander – Hope and peace – Flower of Hiroshima More flowers . . .  Iris – Strength, vitality, boldness – Power, eloquence, heroism  Azalea – Family devotion  Pomegranate – Fertility – Progeny Fireflies Symbol of light and inspiration  Symbol of the soul and ghosts of the dead, especially warriors  A little about the book  Thousand Cranes is an examination of human relationships—a young man named Kikuji becomes involved with two mistresses of his dead father—and with the daughter of one of them.  The Japanese ritual of the tea ceremony is woven throughout the text. Structure of novel Spans only a few weeks in the life of Kikuji  Episodic--focuses on very specific moments with incredible detail  Uses intense, vivid description  Uses terse and concise language--every description holds value  Each sentence, a moment  Pronunciation Key Kuri|moto | | chestnut root/ tree origin Ota | big rice field Chika|ko | | close child Mi|kato | beauty Kikuji | -Chrysanthemum -Symbol of Japan -Symbol of beauty -Ground/surface Fumi|ko | | fragrance child Yuki|ko | | snow child Characters  Kikuji Mitani  – Long term affair with Kikuji’s father – Young business man  Chikako Kurimoto – Tea mistress, – Matchmaker, – Brief affair with Kikuji’s father Mrs. Ota  Fumiko Ota – Daugter of Mrs. Ota  Yukiko Inamura – Thousand Cranes girl Engakuji Temple “Even when he reached Kamakura and the Engakuji Temple, Kikuji did not know whether or not he would go to the tea ceremony.”