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9. Autumn: October 29, 1937
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Samurai’s Garden, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Time, Nature, and Continuity
External Beauty vs. Internal Strength
Shame, Honor and Survival
Political vs. Personal Allegiance
Loneliness, Loss, and Memory
Summary
Analysis
Sachi has invited Stephen and Matsu for lunch, and Stephen wakes up early in anticipation. But when Stephen ventures into the kitchen, he is surprised to see that Matsu is making bacon and eggs instead of his usual rice and pickled vegetables. Stephen is surprised, wondering how Matsu learned how to cook such a Western meal, so Matsu explains that Stephen’s grandfather (“your oji-san”) loved to eat eggs. As they eat, Matsu tells Stephen about his granddad, who died when Stephen was young.
In addition to showing his care for Stephen through a surprise treat, Matsu’s dedication to cooking Western food suggests that he is eager for ways to keep Stephen’s grandfather alive in his memories. Not only that, but Matsu also seems hungry to pass these memories on to Stephen, ensuring that Stephen’s oji-san will live on in his grandson’s thoughts.
Active
Themes
Stephen, nervously clutching the charcoal drawing he plans to give Sachi, is quiet on the journey up to Yamaguchi. When Matsu knocks on Sachi’s door, no one answers, so Matsu goes to look for her in her garden. Stephen is surprised that Sachi’s garden is almost entirely devoid of plants; instead, there are just groups of rocks with sand and moss, carefully arranged. “A dry landscape,” Matsu explains, “it’s called kare sansui.” Matsu goes to look for Sachi, but Stephen cannot tear himself away from the beauty, surprised at how much texture and depth simple stones can create.
Though Matsu’s garden is the one that gives the novel its title, Sachi’s garden is no less important as a symbolic site. The traditional Japanese technique of kare sansui (also known as a Zen garden or a rock garden) involves using carefully raked rocks to mimic the texture and pattern of water. Kare sansui gardens are time-intensive to create, and are often associated with healing, calm, and Shinto spirituality.
Active
Themes
When Sachi returns, Stephen presents her with his drawing. Sachi is profoundly honored, her voice cracking as she tells Stephen that “you have brought me the sea.” The trio eats a bento box lunch, and Stephen is again struck by the elegant simplicity of Sachi’s life. Stephen has so many questions about Sachi: her isolation, and her garden with its mix of “beauty and sadness.” But when Stephen asks Matsu on the way back, Matsu only says that Sachi refuses to leave this town, not wanting to “dishonor” her family.
