64 pages • 2 hours read
Gail TsukiyamaThe Samurai's Garden
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Autumn: September 15, 1937-Autumn: September 29, 1937
Autumn: October 5, 1937-Autumn: October 29, 1937
Autumn: October 30, 1937-Autumn: November 30, 1937
Autumn: December 1, 1937-Winter: December 7, 1937
Winter: December 21, 1937-Winter: February 4, 1938
Winter: February 5, 1938- Winter: March 14, 1938
Spring: March 28, 1938-Spring: May 30, 1938
Summer: June 6, 1938-Summer: July 5, 1938
Summer: July 9, 1938-Summer: August 16, 1938
Summer: August 17, 1938-Autumn: September 23, 1938
Autumn: September 28, 1938-Autumn: October 19
Autumn: October 20, 1938-Autumn: October 26, 1938
Autumn: October 27, 1938-Autumn: October 29, 1938
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Autumn: October 27, 1938-Autumn: October 29, 1938Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Autumn: October 27, 1938 Summary
As Stephen packs for his journey to Hong Kong, three days away, he and Matsu feel their looming separation: “it’s as if the house is slowly becoming a stranger to us. Matsu stares hard into each room as if he already sees it as it once was, silent and uncluttered” (207). Sachi turns up for an afternoon visit and stays until evening, an unexpected delight tinged with sadness. As Matsu walks her back to Yamaguchi, Stephen realizes that the visit was for Matsu, not for him.
Autumn: October 28, 1938 Summary
On the morning of Stephen’s last full day in Tarumi, Matsu greets him with two packages. One contains dinner, Matsu tells him. The other is a secret.
Stephen gives Matsu his painting of the garden and thanks him for taking care of him. Matsu is deeply touched and responds, “I sometimes think it has been the other way around” (208).
They go to the Tama shrine, where Stephen performs the rituals from before. But he has not come to pray; rather, he wishes to leave a slip of paper on the wall near the altar with all of the other villagers’ prayers so that something of him will remain.
