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Setchbai
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Wikipedia article
'Seijishsetsu: Setchbai' (: ; "A Political Novel: Plum Blossoms in Snow") is an 1886 Japanese novel written by Tetch Suehiro.
Kyoko Kurita wrote in "The Romantic Triangle in Meiji Literature" that the novel is "a simple Aesopian story (with a happy ending), in which the characters are mere tools to advocate the author's political convictions".Kurita, Kyoko. "The Romantic Triangle in Meiji Literature". In: Hardacre, Helen and Adam Lewis Kern (editors). 'New Directions in the Study of Meiji Japan' (Volume 6 of Brill's Japanese Studies Library). BRILL, 1997. , 9789004107359. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=pXlZoSjXb2QC&pg=PA231 231]. Ozaki Yukio stated in his introduction of the novel that it is not merely a romance story but a modern Japanese novel; Kurita argued that this introduction was "generous".
The book has a sequel, 'Kakan'' ().
Plot
The book begins on October 3, 2040 (Meiji 173) in Tokyo. Two men, a host and a guest, both of whom are unnamed, discuss how powerful and wealthy Japan has become. The host stated that he did not understand how Japan recovered from poor conditions in 1880 (Meiji 13), in which Japan experienced political strife, and in the period 1883-1886 (Meiji 16-19), in which political discussion had declined. The guest responds by showing two books, titled "Plum Blossoms in Snow" and "Songbirds Among Flowers."Hill, Christopher L. 'National History and the World of Nations: Capital, State, and the Rhetoric of History in Japan, France, and the United States' (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press, December 26, 2008. , 9780822389156. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT181 165] (Google Books PT181) They describe the main character and his eventual wife, Kunino Motoi ( ) and Tominaga Haru ( or 'O-haru').Hill, Christopher L. 'National History and the World of Nations: Capital, State, and the Rhetoric of History in Japan, France, and the United States' (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press, December 26, 2008. , 9780822389156. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT181 165]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT182 166] (Google Books PT181-182) These notebooks were written by a professor and his wife.Matthew, Robert. 'Japanese Science Fiction: A View of a Changing Society' (Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies). Routledge, September 2, 2003. , 9781134983605. Google Books [https://books.google.com/books?id=gCPIXYWkyLYC&pg=PT18 PT18]. The convention involving a novel opening with a discussion among unnamed men was common in the Tokugawa period.
The primary story is set in the years 18861890 (Meiji 1923). Kunino adopts an alias and moves to Tokyo in order to become involved in politics. He meets a former samurai and promises to marry the samurai's daughter, Haru, but decides not to meet her until he has established himself. However Kunino is forced to keep a low profile when the government enacts a round of persecution. Haru's parents die, and her only possession is a photograph of Kunino since her uncle has her parents' former possessions. In Meiji 19 she attends a speech given by Kunino, now ill and using his real name.Hill, Christopher L. 'National History and the World of Nations: Capital, State, and the Rhetoric of History in Japan, France, and the United States' (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press, December 26, 2008. , 9780822389156. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT182 166] (Google Books PT182)
Haru decides to financially sponsor and support Kunino, who works to unite the different political groups in Japan, and assists him as he experiences financial difficulties and becomes incarcerated, despite the fact that her uncle wants her to marry another man.Mollard, Nicolas. "[https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/download/unige:713/THESIS Construction d'une identit littraire moderne travers la relecture d'une esthtique traditionnelle : Furyu dans les crits de Koda Rohan autour de 1890, avec une traduction de 4 nouvelles et un pome : Furyubutsu, O-Fumi-sama o tomurau, Dokushushin, Engaien, Fujibumi]." PhD thesis, University of Geneva, 2007, no. L. 634. p. 51. "OHaru, tombe amoureuse du protagoniste Kunino Motoi lors d'un ... voudrait la marier un autre homme." She does not learn of Kunino's former identity until she shows him the photograph. Haru's uncle reveals that her father had written a will which gives Kunino the family estate. They marry,Hill, Christopher L. 'National History and the World of Nations: Capital, State, and the Rhetoric of History in Japan, France, and the United States' (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press, December 26, 2008. , 9780822389156. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT182 166]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT183 167] (Google Books PT182183) and continue to be involved in politics.
Characters
The main characters are: Kunino Motoi, a poor man who becomes a political activist and intends to become the leader of Japan; Tominaga Haru, an educated young woman who finances the Freedom and Popular Rights Movement and becomes involved with Kunino; and Kawagishi Hysui ( ), an evil man who tries to become Haru's boyfriend. The names of all three characters are based on attributes chosen by Suehiro: Motoi's name means "foundation of a nation", Haru's name means "ever-lasting fortune and spring", and Kawagishi's name means "floating weed along a river bank."
Development
The author himself had devoted his life to resolving differences among the Japanese political factions, and he had previously been incarcerated due to libel law violations;Maeda, Ai. "Utopia of the Prisonhouse: A Reading of 'In Darkest Tokyo'" (translated by Seiji M. Lippett and James A. Fujii). In: Maeda, Ai (Introduction and editing by James A. Fujii). 'Text and the City: Essays on Japanese Modernity'. Duke University Press. March 4, 2004. , 9780822385622. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ff4ucRG56IwC&pg=PA30 30]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ff4ucRG56IwC&pg=PA31 31]. these aspects influenced the novel.
Sequel
The sequel, written in 1888 and 1889, is 'Seijishsetsu: Kakan'' (: ; "A Political Novel: A Nightingale Among the Flowers" or "Songbirds Among Flowers"), and it focuses on how Japan as a whole unifies. The country establishes a constitution and elections, and a political establishment is closed.Hill, Christopher L. 'National History and the World of Nations: Capital, State, and the Rhetoric of History in Japan, France, and the United States' (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press, December 26, 2008. , 9780822389156. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YqFRIzvhwfkC&pg=PT183 167] (Google Books PT183) It describes how the guest discovered the books in the distant future. The book's ending argues that the marriage between a wealthy benefactor and a political intellectual would cause the educated and the businesspeople to ally, causing democracy to form in Japan, a position advanced by the book's author.
Legacy
It influenced the novel 'Future of a New China' by Liang Qichao.Wang, David D. W. "Translating Modernity." In: Pollard, David E. (editor). 'Translation and Creation: Readings of Western Literature in Early Modern China, 1840-1918'. John Benjamins Publishing, 1998. , 9789027216281. Start: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ni88Ddi_S2cC&pg=PA303 303]. CITED: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ni88Ddi_S2cC&pg=PA309 309].
References
Further reading
* 'Setchbai' In: 'Suehiro Tetch sh', 'Meiji bungaku zensh', Volume 6, Chikuma Shbo, 1967. p. 111-162.
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