Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | ごりがん |
|---|---|
| Author | 上司 小剣 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a rural Japanese temple steeped in tradition, an aging priest, Ryūhō, grapples with his son Tennan’s defiance—a clash of wills rooted in the enigmatic concept of *gorigan*, a blend of stubbornness and eccentricity that defines their family legacy. Ryūhō, bound by duty and ritual, seeks to secure Tennan’s future through an arranged marriage, only to face his son’s mysterious disappearance on the wedding day. Tennan, rejecting his father’s rigid world, vanishes into the mountains, drawn to a reclusive painter’s bohemian existence. The decaying temple—overrun with weeds, snakes, and forgotten rituals—mirrors Ryūhō’s crumbling authority as he navigates grief, societal expectations, and his own fading health. Through fragmented letters and memories, their strained relationship unfolds: a poignant dance of pride and vulnerability, where tradition collides with individuality. Whispers of madness, misplaced loyalty, and unspoken regrets linger like incense smoke, inviting readers into a haunting exploration of familial bonds and the cost of clinging to identity in a changing world. What becomes of Tennan’s rebellion—and Ryūhō’s legacy—remains suspended in the quiet tension between duty and freedom. |
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