A Daughter of the Samurai · Chapter
How I Became a Christian explained
Etsu-bo reflects on her spiritual journey from Buddhism to Christianity, describing the influence of her mission school teachers, her mother's reluctant consent, and her grandmother's lifelong sorrow.
What happens
Etsu-bo reflects on her spiritual journey from Buddhism to Christianity, describing the influence of her mission school teachers, her mother's reluctant consent, and her grandmother's lifelong sorrow. She contrasts the melancholy of Buddhist thought with the cheerfulness of her teachers, and recounts her growing rebellion against the fate that subjugates women, culminating in her conversion.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Enlightenment
Etsu's mission school teachers encourage her to ask questions and develop her own thoughts, leading to a transformation in her outlook on life and faith.
Gender Roles and Women's Strength
Etsu rebels against the fate that makes women inferior and bears hardship with pride, contrasting the Japanese plum blossom ideal with the freedom of American womanhood.
Tradition vs. Modernity
Etsu's conversion to Christianity represents a break from ancestral traditions, causing tension with her grandmother and relatives who view the new religion as a threat to ancestor worship.
Characters to notice
- Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
Describes her spiritual development and conversion to Christianity, her childhood questions about fate and womanhood, and her rebellion against the subjugation of women.
- Mother
Initially surprised by Etsu's request to become a Christian, but gives consent after learning it does not require disrespect to ancestors; suffers from asthma and bears hardship with pride.
- Honourable Grandmother
Proud and loyal, she cannot understand Etsu's conversion and regards it as a lifelong sorrow; provides a quiet refuge during airing days.
- Father
Tolerant of others' opinions, he answers Etsu's question about ancestors with Confucian wisdom; walks with her during airing days explaining old artifacts.
- Ishi
Comforts young Etsu when she rebels against fate, explaining that Mother bears suffering silently because of the unworthiness of woman.
- Jiya
Seen carrying a whitewood chest with the family crest during an airing day.
Key passages
“The blossoms of today draw strength from the roots of a thousand years ago.”
The teacher tells the girls that they are like the cherry blossoms, drawing strength from Japan's ancient civilization and duty-bound to grow and give back even greater beauty.
This poem encapsulates the theme of tradition vs. modernity and the duty of the new generation.
“It is fate and must be borne.”
Mother gasps during an asthma attack, accepting her suffering as unavoidable destiny.
Illustrates the Buddhist concept of fate and the expectation of silent endurance for women.
“I do not know exactly how I became a Christian. It was not a sudden thing. It seems to have been a natural spiritual development.”
Etsu describes her conversion as a gradual, almost unconscious drift from a faith of philosophy and resignation to one of high ideals, freedom, and hope.
Highlights the organic nature of her spiritual journey.