A Japanese book critic Chuk-San Dao-hung writes a marvelous
novel named ·§saung-gauk·¨(which means ·§Burmese Harp·¨),
in which describing a solider changing into a monk who
buries those unidentified corpses around Burma. In spite
of the whitewash element, there are indeed some good
points to ponder.
The main character is called as Shui-dao
and he is a very good musician of playing harps. He
looks like a Burmese and hence he is always appointed
as the route finder. The first half of the novel is
about how some music-loving soldiers add colours in
battlefields by enjoying their own music.
Then after Japan was defeated, he was
required to induce to capitulate. He nearly died under
such circumstances. Fortunately, some aborigines saved
him and he uses the identity of monk to cover up. But
at last, after encountering so much, he became a real
monk. He didn't return home and promised himself that
he would continually bury unknown corpses in Burma.
The core idea includes the glorification
of world war sins. However, it states the transformation
from living to the dead. In the novel, there is such
a description. ·§After that, I realize the Burmese is
not afraid of death. Man's live must end in death. Death,
in other sense, means we are getting rid of all troubles
in this world."
The place where he would like to rest
himself is Burma, not his homeland. A country with peaceful
mind is more important. ·§Although
the living standard in Burma is low, what the citizen's
possesses is more envying. ·§ The attitude of the author
deserves respect.
The author says he deems this as a fairly
tales. This saying must be focused on a combination
of Warfield and music in the book. Nonetheless, if we
judge it by Thanatology standard, it is actually not
"naive" and in fact is very innovative at all.
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