Summary Of Dualism In Atsumori

In the beginning, Kumagae was a general, was from the Minamoto Clan engulfed in a great civil war against the Taira or Heike Clan. The Heike clan were an aristocratic group full of cultural refinement and arrogance. Their defeat was imminent, for the Minamoto clan slowly restored order and peace through strategic military actions. Through Atsumori’s story, a member of the Heike clan, the buddhist ideals of reconciliation and enlightenment are embedded as social messages. In the beginning, as the Heike clan were retreating, Atsumori forgot his flute, named Little Branch, at the clan’s main base. It is due to Atsumori’s attachment to worldly possessions and status that Atsumori attempts to retrieves the flute which leaves him unable to catch up to his clan’s fleeing ships. As a consequence, Kumagae spots Atsumori fleeing, and calls to Atsumori to fight instead …show more content…
Along his journey, Rensho runs into reapers. However, something is amiss; One of the youthful reapers is playing a melodic melody through a flute. Rensho addresses this reaper stating that seeing such a person of lower class wielding such skill is peculiar. The flute plays a major symbol in this story, for being able to play the instrument is the equivalent of the samurai class and aristocracy. Interestingly, the reaper is Atsumori reaping the karma of his actions. Astumori responds to Rensho saying that people should not envy their superiors or inferiors. Atsumori’s statement introduces the idea of non-dualism in suggesting that superiors and inferiors are equal and vise versa. Even Rensho, a former fierce warrior concurs to Atsumori’s remark and is able to appreciate cultural lifestyles. Non-dualism is being displayed as a warrior is able to still be peaceful and refined. In the middle is Atsumori acting as the bridge between the life of a warrior and a