The Big Wave

The novella’s attitude toward life’s impermanence is best explained by Kino’s father, whose conversations with Kino reveal the work’s philosophical underpinnings. As Kino’s father explains, death and loss are inherent qualities of existence that one must accept to fully appreciate life, face death with bravery, and heal from trauma.

Though the novel does not say so explicitly, this belief stems partly from Buddhism, which argues that all existence is impermanent, and death is merely one step in the process of living. Though Buddhism originated in India, it spread quickly to China and arrived in Japan around the 6th century CE, where it blended with the native religious tradition of Shinto. Japanese Zen Buddhism is particularly typified by its stoicism and acceptance of death, which is why the novella associates this attitude with Japan specifically. For example, Kino’s father argues that the islands of Japan are inherently dangerous and antagonistic, meaning that death can occur at any moment. The Japanese people have learned to face this with stoic bravery by accepting impermanence and death as natural aspects of their lives.

The novella uses Jiya’s character development to typify this attitude. Learning to accept change and death is a large part of his healing process.