How is China represented within The Battle of Coxinga?

China was represented as an example of how political turmoil can be filtered through creative fabrications as well as misunderstandings. It draws a fantastic image of China by appealing to historical memories. China is also represented as an inferior country compared to Japan and ethnicity is evident in the play coupled with discrimination. For example, when a Chinese soldier was demanding that mother to Coxingais roped to enter the castle, Coxinga commented angrily: “Dirty Chinese!  No Japanese will tolerate such nonsense.”  (Keene, 375)

How does the battle of Coxinga represent ideals that are uniquely Japanese according to the Battle of Coxinga?

1. Japan is referred to as Yamato, which means the “land of great gentleness.” For this reason, Japan is presented as a uniquely wonderful country.

[MAID 3]: But if I’m reborn a woman, I’d rather be a Japanese. They say Japan is called Yamato, which means “land of great gentleness.” For a woman, a country of great gentleness would be wonderful!

[MAID 1]: Yes, it must be a wonderful country! (Keene, 377)

2. The Japanese have great respect for the tradition of their image. Kinshojo’s stepmother speaks with contempt after Kanki attempts to kill his wife, Konshojo. She fears that she will be regarded as a cruel stepmother who let her daughter get killed in front of her eyes. She further states that the blame will not be hers alone but for all the Japanese as they will be termed as heartless, using her example. When Kinshojo later kills herself as to free Kanki to join his father’s cause, her stepmother to keep herself free of blame and preserve the name of Japanese people kills herself too.“If I let you die here and now, people will say that your Japanese stepmother let you be killed before her eyes out of hatred for her Chinese stepdaughter. And the shame would not be mine alone but Japan’s as well” (Keene, 363)

Work Cited

Keene, Donald. “The Battle of Coxinga.” (1951).

Kornicki, P. F. “Books FromJapanese Circulating Libraries in The British Library.” The British Library Journal 6.2 (1980): 188-198.

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