? I'm sure most geisha would call it a bad omen that I?d spilled sake; but to me, that droplet of moisture that had slipped from me like a tear seemed almost to tell the story of my life. It fell through empty space, with no control whatsoever over it's destiny; rolled along a path of silk; and somehow came to rest there on the teeth of that dragon.? Pg. 420.
Preceding, is THE crucial clause of Arthur Golden's entire novel Memoirs of a Geisha as included in the single passage are Chiyo's turning points in life which are important stages of her development as a character for the audience. In view of Golden's talent, it is understandable that he has managed to illustrate Chiyo's entire life by characterizing the droplet of sake as Chiyo and her struggles. The line,'seemed almost to tell the story of my life,? is unnecessary as I believe Golden's intention for illustration is perceptible through his simple description of the path the droplet took, but most importantly is the symbolism of the dragon and what this represents in terms of Chiyo's context, her life at this instant and religiously.
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Thus, the extensive symbolic clause required research as to the importance and representation of the dragon in Japanese culture, as the dragon is the primary source of comprehension involved. Without the background the implications Arthur Golden intended to portray are not fully understood by a mereWesterner? with no knowledge of the abysmal culture. Through a click here, and a click there, on the amazing resourceful Internet, I was able to find the significance of the dragon. In Chinese cosmology, which, like many traditions became a component and belief in Japanese Culture, the dragon is conceived as the designated symbol ofyang,? the common element ofyin-yang.? Yang is envisioned as the principle of heaven, activity and maleness in the yin-yang, which is made of two complementary forces that make up all aspects and phenomena of life.