Book Synopsis
PLUM BLOSSOMS is a long narrative prosepoem which follows the peregrinations of one Master Ko. Master Ko may be a Zen priest or simply a Daoist; or, more likely, neither of the two; but rather one possessing the philosophical underpinnings of both. The format of the narrative has nested within it an anecdotal reference to the Tao Te Ching. Thus it is 81 stanzas (or chapters or verses, call them what you will) long; and each stanza has a distinctive structure. The notes at the end of the book define the more abstruse vocabulary, details the names of people, places, and things, and provides a basic translation of the kanji used in the book in both Japanese and Chinese.