Tim Lee Lee 1

ENGL 202

Professor Nonaka

14 February 2020

Cultural Difference in Silence

The book, “Silence,” was a story by Shusaku Endo that opened up the discussion of the

underlying question of why Western Christianity is so different compared to other cultures? The

author focuses on the silence of God in the midst of suffering, and through this, the novel forces

the reader to ask questions about how Western culture has made its own implications and ideals

of God compared to a country like Japan. Does our perception of Christianity force us to think of

God as an action hero? While we know that God cannot be confined to a single culture and

timeframe, do we as humans sometimes construe our impression of God based on our

background and experiences? Using metaphorical language, descriptors, and imagery, Shusaku

Endo can depict the different perspectives and expectations between Japanese culture and

Western Christianity, and show the reader the reality that the perception of Christ is not the same

for everyone.

One particular quote that struck me was when Endo wrote, “A tree which flourishes in

one kind of soil may wither if the soil is changed. As for the tree of Christianity, in a foreign

country, its leaves may grow thick, and the buds may be rich, while in Japan, the leaves wither,

and no bud appears. Father, have you never thought of the difference in the soil, the difference in

the water”(Shusaku, 117). The interpreter uses metaphorical language with the nature around

them, to reveal his message of how Western Christianity is unable to grow in the cold culture of

Japan. The type of literary language Endo uses allows the reader to see the visual image of how

the land of Japan is too barren for Christianity. The magistrate uses the description of planting a
 Lee 2

tree, which helps the character Rodrigues understand that while Christianity may be able to gain

popularity in Western society, it simply is not interesting and valuable to the culture of the

Japanese, because of the way Japanese people think, believe, and respond differently to the new

and radical teachings of the Gospel. The magistrate concludes his argument with a description of

how the seed of Christianity would not develop the same in Japanese society. The different

“water” and “soil” represent the contrasting upbringings and lifestyles that Western Christianity

and Japanese preach to its people, and it is merely unable to appeal to the Japanese society.

Another passage that stood out to me was when Endo exclaims, “The silence of God.

Already twenty years have passed since the persecution broke out; the black soil of Japan has

been filled with the lament of so many Christians; the red blood of priests have flowed profusely;

and in the face of this terrible and merciless sacrifice offered up to Him, God has remained

silent. This was the problem that lay behind the plaintive question of Kichijiro”(Shusaku, 55).

The word choice of Endo to describe the pain of suffering in Japan helps plant a vivid image in

the reader’s mind as to how the Japanese persecution can block the message of the Gospel from

the people of Japan. By using harsh yet needed descriptors such as “black soil” or “red blood,” it

shows readers like me how deep the pain and silence of God cuts through the Japanese and even

outsiders like Rodrigues. This passage challenges me because it makes me think about what I

would believe if I had been part of Japanese culture during this era. Would my faith be strong

enough to resist this kind of persecution, or would I be consumed by the silence of God? When I

finished the book, the one question I had was who could blame the Japanese people for not

backing up Western Christianity, when all the find in it is the suffering and loss?
 Lee 3

Throughout my upbringing, the cultural stance I had can be represented by the

literary/lyrical piece called Stronger, by the group Hillsong. The lyrics go, “You are stronger,

You are stronger, Sin is broken, You have saved me, It is written, Christ is risen, Jesus you are

Lord of all”(Ben Felding, Stronger). What this song means to me is God is a God who will

always prevail, and when someone is in need, God will always be there to provide. The

repetition of the lines, “You are stronger,” represents the message of God’s continuous presence

and help in the midst of it all we will go through. This is what I believe Western Christianity has

taught me and is being taught to many in Western culture. However, reading this book, I

understand that Christianity is not just about what God will do; it’s sometimes about what he

won’t do. That faith in God is not always trusting God in blessings; it also means trusting God in

his silence. There is a bible verse that says, “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,

because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,

hope” (New International Version, Romans 5:3-4). The verse shows us the side of Christianity

that many in the Western world would glance over, but in Japan, many had to live by. It is

because of this that Christianity has developed so differently, and the understanding between the

two is different. However, although the contrast between Japanese Christianity and Western

Christianity is vast, bringing them closer can help both sides get a deeper understanding of our

mysterious God in which we all serve. Using metaphorical language, descriptors, and imagery,

Shusaku Endo is able to depict the different perspectives and expectations between Japanese

culture and Western Chrisitianity and show the reader the reality that the perception of Christ is

not the same for everyone.

 Lee 4

Work Cited

Endō, Shūsaku. Silence: A Novel. , 2016. Print.

Fielding, B. (2008). Stronger by Hillsong Worship. [online] Genius. Available at:

https://genius.com/Hillsong-worship-stronger-lyrics [Accessed 24 Feb. 2020].

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Zondervan, 1984.