Windows/Mirrors/Sliding Glass Doors

Tiger does a good job of introducing an aspect of East Asian culture through the teachings and beliefs of
Kung Fu. Bishop describes that books can be a window into other cultures, and with The Five Ancestors,
these books become a window into these teachings. As Bishop states, “When children cannot find
themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or
laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a
part.” (1 Bishop) and Tiger and The Five Ancestors became a window for those unfamiliar with Chinese
culture, and a mirror for an East Asian audience. The first instance of this window can be found when Jeff
Stone explains the main character's name, “Fu meant “tiger” in Cantonese. And, like the monk in the
mural, Fu was a tiger, through and through.” (11 Stone) Although this instance is a bit strange since the
dialect most spoken in Henan, the province in which the story takes place, is Mandarin, it also introduces
the fact that different dialects of Chinese exist, or more basic, that the Chinese language has a different
name. It is a bit disappointing that Jeff Stone does not use the correct dialect for the region he is writing
about, but because of his experience with Cantonese from living in Hong Kong for years, it is
understandable that he would use a language he is confident in to portray his story. Using Cantonese is
also a tool in which children that understand the language can be seen, since Mandarin is the most
prominent Chinese dialect represented in media. In any case, Jeff Stone creates a window in which to
represent a minority group, and gives children inspiration and a mirror to find themselves.