In the land of the gods

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

79121

Title

In the land of the gods

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in late 19th-century Tokyo, this novel follows Minokichi, a blind masseur, and Fumi, a young woman haunted by memories of a past life in China. Blending realistic slice-of-life storytelling with supernatural elements, the book explores themes of reincarnation, unrequited love, and the enduring power of the soul. Rich with cultural detail and emotional depth, it offers a poignant look at life in Japan's capital.

Summary up to 500 words

In Alice Mabel Bacon's *In the Land of the Gods*, the narrative weaves together the lives of Minokichi, a blind masseur, and Tēichi Ogiwara, a samurai student, against the backdrop of late 19th-century Japan. The story opens with Minokichi, living in humble poverty with his wife O Koto San and their infant son. Despite his blindness, he earns a meager living treating the weary, occasionally receiving generous tips from wealthy patrons. His quiet domestic life is contrasted with the tragic romance of Tēichi, who falls deeply in love with O Tsuyu, a gentle girl living near the Sumida River. Their affection is cut short when Tsuyu's father discovers them; in a desperate plea to save Tēichi, Tsuyu begs her father to kill her instead. He stabs her, and she dies. Consumed by grief, Tēichi initially believes he killed her in a dream until his friend Komura reveals the truth: she died of illness shortly after their meeting. Devastated, Tēichi retreats from society, haunted by visions of Tsuyu. Years later, Tēichi has transformed into Kintaro Yamazaki, a painter living in Tokyo, seemingly having forgotten his past life in China. He is visited nightly by the spirit of Shorei, his former self in China, who appears as a dancer in his paintings. Through a diary, Shorei expresses confusion and longing, questioning her identity and the nature of her existence. Eventually, Tēichi's family arranges a meeting between him and Fumi Takeda, a girl he is betrothed to. At the party, Tēichi recognizes Fumi as Shorei. She reveals her true identity, and they realize their souls are one, transcending death and time. The novel concludes with the union of their spirits, suggesting that love and memory can bridge the gap between lives. Meanwhile, Minokichi continues his work, finding dignity and purpose in his service to others, embodying the resilience of the common people in a land of gods and spirits.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79121.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg79121.epub

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2026-08-13 08:35 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Japan -- Social life and customs