Chapter 8-9 Summary and Analysis
Unfortunately, these next few chapters were very thin, so to say. The plot hardly
developed at all. I guess the best adjective one would use to describe the chapters would be dull.
Chapter eight begins with Tree-ear in Min yard picking up fragments of broken pottery all over
the lawn. In the previous chapter Min and Tree-ear were unable to see the finished pots as they
were bringing them home from the kiln because it was too dark. In the morning when Min rose
to look at them, he saw that the glaze had completely failed and all of the fine pottery was
ruined. Min’s reaction to this was to throw the pottery across his yard, smashing it to little pieces
in utter disgust of failure.
The royal embassy returns to Chip’ol’o with news that Potter Kang had won the royal
commission. This left Tree-ear numb to the fact that Min, his master, was not chosen even
though he was a far superior potter to Kang. Min does not come out of his house for days. A
key point in this novel but aside from the general plot is that during these days of Min’s absence
his wife comes out to hang up some laundry to dry. Tree-ear immediately runs over to help her.
Min’s wife explains to Tree-ear the obvious fact that Min is greatly disappointed with the results
from the royal embassy. She thanks Tree-ear for all of the hard work that he has done for Min
and herself in the year that Tree-ear has been a servant to Min. She then instructs Tree-ear to call
her anjima; which means aunt in Chinese. This is a great honor; arguably the highest honor one
can bestow on an inferior other in old century Chinese culture. Tree-ear is so shocked by this
that his eyes immediately filled with tears when Min’s wife told him this. He did not speak for
the rest of the day.
Chapter nine is very straight forward. The royal embassy comes back to Min’s house and
tells Min that Potter Kang has been given what is known as a “partial order.” That means that
Kang will fill the palace for up to one year, at that time the King will make a decision if he
wishes to keep Kang’s work or ask for another commission order to be given. The embassy then
tells Min that they found his work to be vastly superior to that of Kang’s. Yet Kang’s
breakthrough idea won his the royal commission. Ambassador Kim then stated that if Min were
to produce a “In-lay” pot similar to Kang’s with superior design then Min could take it to
Songdo, the capital, and Min would receive the commission. Min then says to the ambassador
that he is too old to make the trip and will have to pass on the offer. The embassy leaves saying
that they would like to find a way for Min’s work to be shown at the palace.
Tree-ear offers to take Min’s work to the capital himself. Min’s wife is greatly
encouraged be Tree-ear’s offer and gives Tree-ear a great deal of rice. Crane-man sews a straw
basket, double thick, with silk for Tree-ear to carry the pottery vessels. Tree-ear begins to
become nervous for his journey, he has never left town before.
At the end of the chapter, Tree-ear asks if Min would be so kind as to teach him to make
a pot. Min becomes extremely enraged at Tree-ear’s request, we learn that the pottery trade is
passed from father to son. We learn that Min had a son who died at a very young age and he
deeply misses him. Crane-Man explains to Tree-ear that the pottery trade is passed from father
to son due to an old law that a king had written hundreds of years ago when the pottery business
was considered peasants work. Tree-ear, very disappointed leaves Min’s house with no desire to
take his work to Songdo. He falls asleep under the bridge next to Crane-Man and thus concludes
the chapter.