Cultural Stylistics of Forgiveness (Yuwa) and Tolerance (Kanyou): Constructing Japanese Moral Ideology in Kawabata Yasunari's Utsukushisa to Kanashimi To (「美しさと哀しみと」)

Abstract

This study investigates how linguistic choices construct Japanese moral ideology through the perspective of Cultural Stylistics in Kawabata Yasunari's Utsukushisa to Kanashimi To. Unlike conventional stylistic studies that primarily describe lexical and rhetorical features, this research examines how stylistic patterns function as cultural mechanisms for representing the Japanese ethical values of kanyou (tolerance) and yuwa (forgiveness). Employing a qualitative content analysis, the study analyzes narrative discourse, dialogue, figurative expressions, and lexical choices to identify the interaction between stylistic forms and cultural meanings. The findings reveal that Kawabata's stylistic strategies systematically encode moral ideology through eight interconnected cultural values: responsibility, respect, self-respect, honesty, empathy, sincerity, compassion, and harmonious coexistence. These values are not merely thematic elements but are linguistically constructed through symbolic diction, metaphorical expressions, narrative perspective, and culturally embedded discourse patterns. Based on these findings, this study proposes a Cultural Stylistic Representation Model (CSRM) that explains how stylistic choices mediate the transformation of linguistic expression into cultural ideology. The proposed model extends conventional stylistics by integrating language, culture, and moral cognition within a unified analytical framework. This research contributes to the development of Cultural Stylistics in Japanese literary studies and provides a new theoretical perspective for examining the relationship between language, aesthetics, and cultural identity across literary discourse.