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Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).Biểu tượng trong tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami (Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novels).
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION PHAN THI HUYEN TRANG SYMBOLS IN HARUKI MURAKAMI’S NOVELS Major: Foreign literature Code: 22 02 42 SUMMARY OF POSTGRADUATE DISSERTATION Hanoi, 2021 THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED IN HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTORS: Scientific supervisor: Prof PhD Le Huy Bac PhD Dao Thi Thu Hang Counter-argument 1: Assoc Prof Nguyen Thu Hien University of Social Sciences and Humanities Counter-argument 2: Assoc Prof Le Thoi Tan Hanoi Metropolitan University Counter-argument 3: Assoc Prof Nguyen Thanh Tu The Military Arts and Literature Magazine The dissertation is defensed in the presence of the university-level dissertation committee, in Hanoi Pedagogical at .on (date) .(month) .(year) Disertations can be explored at: ⁃ Vietnamese National Library University, ⁃ Hanoi National University of Education Library INTRODUCTION The reason for choosing the topic 1.1 Japanese literature is one of the oldest and most accomplished literature Approaching modern Japanese literature, readers must be familiar with big names associated with traditional aesthetics such as R Akutakawa, Y Kawabata, Y Mishima, Kenzaburo Oe… These are the representatives of what is called the classic, epitome of Fusang literature In the above context, the study of contemporary Japanese literature is essential for the integration of East Asian culture in particular and the world literature in general 1.2 After two immortal legends Kawabata and Oe, Japanese literature continues to leave its mark with “The literary figure of the twenty-first century” - Murakami, the writer has blown a new wind, changing the structure and appearance of literature in the world His work has been translated into more than forty languages and is still being translated and published, becoming a global phenomenon Murakami’s work is a harmonious combination of East and West culture, touches the problems of humanity’s significance, deepens the ego, explains, and discovers man in depth Researching and understanding of Murakami symbols aims to provide more multidimensional perspectives on the author and his works This is a necessary job in the context of cultural and literary exchange between Vietnam and other countries in the region and in the world 1.3 Symbol is a fertile ground for researchers and today, is still increasingly interested in research Learning about symbols is the way to explore the world of human deep souls and mysteries, a bridge between national culture and human civilization, between writers and readers This is also the attraction of Murakami’s compositions, making up the mystery and depth in his work Therefore, we worked on the subject of Symbols in Haruki Murakami’s novel (Biểu tượng tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami) Purpose and mission of the study Research purposes Identifying the basic arguments of the concept of literature symbols From symbolic theory, we approach, identify and interpret the system of symbols in Murakami’s novels With the research results of the thesis, we hope to provide a more specific view of symbol theory and the way of researching symbolic criticism Identifying and deciphering symbols in Murakami’s novels, the thesis explores and interprets the specialties in the world of symbols of Murakami, confirms the position and contribution of the Murakami symbol to Japanese and world literature Research missions Defining the connotation of symbolic concept in research and the basic characteristics of literary symbols Reviewing and applying the reasonable explanations from researching symbols in Murakami novels in the country and in the world Surveying, identifying, analyzing and explaining the specifics of Murakami’s symbolic system, at the same time pointing out Murakami’s content and ideological values Object, scope of study and theory of symbol 3.1 Object of research: The thesis explores symbols in Murakami novels focusing on three typical symbols: nature symbols, object symbols, animal symbols 3.2 Scope of research: The thesis researches symbols in Murakami’s novels, including: Norwegian Wood, Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on The Shore, Sputnik Sweetheart, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Jump, Jump, Jump, 1Q84, South of the Border, West of the Sun, A Wild Sheep Chase, Colorless Tazaki Tsukuru and Years of Pilgrimage 3.3 Concept “Symbols” According to the English Dictionary, the symbol is: Representative images; Awareness is higher than feeling, gives us the image of the item saved in mind after the object having no effect on our senses In Cultural Studies, symbol is considered to be “the language of any senses”, is the “sign exposed to public awareness” Dictionary of literary terms gives the concept: “Symbol is the life reflected by the characteristic images of literary art In the long term, symbols are a convert method of words or a special type of the arts that is inspirational and also expresses the quality of any profound concept, idea or philosophy of life and people” Thus, according to the defination, symbol is one means to distinguish between metaphor and metonymy In the framework of the thesis, we not go into depth research symbols in a broad sense as well as not analyze what is true / false, reasonable / unreasonable in the ways of definition and define the symbolic conceptual connotation but we will focus on literary symbols scope, and will exploit symbols in the direction of particular symbols, the form of using these images to express something that is conceptual and high-minded, a specific image representing an abstract idea We focus on the symbols of Murakami in three groups: nature group, object group, and animal group Research Methodology We use the approaching method of semiotics and some specific research methods are focused on: Cultural - historical method; Biographical criticism method; Comparative method; Statistical manipulation Contributions of the thesis The thesis is an in-depth research work on symbols in Murakami novels Research methodology and the dissertation’s results will be the basis for a comprehensive study of the symbols in all Murakami compositions (both novels and short stories) Systematizing some basic features of symbols in the novels of Murakami, showing the content values through that symbol system The thesis provides an additional approach to the novels of Murakami Researching the works from symbolic theory is an open direction and promises a way to approach the work of other authors CHAPTER OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH OBJECT 1.1 Studying Murakami novels 1.1.1 In foreign countries Overseas research and criticism of Murakami novels is quite exciting, in the documents that we have collected, we classify them according to the research directions, including: Biographical criticism (Jay’s works Rubin, Megumi Yama, Jonathan Ellis, Mitoko Hirabayashi, Miller Laura), Sociological Critique (works by Chiaki Takagi, Bridget Sellers, Jiwoon Baik), Postmodern Criticism (works by Deirdre Flynn, Matthew C Strecher, Yoshio Iwamoto), Topic Criticism (works by Matthew Whelihan, Williams Mukesh, Matthew Strecher, Toshi Kawai), Comparative Studies (works by Maia Brown-Jackson, Ida Mayer, John Updike, Justine McConnell, Edith Hall, Mirjam Büttner, Naomi Matsuoka, Brian Seemann, Kim de Willigen, Naomi Matsuoka), Self-Study Criticism (works by Tiffany Hong, Will Slocombe, Welch Patricia, Virginia Yeung, Jay Rubin, Gareth Edward, Masatsugu Ono) However, there are no works that directly study Murakami symbols like the direction of the topic that we exploit 1.1.2 In Vietnam Murakami is not unfamiliar to Vietnamese readers in the past 20 years The study of Murakami in Vietnamese (written and translated) focuses on the following areas: Postmodern criticism (the works of Dao Thi Thu Hang, Nguyen Bich Nha Truc, Ngo Tra Mi, Tran Thi To Loan, Le Thi Diem Hang), Topic Criticism (the works of Tran Tien Cao Dang, Pham Xuan Nguyen, Nguyen Hoai Nam, Nguyen Anh Dan), Criticism of Autobiography (the works of Nhat Chieu, Ngo Tra Mi, Le Nguyen Can), Comparative Study (the works of Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Nguyen Thi Mai Lien, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Ngo Viet Hoan) In addition to studies on the influence of folklore on Murakami novels, in Vietnam, there are also works written about the impact of Japanese and international authors of the previous generations and at the same time as the writer These studies show that the interest of Vietnamese scientists to Murakami is enormous 1.2 Symbol studies in Murakami novels 1.2.1 In foreign countries Most of the articles on symbols in Murakami novels abroad mainly stop at the identification of some Murakami symbols, but have not studied in depth (the articles by J Nygren, D Flynn, Chiaki Takagi, Roos Bunnik, M Buttner) Some articles on the basis of researching Murakami works from different perspectives touched on or analyzed some specific symbols (articles by Heather H Yeung, Matthew Strecher, Djakaria), but in general, the system of symbolic studies of Murakami novels is still open 1.2.2 In Vietnam The problem of symbol in Murakami’s compositions is mentioned in many articles (notably those by Nguyen Anh Dan, Nguyen Bich Nha Truc), but there is no remarkable research work yet that systematically analyzes the symbols in depth Sub-conclusion: Looking at the research, we realize that although Vietnamese researchers have not systematically focused on examining Murakami’s symbols, the survey and interpretation of basic symbols in Murakami novels are very important suggestions for us to use as a basis to implement the subject CHAPTER NATURAL SYMBOLS IN MURAKAMI NOVELS Natural symbols in Murakami’s novels are quite diverse, appearing densely and playing an important role in the development of the story, and also is an environment for the characters to clearly reveal the inner world In this thesis, we focus on clarifying the symbols of nature with three main groups of symbols: light and shadow; land and forest; water and variations 2.1 The symbols “light” and “shadow” Light and darkness are opposing and irreconcilable realities Where there is a stronger light, the darkness must go away; Where there is darkness, the light must give way “Light is associated with darkness, to represent complementary or alternating values in a transformation process”; “The light follows the darkness, in the order of manifesting the universe as well as in the order of inner revelation Light and shadow, more generally speaking, are a common aspect precisely expressed by the parallel of yin and yang [ ] Earth means darkness, heaven means light” Light - darkness is a pair of words representing many areas of life: holy - sin; harmony division; love - hatred; wisdom - wild 2.1.1 “Light”: The symbol of life and conscience; beauty and goodness The light in the novels of Murakami is a symbol of source of life and conscience If sunlight represents human might, fears, and hopes, it also does not appear to be immutable data It can disappear and life will disappear But if the sunlight dies every night, it is revived in the morning again and man, considering his fate like that of light, has gained hope and faith in the timelessness of life and of human strength The symbol of light is expressed through the meaning of hope, which is awareness, enlightenment, revelation, 10 has skillfully and creatively applied the nuances of meaning of the natural symbols to highlight the power, the mystery, the complexity, the impossibility of that world CHAPTER OBJECT SYMBOL IN MURAKAMI’S NOVELS Murakami is one of the masters of using symbolic objects Under the nib of his pen, objects appear as multifaceted symbols, conveying many profound meanings and unique human philosophy of the writer 3.1 Symbol of “Mirror” Mirror sticking to human life, it becomes a familiar symbol in the writing of many writers around the world The symbol “mirror” appears many times in Murakami works, and is an important artistic element, contributing to convey the message of the writer The mirror symbol is the inheritance, continuation of the flow of human culture and literature, but it is also a creative inheritance, blown into it by the writer’s spirit of the times, contributing to bringing his own beauty onto writing pages 3.1.1 “Mirror”: Symbol of “truth” Male or female characters in Murakami novels love to look in the mirror Mirrors appear in most of the major events that occur in their lives, each time the character has to face an inner struggle or to embark on a journey of commitment to self-change For Murakami, “mirror” is a symbol of truth, authenticity Mirrors with the feature of reflecting rays of light, reflecting objects as they are, not only help the character see the reflection of their face, their appearance 14 but furthermore, the mirror helps the character realize the weary reality, the reflection of self in consciousness and conscience so that the character can become more aware of the ego, identify themself, especially after facing, experiencing strange events that happened in their life The mirror is symbolic for the protagonist’s journey of self-examination 3.1.2 “Mirror”: A symbol of the complex inner world The mirror image also appears as a character with his own life, parallel with other characters’ stories, reflecting their thoughts in many dimensions and constantly opening up different perspectives for readers The mirror becomes a means to help the writer reveal a part of life inside each character The mirror in the novels of Murakami carries the symbol of “reflecting everything in the heart, reflecting a dark side of the world of the character’s soul in the negative aspect.” The character finds their own ego in the mirror, the ego scares them and hates them for being unable to grasp “me or my shadow” The mirror becomes the “cognitive object” of the character From this perspective, the mirror has a positive meaning, helping people to shine through to recognize, perhaps partly, who they are 3.1.3 “Mirror”: The symbol of the real - virtual border In Murakami novels, the problem of man must exist with the “mask”, in order to incarnate many different roles on the stages of life, the writer always returns as a main motif Murakami always puts his character in a state of confusion, torn, emotional pain when living with many different egos The most frightening thing is that they themselves cannot grasp what is the real “self” The writer has 15 created existential spaces of the ego, which he called by different names such as: “real - virtual” world; the world “this side” - the world “that side”, the world “outside” and “inside” In particular, “ego on this side” and “ego on the other side” exist in parallel in two worlds and can find each other Murakami often uses the image “edge of the world” to refer to the intersection places, the boundary between the two spaces The example in many of Murakami’s works, which serves as a “frontier”, is the “boundary” between two worlds, and at the same time it can have the dual meaning of that duality 3.2 The symbol “House” or an obsession and a painful memory 3.2.1 “House”: an obsession and a painful memory The house in Murakami novels is not a home, a place to keep the fire of happiness, but a prison that inhibits personal ego, makes people endure in resignation or find ways to escape from the oppressive space These injuries become sad memories, haunting throughout the life of the character For them, home is a symbol of the desire for happiness, a dream of a peaceful place, a paradise on earth that they seek for a lifetime Therefore, in parallel with the journey of searching for self in Murakami novels is also the human journey of finding happiness 3.2.2 “House”: emptiness of the soul The house in the novel Haruki Murakami is not a symbol of a home, a desire for happiness, but also a symbol of the emptiness of the soul In Murakami, the character’s mental emptiness is not only portrayed by Murakami through eyes and gaze - a true reflection of 16 the inner world, but also the “room”, “empty house with no furniture” It is no coincidence that images of abandoned houses, hotels with old, dilapidated and lack of furniture appear densely in many works of the writer The writer also uses familiar comparative sentences: “like an empty house”, “like an old house”, “an abandoned house” to highlight his perspective on modern people 3.2.3 “House”: connecting and restoring ego Murakami’s ego plays a very important role in creating a “true self” It “becomes a source of heat that controls each person from within” Without the ego, or the loss of the ego, man is just an “unfurnished room”, “an empty house”, an old hotel with dark rooms In many Murakami works, the ego is presented through the images of houses, hotel rooms, mysterious motels appearing in both reality and dreams The journey of self-search is the journey where the character must step into their own house, finding the secret rooms, or going down to the basement of their mind, to explore all the hidden corners of their soul It is a journey of digging deep into the inner unconscious, struggling with evil, with lost, traumatic memories, constantly querying to restore core identities that are in danger of being lost Despite confusion and disorientation, they are always concerned, searching for their true self with endless journeys and efforts Sub-conclusion: The symbols of “objects” in Murakami has the same value as living entities From a symbolic perspective, Murakami's world of objects is not merely inanimate objects, but 17 they have a life of their own, taking an active and meaningful part in the writer’s story-telling process They are like specific texts, as means of preserving cultural memory and at the same time as messengers of other cultural systems Objects not only become an underground circuit connecting cultural flows through the ages, but also a means for Murakami to delve into the inner world of postmodern people, where hidden corners of the soul are not easily elucidated The symbols (“mirror”, “house”, “room”) are attached to the individual's daily life, but under the pen of Murakami, they contribute to conveying the imperfect and wild spiritual world of postmodern people Each object symbol of Murakami is fully displayed in duality, multi-meaning They are both life, peaceful shelter, happiness, joy but also death, crime, suffering, tragedy Behind each symbol is a journey to find a solution for individual and social destiny, is the journey of finding life values, finding self and perfecting human spirituality CHAPTER ANIMAL SYMBOLS IN MURAKAMI’S NOVELS Murakami uses many species of animals as symbols Considering that “sheep”, “cats”, “birds” are the three most important symbols of the writer, we focus on researching and explaining their role in associating with artistic elements to represent in the narrative of Murakami 4.1 Animal symbolism and its relationship to the human inner world 18 Animals, as the original model, represent the deep layers of the subconscious and instincts, the cosmic, material and spiritual origin and power Animals often come into dreams; expressed in the artwork form forms of partial identification of the person, they are aspects, images of the complex human nature 4.2 Symbol of “Cat” 4.2.1 “Cat”: Connection and a desire to be oneself In the Murakami novel, the cat is a symbol of goodness, luck, and harmony in the married life of the character For Murakami, not all characters have cats, but wherever a couple appears, a cat usually appears Cats are often associated with young couples, they have no children and often have a cat The cat is not only a symbol of connection, but also a symbol of the desire to be yourself, to live the life you want 4.2.2 “Cat”: Feminine beauty, connection and desire for happiness In another perspective, according to Katherine Radecki, the cat “is the perfect symbol of feminine beauty, a symbol of the small, lonely and loving individuals in Murakami novels Toru fulfills the hero's mission by rescuing his wife from the shadows Readers have the right to hope for a good future that will unfold before the eyes after the turbulent experiences of the two characters In the last letter Kumiko sent Toru before going to the hospital, "to kill my brother and be punished", we realize that the cat has always been a symbol of connection, love and happiness 4.2.3 “Cat”: Dark and sinful realm Cats in Murakami novels not only appear in the real world, but 19 also enter the virtual world, not only bringing good omen, but also a symbol of bad omen and evil Cats are described in human-like behaviors, or in other words, demon cats borrowed from Japanese folklore by Murakami from a negative side 4.3 Symbol of “Bird” 4.3.1 “Bird”: Symbol of love, sexuality From ancient times, the bird symbol appeared as a product of human beliefs, conceptions and thoughts In his novel, Murakami skillfully uses the bird symbol as one of the richest animal symbols The bird in the Murakami novel is a symbol of “libido, sexual energy”, “the instinctive soul in man” For Murakami, sex “does not contain secular conception, to seek sex is for enlightenment, to attain the state of spiritual self” Without shying away but honestly and openly, Murakami considers it an “important doorway into the spiritual world of man” Murakami characters always see love as the end, but most of them are unable to achieve true love 4.3.2 “Bird”: Symbol of the power of gods Loss, misfortune, tragedy are the common denominators Murakami has on his world of characters This unhappiness can come from many different causes such as the breakdown of values, social circumstances and in some works, the writer also explains from the absurdity of fate To clarify the dominance of fate, Murakami used the bird symbol as an illustration of his interpretation Birds in the novel Murakami are “considered synonymous with fate”, a symbol of fate Birds are heralds of doom, death, condemnation, unfortunate fate, and the source of deadly fate Birds in this sense symbolize the power of gods, controlling human 20 destiny 4.3.3 “Bird”: Symbol of “adventurous spirit” through the real virtual world Birds in Murakami novels are messengers of consciousness and unconsciousness, are symbols of souls - spiritual people adventure through the real world - virtual, making inward trips, are “spiritual adventures “To go to the ends of one’s own ego 4.4 Symbol of “Sheep” Sheep appeared first in the A Wild Sheep Chase (1982) as a Murakami journey upstream of history to understand more about modern Japan The writer connects the appearance of the sheep and its function in relation to the development of Japanese history The novel opens the dual journey of the protagonist Boku with the wild sheep hunt and the quest for ego Through his character’s journey, Murakami incorporates his understanding of the history of sheep in Japan and Japan’s modernization Thereby, the writer gives the point to affirm that sheep “is the image of modern Japan” 4.4.1 “Sheep”: Symbols for achievements and the flip side of modernization Sheep are a symbol of the economic growth achievements of modern Japan, a symbol of a rich lifestyle that people can enjoy for entertainment and relaxation At the same time, sheep are a symbol of the flip side of Japan’s modernization, the reckless speed that the Japanese state has pursued In other words, although sheep are a symbol of emerging economic power, from Murakami’s point of view, the Japanese rearing process exhibits inefficiencies and irrationalities It was a process of modernization ignoring economic development but 21 towards the pursuit of violent colonialism It was this ineffective job that led to the Japanese invasion and failure in Asia 4.4.2 “Sheep”: Symbol of sin The sheep in Murakami’s novels are also a symbol of colonial aggression, a symbol of the war crimes that Japan has inflicted on the nations to carry out its intention to expand Murakami tries to connect the development of Japanese history with the aggression crimes that his people have committed in the past, especially the attention to the role of sheep to contribute to the success of “A great plan to change humanity and the human world” The image of sheep is a symbol of absolute power, the power of politicians hiding behind darkness to manipulate everything Sub-conclusion: Following the symbols of object, in Murakami's novels, animal symbols are also diverse, appearing throughout most of his works This type of symbolism is associated with events, ups and downs in the character’s journey, so they are a mirror that reflects the “deep impulses”, the instincts that have fallen asleep, are tamed, or are still wild At the same time, these are also fragments of the good and evil souls of postmodern people Murakami's animal worlds are rich and nuanced in meaning because of what they share with the unconscious human life As special creatures and always placed in constant transition, Murakami’s symbols such as “bird”, “cat”, “sheep” play the role of messengers of adventures, disrupting existence from day to day of the main characters and even of the reader, inviting them to the arduous journeys of the endless maze of the human mind With animal symbols, Murakami adds new meaningful nuances with the breath of 22 the times, continuing the rich flow inherent in the treasure of human symbols CONCLUDE Murakami is a unique phenomenon of contemporary literature, a pioneer in changing the structure and appearance of Japanese literature, contributing to connecting and blurring the boundary between Japanese literature and other cultures in the world Murakami novels not only carry the breath of the times but also are intertwined with past roots through the symbolic system that is consciously or unconsciously renewed in the artistic creation process The study of symbols is an effective way to “the world of meaning” in Murakami’s artistic creation, helping readers to trace the cultural roots which are not only of the Japanese nation but also humanity Murakami’s symbol is not only the inheritance, continuing “a summary of typical primitive human experiences, emotions” but also his “personal voice” Natural symbols in Murakami’s novels are quite diverse, which is the environment for the character to clearly reveal his deep inner world, mainly focusing on the expressions: light and darkness; land, forest and water These are familiar symbols in many cultures, especially Japanese culture - nature is not only an object of perception, conquest, but also an object of harmony and attachment In Murakami, it’s a cross between Eastern and Western cultures Still possessing the basic nuances that have been pre-formed in the human mind, each symbol conveys the bipolarity associated with the positive and negative characteristics This duality was inherited by Murakami and used as a unique narrative technique Most of the 23 binary symbols are used by the writer in parallel to convey complex thinking in perception of life The positive characteristics such as life, the source of life, the enlightenment of awareness, the love are associated with the experiences and emotions of the characters in their quest for oneself On the contrary, the negative characteristics such as the source of death, fear, evil appear as a counterbalance for the writer to highlight the hidden corners that exist in two real and virtual worlds - the familiar motif in most of his compositions The symbol of nature in Murakami also describes the specification of the inner world - the human unconscious world Murakami has skillfully and creatively used nuances of this symbol to highlight the power, mystery, complexity, and impossibility of that world The protagonist’s journey to find the ego is the one to clear the flow in the “dark land” of the unconscious, straight into the forest of confused minds in order to constantly query and rearrange memories to assert their own ego Symbols condense many immutable meanings and values in the cultural consciousness of mankind, in turn, they are given the role of cultural preservation and transfer Murakami’s symbol of objects focuses on “mirror” and “home” These are familiar symbols, attached to human life With Murakami, they become important artistic elements and contribute to conveying the writer’s perspective on the person, helping the reader to realize the actual situation and reveal somewhat of the inner life of the character on the planet commitment process In addition to the familiar meanings, the “mirror” also added a new meaning by the writer - the boundary and boundary between the two real - virtual worlds Through the 24 “mirror”, Murakami deeply cares the character’s mental confusion and pain when he/she has to live with many “self”, but cannot grasp what is his true self The “Mirror” reflects the unconscious world, where the character needs to explore and confront the problem of core nature in order to find answers to deep contradictions about identity The “house” symbol is bolded by the writer to highlight the painful situation of the fracture in the family relationship of postmodern Japanese society “House” is no longer “a shelter, a home”, an anchor for a peaceful soul for each person, but it becomes a medium containing evil and evil; causes the character to endure in doom or by all means have to flee or escape Parallel to the human journey of searching for being is the journey of finding happiness “House” is a symbol of the desire for happiness, the dream of a peaceful home that the character always aspires to seek “House” is also a symbol of the complex and multifaceted inner person and it is the unconscious world where there are “special rooms” for the character to embark on the journey to explore the hidden corners of the soul The rebirth they receive when stepping out of the inner room will help them find “the true face”, creating meaningful connections between their lives and others The symbol of animals of Murakami appears diversely, throughout most works, attached to the ups and downs of the character’s journey of commitment The presence of the “fictional zoo” inspired the creation process so that Murakami could convey multidimensional messages about postmodern life and people “Cats”, “sheep” and “birds” are prominent symbols among the animals appearing in Murakami novels They are symbols of the 25 quest for the ego, fragments of being The “cat” has two sides: heterogeneity, wobbling between the tendencies of good and evil Their appearance and disappearance set the story in motion, disrupting the protagonist’s languishing existence, prompting him to embark on a maze journey to restore and restore his ego Like “cat”, the symbol “bird” is the selective inheritance of the symbolic system of the collective unconscious, and at the same time the writer’s creativity and style That is “the instinctive soul in man” - “an important door to enter the spiritual world”; is a symbol of fate, signaling destruction, death, condemnation With “birds”, Murakami has carved human loneliness, confusion, helplessness with existential obsessions about condition; highlights hidden corners, hints about the unconscious level, and psychological mysteries of the character Without focusing on the unconscious concept, the symbol “sheep” is a new creation associated with the historical development situation of Japan Murakami expressed criticism of the war crimes that Japan has inflicted on the colonial countries in order to realize its intention of expansion “Sheep” is a symbol of the reverse side of modernization, a symbol of the absolute power of the “System” over the “Individual” With “sheep”, Murakami wanted to communicate frankly and fairly about what his country did during the world war, and at the same time expressing his views on the inhumane aspects of modern Japanese society Symbol in Murakami novels is the inheritance of the flow of the cultural underground circuit of humanity That is not only arousing the ancient unconsciousness but also the creation of the typical consciousness of the people Every symbol of nature, object 26 or animal has a deep relationship with the postmodern human image with the loss and tragedy in the spiritual life Those are always trying to struggle and thrash in despair to find the true meaning of life The meaning of existence becomes a painful desire for each person to delve deeply into the realities located in the physical and psychological strata, making a journey of commitment to restore one’s own ego This created the “familiar but strange” characteristic of the Murakami symbols, bringing his work into connection with regional and international literature From the results of the topic Symbols in the novel Haruki Murakami, we will develop the next researching direction of the writer’s new works and short stories in relation and comparison with the contemporary authors in Vietnam The discovery of the inheritance and renewal of each writer does not only depend on the mental characteristics of each nation, but also the connection of ancient collective unconsciousness that has existed for a long time in the human consciousness 27 LIST OF PUBLISHED WORKS RELATED TO THE THESIS Phan Thi Huyen Trang (2016), Symbols in the novel of Haruki Murakami, Scientific Journal of Hanoi National University of Education, May 2016, pp 44-51 Phan Thi Huyen Trang (2020), The symbol “light” in the novel of Haruki Murakami, Journal of Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art, No 2/2020, page 127-134 Phan Thi Huyen Trang (2020), The symbol of “cat” in the novel of Haruki Murakami, Scientific Journal of Hanoi National University of Education, May 2020, pp 33-40 Phan Thi Huyen Trang (2020), The symbol of “sheep” in the novel of Haruki Murakami, Scientific Journal of Hanoi National University of Education, August 2020, pp 31-38 28 ... attraction of Murakami? ??s compositions, making up the mystery and depth in his work Therefore, we worked on the subject of Symbols in Haruki Murakami? ??s novel (Biểu tượng tiểu thuyết Haruki Murakami) ... and applying the reasonable explanations from researching symbols in Murakami novels in the country and in the world Surveying, identifying, analyzing and explaining the specifics of Murakami? ??s... for individual and social destiny, is the journey of finding life values, finding self and perfecting human spirituality CHAPTER ANIMAL SYMBOLS IN MURAKAMI? ??S NOVELS Murakami uses many species of