The Book of Fish serves as a profound epitome of East Asian society teetering on the edge of modern revolutions.
For thousands of years, Confucianism profoundly shaped East Asian countries. However, by the early 19th century, its teachings had become hypocritical, functioning more as a tool for intellectuals to ascend the social ladder than as practical principles guiding daily life. The core of Confucianism, which aimed to create and maintain social order to preserve the monarchy, had grown obsolete and cumbersome in an era shaped by Western influence. It no longer adapted to the rapid changes ushered in by external forces.
Cultural inertia proved a powerful barrier to internal reform. This attempt to change is reflected in the protagonist's turn towards Western ideas, including Christianity, as a means to transform the society he inhabits-perhaps not intentionally, but as an act of desperation. His fate, exile at the hands of the ruling class, illustrates the threat his ideas posed to the monarchy. The young fisherman symbolizes the idealists of the time, deeply committed to the core values of Confucianism, who sought to serve their country with these principles. Yet when he finally reaches the goals he strived for, he finds his beliefs dismissed and treated as mere folly by the so-called elites.
This experience forces him to recall his teacher's words about the possibility of a country without a king, a society without rigid class hierarchies. Initially, he was strongly opposed to such notions due to his unwavering faith in Confucian ideals. But this moment becomes his epiphany, revealing the stark truth of his time.
This film resonates deeply with the complicated emotions East Asians still feel about their cultural heritage, particularly Confucianism. The struggles portrayed are not confined to history-they remain relevant today. It may take generations to fully confront and overcome the weight of such traditions.
