The Journey of the Soul Transcending Time and Space - A Literary Analysis of Leather Strings, Memory, and Religious Motifs in Tashi Dawa’s 『Tibet, The Soul Tied in Leather Knots』

This study conducts a literary analysis of the contemporary Tibetan author Tashi Dawa’s novel『Tibet, The Soul Tied in Leather Knots』 to explore the themes of time, memory, and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people. Firstly, this study examines how the motif of leather Strings symbolically represents the recording and cyclic nature of time, as well as divine protection for the Tibetan people in the novel. The novel also reconstructs memory by linking the past and present, creating a narrative structure that embodies philosophical and religious implications regarding the nature and reconstruction of memory. Particularly, the memory reconstruction process reveals the fusion of individual experiences and collective memories, playing a pivotal role in shaping the Tibetan identity. Lastly, the two protagonists, Tabei, a guardian of traditional religion, and Qiong, who adapts to modern material civilization while seeking her own utopia, exhibit contrasting notions of time. Through their experiences, we observe the Tibetan people’s struggle between secular and religious time in a modernized Tibet. This conflict reflects the real-life challenges faced by contemporary Tibetan society, highlighting the task of harmoniously integrating modernization with tradition.