Allida, Stephanie Jane Cruz.2026-01-282016-05Allida, S.C.(2016).Death as reflected in thousand cranes and the sound of the mountain.(Unpbulished master's thesis).University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City.https://dspace.uc-bcf.edu.ph/handle/123456789/267The word "death" often brings fright to everyone. But the author Yasunari Kawabata tried to present some brighter sides of death in most of his writings just like in his two novels Thousand Cranes and The Sound of the Mountain. This study aims to know the concepts of death of Yasunari Kawabata in his two novels. What is the perception of this author towards death? How do his writings reflect these perspectives? The study gives new light to the meaning of death. This will benefit people who want to discuss their fear of death openly and who would want to share and to know experiences and ideas about death. Through this research, one can read different perspectives about death as they are reflected in the plot, characters, and symbols of the novels of Kawabata. The main problem of this study is to determine the depictions of death of Yasunari Kawabata in his two novels, Thousand Cranes and The Sound of the Mountain. Specifically, the following questions shall be answered: 1. What are the concepts of death in the novels: a. A Thousand Cranes, and b. The Sound of the Mountain? 2. How are the concepts of death reflected through the following literary elements: a. plot; b. characters; and c. symbols 3. What website can be designed to foster life meaningfulness? To answer these questions, the researcher made of the descriptive research method and content analysis. Specifically, the biographical, socio-cultural, historical, psychological and formalistic approaches were used to analyze and to give light to the problems of this study. The following are the major findings of the study: 1. There are five concepts of death found in the novel Thousand Cranes: (a) Death does not erase the past and end a relationship; (b) Death cuts off understanding; (c) Death is inevitable; (d) Death ends one's emotional suffering; and (e) Death is a time for forgiveness and respect. 2. The five concepts of death found in the novel The Sound of the Mountain are: (a) Death is a reawakening; (b) Death is an escape from a responsibility, an escape from pain, or an escape from shame; (c) Death brings fear; (d) Death is not nothingness, and; (e) Death will come to everyone. 3. These series of events in the novels are the reflection of some death concepts: Thousand Cranes (a) Kikuji's meeting with Yukiko Inamura, Mrs. Ota, and Fumiko (Death does not erase the past and end a relationship) (b) The suicide of Mrs Ota (Death cuts off understanding) The Sound of the Mountain (c) Shingo tries to help his children in their marriages; and Shingo's longing for his first love (Death is a reawakening) (d) Abortion and suicide of several characters (Death is an escape from a responsibility, an escape from pain, or an escape from shame) 4. These characters, on the other hand, reflect the following death concepts: Thousand Cranes (a) Mrs. Ota and Fumiko (Death is inevitable and Death ends one's emotional suffering) (b) Kikuji (Death is a time for forgiveness and respect) The Sound of the Mountain(a) Shingo (Death is a reawakening) (b) Shingo, the Carpenter and a Geisha; and Mizuta (Death brings fear) (c) Yasuko' sister,(Death is not nothingness) 5. Lastly, these are symbols that reflect a death concept in the novel: The Sound of the Mountain: The sound of the mountain, Autumn, and dreams (Death will come to everyone) In light of the findings of the study, the following are the conclusions: 1. There is no exact definition of death. Death can be defined in various ways as life can be lived differently. 2. The environment in which a person lives and the people who surround him affect his concept of death. 3. Death is a complicated event to understand in a person's life. In relation with the findings and conclusions of this research, the following are recommended: 1. A study on how the concepts of death of the author Yasunari Kawabata changes from his novel Thousand Cranes (1959), The Sound of the Mountain (1970), and Beauty and Sadness (1972), his last novel before he died. 2. Another study can be conducted to analyze the pattern of a character's action and decision making because of the effects of experiencing several loss of family members at an early age. 3. To help others who have difficulty in living their life or continuing to live their life, a website can be created to be an avenue for sharing inspirational photos, and quotations to help those who are facing this battle. It could also be a website where people who share the same experiences in life can have a connection and interaction to share their sentiments.en-USThesis