He is unable to make more before Emissary Kim returns, and Kang is chosen to make pottery for the palace. He is outraged when the vessels are ruined in the kiln, and smashes all of his hard work on the ground. Min gets to work, trying out the technique with his own pieces. Kim is impressed with Min and Kang’s work, and arranges another trip to see more from the potters in one month. The village’s potters get to work creating vessels fit for royalty, and the day comes when Emissary Kim arrives. One day, the word spreads that a royal emissary will be coming to the village, in search of pottery for the palace. Tree-ear considers telling Min of this discovery, but decides against it, despite his fierce loyalty to Min. He is a man of great skill, and uses a technique that Tree-ear has never seen before. Tree-ear also discovers the work of another master potter, Kang. Tree-ear is touched by her kindness.Īfter his debt is paid off, Tree-ear continues to work for Min, and begins forming a bond with Min’s wife, whose name is Ajima. When Min’s wife realizes he was saving his food for someone else, she began filling it again so both could have a full meal. Tree-ear wishes he could be working with Min, but is grateful for the dinner that is provided to him, half of which he would save and bring to Crane-man. Tree-ear’s hopes of learning are dashed as Min gives him other work to do, such as chopping and hauling wood and carting heavy clay. Min reluctantly agrees, and Tree-ear is hopeful that he will be able to learn from the master potter. Tree-ear pleads with Min, insisting that he is only there to see his creations, and offers to work for him to pay off what he has broken. As he is admiring Min’s work, the potter comes home and is furious and accuses Tree-ear of stealing, causing Tree-ear to drop a piece of Min’s work. One day, Tree-ear sneaks into the house of Min, one of the finest potters in the region, when he is not home. Tree-ear is obsessed with the art of pottery, and spends his days watching and admiring as the potters in the village work.

Tree-ear, who was named after a mushroom that grows without parental seed, was orphaned at a young age, when his parents died of illness. Crane-man got his name because he only has one leg, and often looks like a crane when he walks.

Tree-ear lives under a bridge in the small seaside village of Ch’ulp’o with his dear care-taker, Crane-man. What are some of the themes of this story?.What challenges does Tree-ear face throughout the story?.What is the relationship like between Tee-ear and Crane-man?.

A single shard book