Shusaku Endo’s Aununfolds in a Tokyo hardware shop named “Aun-ya,” nestled near Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. It tells the story of two characters: the stubborn old shopkeeper Ryuzo Sakamoto and his apprentice Mitsuo Mizuno, whose trivial daily routines mirror profound spiritual struggles. Without grand plots, the novel dissects modernity’s hidden anxieties: How do we preserve our souls amid repetitive life? When faith fades and good/evil blur, where do we find meaning?

I. Main Content: A Spiritual Mirror in the Market

Set against post-war Japan’s economic recovery, Aunfocuses on Aun-ya’s daily life: Sakamoto polishes the shop’s guardian deity, Fudō Myōō, each morning, muttering sutras; Mizuno, a country boy who drifted to Tokyo after stealing, works odd jobs—cleaning windows, hauling goods—while glimpsing his master’s secrets: Sakamoto secretly aids widows yet haggles fiercely with suppliers; he guards temple rules strictly but visits geisha houses in private. Their relationship evolves into mutual reflection: Sakamoto uses “small evils” to protect his inner divinity, while Mizuno seeks weight in “ordinary” existence. After Sakamoto’s death, Mizuno inherits the shop, finally realizing: the sacredness of life lies in the clatter of wiping tables and polishing statues.

II. Ten Enlightening Fragments: Life Lessons in Daily Folds

1. “Impure” Faith

Original: “Every morning, Sakamoto wiped Fudō Myōō’s statue, his fingernails stained with oil from last night’s plumbing repairs. ‘The Buddha doesn’t mind dirty hands,’ he said.” (Ch. 3)Enlightenment: Modern faith often fixates on “purity”—praying only with clean hands, doing good for recognition. Sakamoto’s “impurity” reveals: faith isn’t about ritual cleanliness, but gazing upward amid life’s grime.

2. “Petty” Evils of Survival

Original: “Sakamoto snuck extra rice into widows’ pots, then cursed suppliers: ‘These crooks!’ over price hikes.” (Ch. 5)Enlightenment: We obsess over “absolute good/evil,” but Sakamoto’s “small evils” (petty greed, lies) coexist with “small goodness”—a honest portrait of ordinary survival. Perfection isn’t human; embracing contradictions is.

3. Sacredness of Labor

Original: “After three months of window-cleaning, Sakamoto said: ‘You’re not cleaning glass—you’re cleaning the Buddha’s eyes.’” (Ch. 7)Enlightenment: Modernity dismisses manual labor as “just a job.” Sakamoto’s words unveil: focused work—cleaning, hauling—is reverence for life itself. Ordinary labor holds spiritual practice.

4. Silent Companionship Against Loneliness

Original: “Late at night, they sat on the doorstep eating rice porridge, saying nothing—more comforting than any conversation.” (Ch. 9)Enlightenment: Modern loneliness is masked by “social performance.” Sakamoto and Mizuno’s silent togetherness reveals: true connection needs no words—quiet presence heals isolation.

5. Resilience of Tradition

Original: “People mocked Sakamoto for handwritten ledgers: ‘Calculators are faster!’ He replied: ‘A brushstroke carries a customer’s warmth.’” (Ch. 12)Enlightenment: Digital trends label tradition “inefficient.” Sakamoto’s loyalty to handwriting symbolizes: preserving “useless” rituals resists spiritual homogenization.

6. Theft and Redemption

Original: “When Mizuno stole money, Sakamoto didn’t call police: ‘Next time you’re hungry, ask—not steal.’” (Ch. 15)Enlightenment: Modernity punishes “mistakes” harshly. Sakamoto’s mercy shows: understanding, not punishment, offers redemption—kindness outshines rules.

7. Moderation in Desire

Original: “Sakamoto loved sake but never exceeded three go. ‘Sake is a gift from the Buddha—drunkenness is theft,’ he said.” (Ch. 18)Enlightenment: We swing between “restraint” and “indulgence.” Sakamoto’s “moderation” teaches: allow desires, but guard boundaries—sustainable living lies here.

8. Death as Continuation of the Mundane

Original: “Dying, Sakamoto still polished the statue: ‘I’m off to have tea with old neighbors. Take good care of the shop.’” (Ch. 22)Enlightenment: Modernity fears death. Sakamoto’s calm reveals: death is life’s extension—every lived moment prepares us for the end.

9. Legacy of “Living Sacredly”

Original: “When Mizuno inherited the shop, Sakamoto said: ‘Don’t copy my statue-polishing. Learn to turn daily life into a temple.’” (Ch. 24)Enlightenment: We anxiety over “successful legacy.” Sakamoto’s last words awaken: legacy isn’t skill—it’s creating sacredness in the mundane. This honors life deepest.

10. Reconciliation with the Self

Original: “Mizuno finally understood: Sakamoto’s ‘stubbornness’ wasn’t a flaw—it was his way to make peace with the world.” (Epilogue)Enlightenment: Modernity chases self-“improvement” to fit in. Mizuno’s growth teaches: accepting contradictions and limits is true reconciliation with oneself.

Conclusion: Rebuilding Spiritual Homeland in the Ordinary

Aunmoves not through grand tales, but by shattering modernity’s “spiritual superiority”—we think we’re “better” than a window-cleaner or a traditional shopkeeper, yet lose life’s essence chasing “meaning.” Sakamoto and Mizuno remind us: the sacred hides in table-wiping clatter; redemption blooms in embracing imperfection. When we learn to see light in routine and reconcile with our flaws, Aunceases to be another’s story—it becomes our guide to making peace with life.