| Acknowledgement | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第10-18页 |
| 1.1 An introduction to Ruth Ozeki and A Tale for the Time Being | 第10-12页 |
| 1.2 Literature review | 第12-16页 |
| 1.3 The purpose and significance of this essay | 第16页 |
| 1.4 The structure of this thesis | 第16-18页 |
| 2. Historical Definition of Japanese Suicide Culture | 第18-22页 |
| 2.1. The emergence of seppuku in feudal Japan | 第19-20页 |
| 2.2. More suicide methods in modern Japan | 第20-22页 |
| 3. Haruki: A Martyr of "Loyalty" in Bushido Spirit | 第22-30页 |
| 3.1 Loyalty in Bushido Spirit | 第22-24页 |
| 3.2 A Peace-loving student in W WII | 第24-27页 |
| 3.2.1 Losing freedom | 第25页 |
| 3.2.2 The death of K | 第25-26页 |
| 3.2.3 The mission of suicide attack | 第26-27页 |
| 3.3 Dying for peace | 第27-30页 |
| 4. Haruki:A·Practitioner of Shame-based Culture | 第30-37页 |
| 4.1 Shame in shame-based culture | 第30-31页 |
| 4.2 A dispossessed former IT elite | 第31-33页 |
| 4.2.1 The absence of responsibility as a father | 第32-33页 |
| 4.3 Two attempts of killing himself | 第33-37页 |
| 4.3.1 For clearing his name | 第34-35页 |
| 4.3.2 For casting off a sense of guilt | 第35-37页 |
| 5. Nao:A Compound of Shame-based Culture and Zen Buddhism | 第37-44页 |
| 5.1 "All empties" cosmology | 第37-38页 |
| 5.2 A helpless school girl | 第38-40页 |
| 5.2.1 School bullying | 第38-39页 |
| 5.2.2 Best friend's isolation | 第39-40页 |
| 5.3 Jiko's enlightenment | 第40-44页 |
| 5.3.1 A hot bath: getting cleaned inside and out | 第41页 |
| 5.3.2 A Zen meditation: making her want "to live" | 第41-44页 |
| 6. Conclusion | 第44-46页 |
| Bibliography | 第46-49页 |
