Chapters 5-6 Summary

In Chapter 5, Tree-ear is on his way to work early one morning and he sees Kang, another potter, sneaking off to the kiln. This suggests that Kang has created some form of pottery he does not want anyone to see. Tree-ear attempts to see what this might be, but the pottery is not at the kiln sight several days later when the kiln is emptied. Over the next few months, Crane-man spends his time weaving baskets and mats from rice straw. Crane-man makes Tree-ear a pair of sandals, but Tree-ear has grown so quickly that the sandals no longer fit when Crane-man finishes them. Winter arrives and Tree-ear knows that he and Crane-man will have to move from the bridge to their temporary vegetable shed soon. One day Min's wife brings Tree-ear a pair of pants and a jacket that were...