Point of View

The point of view of the novel is third-person omniscient. The unknown narrator knows everything that is going on, but he specializes in points of view from time to time to give the reader more information. For example, towards the beginning of the book, the narrator spends more time examining Ming-feng's thoughts and feelings than the thoughts and feelings of other characters. This specialization gives the reader more empathy for certain characters and also helps with foreshadowing.

The narrator doesn't focus in on the thoughts of the Venerable Master Kao until right before his death. This becomes a device used over and over again. Until right before his death, the other characters and the reader feel no sympathy for the Venerable Master Kao. But the point of view, artfully used, allows the reader to see that the Venerable Master Kao has had good intentions all along...