# What Tradition vs. Modernity means in Short Fiction

> The stories are set in a nostalgic Edo period, contrasting with emerging modern influences, such as the mention of a Dutch doctor's chloroform and the tension between old customs and changing social norms.

## Explanation

The stories are set in a nostalgic Edo period, contrasting with emerging modern influences, such as the mention of a Dutch doctor's chloroform and the tension between old customs and changing social norms.

The endnotes explain traditional customs such as Bon holidays, family succession, and geisha practices, contrasting them with modern perspectives.

Tradition vs. Modernity is one of the patterns Short Fiction by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō returns to. The chapter notes above are from this edition’s companions — open those chapters to see how the book stages the idea rather than treating the theme as a slogan.

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