Main Characters
- Three-year
Three-year is one of the main characters in this book and twelve-year-old who was used to be orphan but, adopted by Clane-man; is homeless when he was a little child. He has a good relationship with Crane-man like a best friend.
He became to admiring to become a potter as he observes and assists Min’s work.
- Crane-man
Crane-man is the one who rises up Tree-ear and homeless who live with Three-year under the bridge. He has handicap since he doesn’t have one side of the leg like a crane. (this is how the name came from)
Crane-man is pretty optimistic and insists that “standing on one leg, cranes are also a symbol of long life.” (7)
Where is Ch’ulp’o located?
Ch’ulp’o (Chulpo-ri) is one of the small villages where is located in Dangjin, South Chungcheong, Korea. By facing front to the ocean, there is a certain place that potters can fill the kiln and “ the potters took turns using the kiln and keeping up the supply of fuel” (p. 19) Ch’ulp’o is well known as celadon pottery village as main setting of this book. It will take 3-4 hours by driving from the capital city, Seoul to Ch’ulp’o
12 Century Background
At that time(12 century) until very recently, there weren’t a few homeless, which meant Terr-ear and Crane-man case atypical cases. However, there were many children who demand home or family relative number of homeless. Like Terr-year was adopted by Crane-man “those with no families were scored by the Buddhist temples.” (149)
Kimuchi
When Min’s wife serve the supper for Three-year and Min, there is a couple of time that Korean traditional food kimchi is coming out.
Kimchi is eaten by many Korean people and, well known as side dishes and eaten almost every single meal, which is made by fermenting the vegetables, in most time, people use cabbage or cucumber.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park 