Trigger warnings: discussion of self-harm, colorism, war, and genocide
Based on East Asian history and folklore, The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang follows orphan Fang Runin (Rin) as she tests into the prestigious Sinegard Academy and trains for a war that her country has been on the precipice of for years. This fantasy war novel is dark, gritty, and Kuang’s straightforward prose tells the havoc of war as it is-- an inescapable tragedy. I was stunned by the sheer breadth of this book, as each of the three parts tackled heavy themes steeped in adversity and gloom. I could talk for hours on each of the components that explain the grim parts of East Asian history, but a short compilation of my thoughts after reading this should at least help me prepare for the next novel in the three book series!
Instantly, part I reminded me of the horrors of the education system. In order to escape poverty and a life spent catering to a controlling husband, Rin studies exhaustively for the Keju, an exam required for higher education. Her story parallels those from students across the globe, as we are forced to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to cram the maximum amount of information possible into our brains. For instance, Rin begins to purposely spill hot candle wax on her arms in an effort to stay awake during long nights filled with reading and memorization.
“The Keju is a ruse to keep uneducated peasants right where they’ve always been. You slip past the Keju, they’ll find a way to expel you anyway. The Keju keeps the lower classes sedated. It keeps us dreaming. It’s not a ladder for mobility; it’s a way to keep people like me exactly where they were born. The Keju is a drug.” (Kuang 86)
Not only does Kuang dive into the effects of a pressurized school environment but her writing provides a critique on the exclusivity and inherent classism built into the education system. Rin is a dark skinned woman in a school created for the children of upper-class families, who are primarily lighter skinned. Her background sets her at a disadvantage from her peers who were granted every resource imaginable since birth. This manifests in our world in similar ways, including the standardized testing system, which racist and classist. Those with wealth are able to dedicate money and time towards studying, while lower class students fall through the gap.
Part II stood out in stark contrast to the academia-filled first part of the book. At the beginning of this section, the Federation of Mugen (meant to represent Japan) declares war on Rin’s home country of Nikan. Although the theme of war permeated each of the subjects Rin and her classmates studied, the looming presence of the Third Poppy War wasn’t tangible until now. Despite her young age (19) Rin is plunged into the forefront of the war. I’m surprised at how quickly Kuang placed a grainy film over this section to coat Rin’s perception of her country in gray. Her world is expanded as she meets other characters and begins to understand the inner workings of her own identity. She simultaneously experiences a loss of innocence while gaining individual power as her shamanic abilities are cultivated.
Both parts I and II were grueling and a bit painful at times to read, but they were nothing in comparison to the third part. At this point, Rin and her fellow soldiers have spent months enduring the hardships of war. Chapter 21 in particular was an agonizing kick to the stomach. I knew this story contained elements based on the Rape of Nanking, but reading the direct effects and trauma of genocide took time to process. As a Cambodian American, genocide is something that is intertwined with my family history. My mom and parts of her family survived the terrible regime of the dictator Pol Pot-- others were not so lucky. After I read this chapter I sat in a dazed silence on my bed, thinking about the resilience of my mom, my yeh and ta, my aunts and uncles, and the people of Cambodia. There’s no quantifying the pain of genocide. Its aftermath affects generations of people and the bits that Kuang explored in this chapter captured it well.
After binge watching reaction videos to the book and interviews with the author, I finally felt at peace with the thoughts circulating around my brain at hyperspeed. Something that Kuang mentioned about the nature of her trilogy as Asian diaspora writing really stuck with me. She speaks on how the Western education system centers itself, which is why her series is written primarily for Western readers. These stories are written for those who are eager to learn more about East Asian history but were never given the resources for in school. As a whole, this story encompassed a multitude of themes and topics. Despite falling into some cliche fantasy tropes, I learned much from Kuang’s debut novel.
