In James Clavell's "Shōgun," the character grapples with the complexities of cultural exchanges and personal beliefs. The quote "What is the new one a justification of heaven?" highlights the tension between different worldviews, questioning how new ideas can reshape or validate established beliefs. This introspection suggests that encounters with different cultures prompt deep reflections about one's own values and the implications they bear on spiritual and moral understanding.
The inquiry also invites readers to consider the nature of faith and justification. It raises the issue of how new experiences and knowledge can lead individuals to reassess what they believe to be divinely sanctioned. Clavell's work thus becomes a platform for exploring how the confluence of Eastern and Western philosophies can lead to transformative insights, ultimately broadening the reader's perspective on spirituality and ethics.