Kishōtenketsu (conflictless plot)

Normally, novels will feature around a set of characters plonked into a setting, and the narrative will follow them as they engage with the plot of a story – but not always. ‘Open-ended’ works of fiction are often criticised for being boring and lacking action – but after reading this blog, hopefully you’ll begin to see the charms of kishōtenketsu writing.

The phrase was given its Japanese name as the four-act structure was popularised by these cultures – and also after the 4-line Chinese poetry it originated from! Interestingly, there is no direct Western equivalent. There are plenty of examples of kishōtenketsu available too – so after you’ve read this article if it interests you, check them out!

What is Kishōtenketsu?

Though there isn’t a strict rule that there has to be a form of conflict in kishōtenketsu, there is still some form of twist or complication which the characters must then come to terms with. The word itself lends some clues as to the four-act structure of kishōtenketsu writing:

• Ki = introduction (the beginning of the story and establishment of the characters and setting)
• Shō = development (things begin to heat up and the narrative advances)
• Ten = twist (the plot changes direction)
• Ketsu = conclusion (everything is finished)

This type of writing is best at influencing a change of perspective, or other forms of discovery, which will then affect the rest of the story as it progresses. Often the final section of the text will introduce a new equilibrium for the characters in the story, or even recontextualise the first parts, which differs from the Western styles of plot which usually have a nice, neat ending. 

Because of their unique structure and focus on subversion of the norm, the story drivers of kishōtenketsu tend to be introspective, such as self-actualisation for the characters to revisit the past – and is also a typical structure for slice-of-life stories, but also has good applications for mystery, thriller or drama plotlines.

And then what happened?

That was more information about kishōtenketsu writing – and you’ll be able to find examples of this work in the links contained within this article, should you desire. It’s a structure that will likely be new to a lot of you, so it’s recommended to try writing your own to get to grips with the style!