Four Acts, No Conflict?

So, today I learned all about Kishōtenketsu, which is a four-act story structure that does not rely on conflict for plot development.

SAY WHAT? No conflict? Surely this is blasphemy!

But it's not blasphemy, just culture shock. Kishōtenketsu is the product of Eastern thought, whereas my entire set of thought processes is a product of Western thought. So, it makes sense that I would be a little put off by the notion.

I guess, to be more accurate, I should say that today I re-learned all about Kishōtenketsu. In my Classical World Literature class in college, we did discuss and and read several examples of it, then all sat around and argued whether or not they actually did or did not have conflict in them. Ah, good times.

Anyway, check out this article by Nils Ödlund on Mythic Scribes for the skinny on
Kishōtenketsu: http://mythicscribes.com/plot/kishotenketsu/

Be sure to read all of the links that Ödlund includes--they really helped me get a bit more of a grasp on the whole concept. 

I may write more about this later, but for now, my job beckons.