Legends of Japan

by Hiroshi Naito, Masahiko Nishino (Illustrator)

These twenty-two Japanese tales open to Western readers the world of fantasy in the legendary literature of Japan--a world of ogres, monkeys, goblins, and priest, of spelling-casting and rescuing people.Rich in variety, Legends of Japan includes tales of the supernatural, magic, and deities, as well as tales of romance and intrigue. The vividness and aesthetic appeal of these stories is enhanced by twenty-two woodblock prints from the studio of modern Japanese illustrator Masahiko Nishin.The tales are drawn from two Japanese masterpieces of the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura (1192-1333) periods. The earlier and main source is 31-volume Konjaku Monogatari, a collection of tales of Japanese, Chinese and Indian origin. The other source is the miscellany Tsurezure Gusa, by Kento Yoshida, a monk of noble birth who was well versed in Japanese and Chinese literature. A reader's delight, these little books distills the color and charm, the wisdom and humor of two great treasuries of classical Asian literature.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories, Japanese Literature, Japan

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1972

Reviews

[Tanysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, with a feeling similar to Grimm's fairytales. Written in very simple language, possibly suitable for children.

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting more than entertaining. It's for a simpler less educated audience, or cultural scholar.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compiled by folklorist Naito Hiroshi for a column in the Mainichi Daily News, Legends of Japan is an interesting if short taste of Japanese literature rarely translated into English. Taking most of its stories from the Konjaku Monogatarishu (Collected Tales of Times Now Past), a collection of tales written circa 1120 CE, the tales provide fascinating insight into the world of the late Heian period (794–1185 CE) they originated from. Including simple Buddhist parables and anecdotes in addition to more supernatural tales, Naito emphasizes here a gentle fairy tale-like atmosphere. The quaint tales of cat haters, melon stealing kami, and comical tengu seem generally intended to amuse, not frighten, and are complemented by the spare woodblock prints of artist Masahiko Nishino.

I discuss other works published in English on Japanese folklore at Harris’ Tome Corner- Narrating the Strange: Kaidan of Yokai and Yurei in Japanese Folklore.