TALES OF OLD JAPAN.
THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS.
The books which have been written of late years about Japan, have either been compiled from official records, or have contained the sketchy impressions of passing travellers. Of the inner life of the Japanese, the world at large knows but little : their religion, their superstitions, their ways of thought, the hidden springs by which they move-all these are as yet mysteries. Nor is this to be wondered at. The first Western men who came in contact with Japan-I am speaking not of the old Dutch and Portuguese traders and priests, but of the diplomatists and merchants of eleven years ago-met with a cold reception. Above all things, the native Government threw obstacles in the way of any inquiry into their language, literature, and history. The fact was that the Tycoon's Government-with whom alone, so long as the Mikado remained in seclusion in his sacred capital at Kioto, any relations were maintained-knew that the Imperial purple with which
Table of Contents
CONTENTS; THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS 1; 1HE LOVES OF GOMPACHI AND KOMUllAsAKI 25; KAZCMA'8 REVENGE *9; A STORY OF THE OTOKODATE" OF YE DO 68; THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF FUNAKOS1II JIUYKMON 118; THK ETA MAIDEN AND THE HATAMOTO 14t>; FAIRY TALES 171; THE TONOUE-CUT SPARROW 173; THE ACCOMPLISHED AND LUCKY TEA-KETTLE 175; THE CRACKLING MOUNTAIN 177; THE HTORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES TO; BLOSSOM 180; THE BATTLE OF THE APE AND THE CRAIi 183; THE ADVENTURES OH LITTLE PK AI'IILING 185; THE FOXE8' WEDDING 187; THE HISTORY OF SAKATA KINTnKI 189; THE ELVE8 AND THE ENVIOUS NEIGH POUR 191; THE OHOST OF BAKURA 193; nOW TAIIMA SnUM<5 WAS TORMENTED nY A DEVIL OK HIS OWN; CREATION -34; x CONTENTS; PA OR; CONCERNING CEETAIN SUPERSTITION8 24:j; THE VAMPIRE CAT OF NABESHIMA 245; THE STOEY OF THE FAIT
THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS.
The books which have been written of late years about Japan, have either been compiled from official records, or have contained the sketchy impressions of passing travellers. Of the inner life of the Japanese, the world at large knows but little : their religion, their superstitions, their ways of thought, the hidden springs by which they move-all these are as yet mysteries. Nor is this to be wondered at. The first Western men who came in contact with Japan-I am speaking not of the old Dutch and Portuguese traders and priests, but of the diplomatists and merchants of eleven years ago-met with a cold reception. Above all things, the native Government threw obstacles in the way of any inquiry into their language, literature, and history. The fact was that the Tycoon's Government-with whom alone, so long as the Mikado remained in seclusion in his sacred capital at Kioto, any relations were maintained-knew that the Imperial purple with which
Table of Contents
CONTENTS; THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS 1; 1HE LOVES OF GOMPACHI AND KOMUllAsAKI 25; KAZCMA'8 REVENGE *9; A STORY OF THE OTOKODATE" OF YE DO 68; THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF FUNAKOS1II JIUYKMON 118; THK ETA MAIDEN AND THE HATAMOTO 14t>; FAIRY TALES 171; THE TONOUE-CUT SPARROW 173; THE ACCOMPLISHED AND LUCKY TEA-KETTLE 175; THE CRACKLING MOUNTAIN 177; THE HTORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES TO; BLOSSOM 180; THE BATTLE OF THE APE AND THE CRAIi 183; THE ADVENTURES OH LITTLE PK AI'IILING 185; THE FOXE8' WEDDING 187; THE HISTORY OF SAKATA KINTnKI 189; THE ELVE8 AND THE ENVIOUS NEIGH POUR 191; THE OHOST OF BAKURA 193; nOW TAIIMA SnUM<5 WAS TORMENTED nY A DEVIL OK HIS OWN; CREATION -34; x CONTENTS; PA OR; CONCERNING CEETAIN SUPERSTITION8 24:j; THE VAMPIRE CAT OF NABESHIMA 245; THE STOEY OF THE FAIT
