Tales of Old Japan: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Ghost Stories and Legends of the Samurai (Paperback)

by A. B. Mitford (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An engrossing array of stories, this entertaining volume chronicles an ancient culture. The book provides grisly accounts of revenge and knightly exploits, a fascinating eyewitness account of a hara-kiri ceremony, tales of vampires and samurai, Buddhist sermons, and the plots of four No plays. 38 illustrations.

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Product Details Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (March 24, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486440621 ISBN-13: 978-0486440620 Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #441,488 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Citations (learn more)

83 books cite this book:

• Mitford's Japan: Memories and Recollections, 1866-1906 (Japan Library Classic Paperbacks) by Hugh Cortazzi on 5 pages
• The House of Mitford by Jonathan Guinness on 4 pages
• The Religions of Japan: From the Dawn of History to the Era of Meiji by William Elliot Griffis on 4 pages
• Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Meiji by William Elliot Griffis on 4 pages
• Japan An Attempt At Interpretation by Lafcadio Hearn on page 121, page 144, and Back Matter

See all 83 books citing this book

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	53% buy the item featured on this page: Tales of Old Japan: Folklore, Fairy Tales, Ghost Stories and Legends of the Samurai 4.5 out of 5 stars (2) $11.01
	29% buy Japanese Tales (Pantheon fairy tale & folklore library) 4.9 out of 5 stars (14) $13.57
	7% buy Myths and Legends of Japan 4.0 out of 5 stars (7) $10.17
	6% buy In Ghostly Japan (Tuttle Classics of Japanese Literature) 4.3 out of 5 stars (6) $12.71

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Fairy tales and the soul of a country, June 2, 2009 By  Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)          "Tales of Old Japan" is a book with an interesting pedigree. From 1866-1870, Author A. B. Mitford was an attaché with the British Legion at Edo (Modern day Tokyo), and one of the first foreign diplomats to Japan. He served as a translator for the young Meiji Emperor, and became intimately familiar with the country and its language. Upon his return to Britain, he became discouraged and disappointed by Western media reports of the Japanese people, portraying them as an uncouth people lacking in morals or character, with vicious men and wanton women. Mitford set out to correct that error by writing "Tales of Old Japan," showing through Japanese legends and fairly tales the moral heart of the country, what they admired, what they aspired to, and what they feared. Because of this, "Tales of Old Japan" is much more than a collection of stories. Published in 1871, it is the first English-language book of its kind, and many famous Japanese tales, such as "Okiku and the Nine Plates," and "The Forty-Seven Ronin," appear here for the first time. Each tale was selected not only for its own interest, but to teach Western audiences about the soul of the Japanese people through their native fairy tales. After each story, Mitford writes about how the story is seen in Japan, what people admired about the heroes and despise about the villains. These insights are what separate "Tales of Old Japan" from other books of this style. It is less academic than Myths and Legends of Japan and yet more than a collection of fairy tales like the massive Japanese Tales. Similar legends are collected in all three books, although they are presented differently. Mitford's book is very readable, but uses translations common of the era, such as "Prince" and "dirk" to represent Japanese concepts like the Daimyo and the samurai's shortsword wakizashi. Some of his language might be considered sexist or racist by modern standards, but that is something that must be forgiven for a book over a hundred and thirty years old. Mitford admired the Japanese, and shows so at every turn. "Tales of Old Japan" covers legends of loyalty ("The Forty Seven Ronin"), love ("The Loves of Gompachi and Komurasaki") the importance of the sword ("A Story of the Otokodate of Yedo"), the feudal system ("The Eta Maiden and the Hatamoto"), vengeance ("The Ghost of Sakura") as well as a large collection of fairy tales and superstitions, like "The Tongue-cut Sparrow," "The Battle of the Ape and the Crab" and "The Prince and the Badger." Many of these will already be familiar to those who have read some Japanese folklore, but it is fascinating to read Mitford's commentary and the first English translation and interpretation. Mitford also commissioned a Japanese woodblock artist, Odake, to create images to go along with the stories. These beautiful prints are included in the Dover publication of "Tales of Old Japan," reproduced in black and white. Also included are indexes describing in detail four important aspects of Japanese life, "The Marriage Ceremony," "One the Birth and Raising of Children" and "Funeral Rights." All of these are windows to the past, first hand accounts of what happened then. Another index talks of the ceremony of seppuku, known more commonly in English as hara-kiri. Mitford translates the laws and customs of hara-kiri, including how it varies for persons of rank, the difference between execution for an illegal but honorable killing as opposed to a passion slaying, and what to do with the head and body afterwards. Those who only know movie-style versions of the act will be surprised by the real thing, as I was. Mitford also transcribes his own eye-witness account of a hara-kiri execution, one of seven foreigners invited to attend. While Mitford tries to stay a dispassionate observer, he is eventually forced to break from his professional voice in order to write "It was horrible." 4 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Historical tone, December 4, 2006 By  Knittycat1 (PA) - See all my reviews Folklore best describes the tone, although the sketches of the characters who are briefly seem more complex than similar European folklore. A pleasant read.		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (March 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486440621
• ISBN-13: 978-0486440620
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #441,488 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fairy tales and the soul of a country, June 2, 2009

By	Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Tales of Old Japan" is a book with an interesting pedigree. From 1866-1870, Author A. B. Mitford was an attaché with the British Legion at Edo (Modern day Tokyo), and one of the first foreign diplomats to Japan. He served as a translator for the young Meiji Emperor, and became intimately familiar with the country and its language.

Upon his return to Britain, he became discouraged and disappointed by Western media reports of the Japanese people, portraying them as an uncouth people lacking in morals or character, with vicious men and wanton women. Mitford set out to correct that error by writing "Tales of Old Japan," showing through Japanese legends and fairly tales the moral heart of the country, what they admired, what they aspired to, and what they feared.

Because of this, "Tales of Old Japan" is much more than a collection of stories. Published in 1871, it is the first English-language book of its kind, and many famous Japanese tales, such as "Okiku and the Nine Plates," and "The Forty-Seven Ronin," appear here for the first time. Each tale was selected not only for its own interest, but to teach Western audiences about the soul of the Japanese people through their native fairy tales. After each story, Mitford writes about how the story is seen in Japan, what people admired about the heroes and despise about the villains.

These insights are what separate "Tales of Old Japan" from other books of this style. It is less academic than Myths and Legends of Japan and yet more than a collection of fairy tales like the massive Japanese Tales. Similar legends are collected in all three books, although they are presented differently. Mitford's book is very readable, but uses translations common of the era, such as "Prince" and "dirk" to represent Japanese concepts like the Daimyo and the samurai's shortsword wakizashi. Some of his language might be considered sexist or racist by modern standards, but that is something that must be forgiven for a book over a hundred and thirty years old. Mitford admired the Japanese, and shows so at every turn.

"Tales of Old Japan" covers legends of loyalty ("The Forty Seven Ronin"), love ("The Loves of Gompachi and Komurasaki") the importance of the sword ("A Story of the Otokodate of Yedo"), the feudal system ("The Eta Maiden and the Hatamoto"), vengeance ("The Ghost of Sakura") as well as a large collection of fairy tales and superstitions, like "The Tongue-cut Sparrow," "The Battle of the Ape and the Crab" and "The Prince and the Badger."

Many of these will already be familiar to those who have read some Japanese folklore, but it is fascinating to read Mitford's commentary and the first English translation and interpretation. Mitford also commissioned a Japanese woodblock artist, Odake, to create images to go along with the stories. These beautiful prints are included in the Dover publication of "Tales of Old Japan," reproduced in black and white.

Also included are indexes describing in detail four important aspects of Japanese life, "The Marriage Ceremony," "One the Birth and Raising of Children" and "Funeral Rights." All of these are windows to the past, first hand accounts of what happened then. Another index talks of the ceremony of seppuku, known more commonly in English as hara-kiri. Mitford translates the laws and customs of hara-kiri, including how it varies for persons of rank, the difference between execution for an illegal but honorable killing as opposed to a passion slaying, and what to do with the head and body afterwards. Those who only know movie-style versions of the act will be surprised by the real thing, as I was.

Mitford also transcribes his own eye-witness account of a hara-kiri execution, one of seven foreigners invited to attend. While Mitford tries to stay a dispassionate observer, he is eventually forced to break from his professional voice in order to write "It was horrible."

4 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical tone, December 4, 2006

By	Knittycat1 (PA) - See all my reviews

Folklore best describes the tone, although the sketches of the characters who are briefly seem more complex than similar European folklore. A pleasant read.