Japanese Legends and Folklore

Japanese Legends and Folklore invites English speakers into the intriguing world of Japanese folktales, ghost stories and historical eyewitness accounts. With a fascinating selection of stories about Japanese culture and history, A.B. Mitford-who lived and worked in Japan as a British diplomat-presents a broad cross section of tales from many Japanese sources. Discover more about practically every aspect of Japanese life-from myths and legends to society and religion. This book features 30 fascinating Japanese stories, including:  The Forty-Seven Ronin-the famous, epic tale of a loyal band of Samurai warriors who pay the ultimate price for avenging the honour of their fallen master.  The Tongue-Cut Sparrow-a good-hearted old man is richly rewarded when he begs forgiveness from a sparrow who is injured by his spiteful, greedy wife.  The Adventures of Little Peach Boy-a tale familiar to generations of Japanese children, a small boy born from a peach is adopted by a kindly childless couple.  Japanese Sermons-a selection of sermons written by a priest belonging to the Shingaku sect, which combines Buddhist, Shinto and Confucian teachings.  An Account of Hara-Kiri-Mitford's dramatic first person account of a ritual Samurai suicide, the first time it had been reported in English. Thirty-one reproductions of woodblock prints bring the classic tales and essays to life. These influential stories helped shape the West's understanding of Japanese culture. A new foreword by Professor Michael Dylan Foster sheds light on the book's importance as a groundbreaking work of Japanese folklore, literature and history.