Other editions of book Folk Legends of Japan

Delightfully illustrated, this collection of Japanese myths and fairy tales presents readers with a rich folk tradition.Folk Legends of Japan contains of over one hundred Japanese folk legends. These have been selected by a distinguished American folklorist, drawn from expert Japanese transcriptions of oral legends, and carefully translated in such a way as to bring out the charming, unadorned, and sometimes disarmingly frank folk quality of the originals.Each legend is carefully annotated for the student, scholar, and a full bibliography is provided. Fortunately, the scholarly attributes of the book are now allowed to intrude between the general reader and his enjoyment of the legends themselves.Anyone who loves a genuine old wives' tales, who savors firelit evenings of listening to the folk stories will find much pleasure in these Japanese stories. At the same time the folklorist will find a mine of information, and the Japanophile will discover the folk basis for many of the beliefs and customs that may have puzzled him in the past.

The true folk legend, as distinguished from fairy tale or literary embellishment is one of the sure keys to a peoples beliefs, customs and way of thinking. This volume presents a representative collection of over one hundred Japanese folk legends. Each legend is carefully annotated for the student and scholar and a full bibliography is provided. Fortunately, the scholarly attributes of the book are not allowed to intrude between the general reader and his enjoyment of the legends themselves. The authentically Japanese illustrations by Miss Yoshie Nuguchi provide yet another delightful aspect of a book that is sure to please both the scholar and the general reader alike. Endlessly engrossing, and done with elegance and comprehension, anyone interested in mythology and the legends of Japan should have this book.