Japanese Fairy Tales

by Lafcadio Hearn

Overview

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446521472
Publisher:	Goldstein Press
Publication date:	02/01/2011
Pages:	164
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) was born to a Greek mother and a British Army father. His parents separated soon after his birth, and he became the ward of a great aunt and attended school in Ireland, England, and France. He emigrated to the United States in 1869 and became a newspaper reporter in Cincinnati, then New Orleans (1877-1887), and the West Indies as well. He came to Japan in 1890; married Koizumi Setsuko, daughter of a samurai family; became a Japanese citizen; and adopted the name Koizumi Yakumo. He wrote extensively about Japan and taught literature at Tokyo Imperial University. His tales in this volume were originally published by T. Hasegawa of Tokyo, as follows: The Boy Who Drew Cats (1898), The Goblin-Spider (1899), The Old Woman Who Lost Her Dumpling (1902), and Chin-Chin Kobakama (1903). Basil Hall Chamberlain (1850-1935) was the son of a British admiral and grandson of the travel writer Basil Hall. He came to Japan in 1873, taught at the Imperial Naval Academy, and in 1886 became professor of Japanese at Tokyo Imperial University. He wrote numerous books about Japan and translated Japanese and Aino works. His translations of The Serpent with Eight Heads, My Lord Bag-o'-Rice, The Silly Jelly-Fish, and Urashima were published in the 1880s and 1890s by Kobunsha in Tokyo and Griffith, Farran & Co. in London & Sydney. Grace Edith Marion James (1882-1965) was the daughter of a British naval officer. She was born in Tokyo and resident there until the age of 12, when her family returned to England. Her 1910 volume Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales, illustrated by Warwick Goble, included Green Willow, The Flute, Reflections, The Spring Lover and the Autumn Lover, and Momotaro. Her mother, Mrs. T. H. James (1845-1928), translated The Hare of Inaba, Shippeitarō, The Matsuyama Mirror, The Wooden Bowl, and The Tea-Kettle for publication by Hasegawa in the 1880s. The Old Man and the Devils, translated by James Curtis Hepburn, and The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, translated by David Thomson, were published by Hasegawa in Tokyo in 1885 and 1886.

Table of Contents

Chin Chin Korakama

The Goblin-Spider

The Old Woman Who Lost Her Dumplings

The Boy Who Drew Cats

The Silly Jelly Fish

The Hare Of Inara

Shippeitaro

The Matsuyama Mirror

My Lord Bag-o’-Rice

The Serpent With Eight Heads

The Old Man And The Devils

The Tongue-Cut Sparrow

The Wooden Bowl

The Tea-Kettle

Urashima

Green Willow

The Flute

Reflections

The Spring Lover And The Autumn Lover

Momotaro

Editorial Reviews

Mynonie (Amazon reader)

What remains in my mind after reading these stories once in a while, as a sort of relaxation, is what is perhaps the Japanese flavour, respect for seniors. Here it is old people, not striplings, who get rewarded. There are warriors and smart and tricky animals, beings who control water, fire and the heavens.

The writing style is a bit old fashioned, which I happened to like, the book first being published in 1908.

Stephanie (Amazon reader)

I've read a good amount of Japanese fairytales, so some of the ones in this book were stories I've read before. What I enjoyed about the stories of this book are that they give a lot more detail. I feel the characters are more developed in the stories as well. It's a very pleasant read. I definitely recommend this book to those are interested in fairytales of a different culture.

Mr. and Mrs.Green

These tall tales (aka folk tales) are from a different culture, so read these with a different mind set than what you're used to with such tall tales. Also, these are kids stories that used to be passed down by word of mouth for generations untold. It's a good read and a glimpse on what stories the Japanese youth are brought up on.

From the Publisher