Read Folk Legends of Japan Online
Authors: Richard Dorson (Editor)
Tags: #Literary Collections, #Asian, #Japanese
_____: "The Snake in Japanese Superstition,"
Mitteilungen des Seminars fur Orientalische Sprachen an der Königlichen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat zu Berlin,
XIV, part 1 (Berlin, 1911), 267-322.
_____: "The Tengu,"
Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan,
XXXVI, part 2 (1908), 25-99.
Elisséev, Serge: "Une collection de folklore japonais,"
Japan et Extreme-Orient,
no. 10 (October, 1924), 279-92. A review article of Japanese field-collected folklore books.
Erskine, William H.:
Japanese Customs: Their Origin and Value
(Tokyo, 5th ed., n.d., originally published 1925). Ch. 6 on "Old Burial Customs" discusses human-sacrifice legends.
Griffis, William E.: "Japanese Fox-Myths,"
Lippincott's Magazine,
XIII (1874). 57-64.
Hearn =
The Writings of Lafcadio Hearn
(large-paper ed., Boston and New York, 1922), 16 vols. The important volumes for Japanese folklore are V-VI,
Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan;
VII,
Out of the East
and
Kokoro;
VIII,
Gleanings in Buddha-fields
and
The Romance of the Milky Way;
IX,
Exotics and Retrospectives
and
In Ghostly Japan;
X,
Shadowings
and
A Japanese Miscellany;
XI,
Kotto
and
Kwaidan.
Hibbard, Esther L.: "The Ulysses Motif in Japanese Literature,"
Journal of American Folklore,
LIX (1946), 222-46.
Ikeda = Hiroko Ikeda:
A Type and Motif Index of Japanese Folk-Literature.
Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University, 1955.
Ishida, Eiichiro: "The Kappa Legend,"
Folklore Studies,
IX (Tokyo, 1950), 1152.
Ishiwara, Yasuyo: "Celestial Wife in Japanese Folk Tales,"
University of Manila-Journal of East Asiatic Studies,
V (1956), 35-41.
Joly = Henri L. Joly:
Legend in Japanese Art: A Description of Historical Episodes, Legendary Characters, Folk-Lore, Myths, Religious Symbolism. Illustrated in the Arts of Old Japan
(London and New York, 1908). A valuable-reference work for the folklorist.
Krappe, Alexander H.: "Far Eastern Fox Lore,"
California Folklore Quarterly, III
(1944). 124-47.
Kurata, Ichiro, "Yama-No-Kami (Mountain Deities),"
Contemporary Japan,
X (September, 1941), 1304-12. Contains the legend of the archer Manzaburo assisting the god of Mt. Nikko.
Minzokugaku Jiten
(Japanese Folklore Dictionary), compiled by the Folklore Institute of Japan under the supervision of Kunio Yanagita (Tokyo, 1951). I had access to a manuscript translation by Masanori Takatsuka at the Institute's Tokyo library. This has since been edited for publication by George K. Brady, and is now available in the University of Kentucky Press micro-cards, Series A,
Modern Language Series 18,
1958 (17 cards).
Mitford = Lord Redesdale (A.B. Mitford):
Tales of Old Japan
(London, 1915). A standard older work, first published in 1871, containing some legendary traditions, particularly in the section "Concerning Certain Superstitions," pp. 199-226.
Mock Joya = Mock Joya:
Quaint Customs and Manners of Japan,
Vols. I-IV (Tokyo, 1951-55). Brief popularized description of Japanese cultural traditions by a journalist. Vol. IV has a section, "Legends and Folk Tales," pp. 1-48. Mock Joya continues to write on folk customs in the
Japan Times.
Motif(s) = Stith Thompson:
Motif-Index of Folk-Literature, 6
vols. (Bloomington, Indiana, and Copenhagen, Denmark, 1955-58).
Murai = Masaharu Murai:
Legends and Folktales of Shinshu
(Shinano Mainichi Press, [1949]. 98 pp. Twenty-one legends translated from
Shinshu no Densetsu
(Legends of Nagano), 1929. I met Mr. Murai, an English teacher in a Nagano high school, in June, 1957 in Nagano, and. he kindly gave me a copy of this locally printed booklet.
Murai typescript = Masaharu Murai: "Legends and Folk Tales of Shinshu," a twenty-page typed copy of thirty legends, "Prepared for English Study Association of Nagano North Upper Secondary School, Nagano City." These are additional translations from
Shinshu no Densetsu.
Nippon Mukashi-banashi Meii
(A Classification of Japanese Folk Tales), compiled by Nippon Hoso Kyokai under the supervision of Kunio Yanagita (Tokyo, 1948). A 4-volume manuscript translation by Fanny Hagin Mayer, "A Study of the Japanese Folk Tale" (Tokyo University, Graduate School, Department of Japanese Literature, March, 1955) was at the Japanese Folklore Institute.
Opler, Marvin K.: "Japanese Folk Beliefs and Practices, Tule Lake, California,"
Journal of American Folklore,
LXIII (1950), 385-97. Section II deals with "Fox, Cat, and Badger Legends" and III with "Perceptive Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Apprentices" (pp. 389-92).
Rumpf, Fritz:
Japanische Volksmärchen
(Jena, 1938). 340 pp. Some legendary traditions are included, e.g., no. 52, "Obasute Yama"; no. 59, "Asahi chōja"; no. 114, "Die Steinkartoffeln": all variants of texts in the present volume. Sources and notes are given.
Shiojiri, Seiichi: "The Kappa in the Japanese Folklore," in Ryunosuke Akutagawa,
Kappa,
translated by Seiichi Shiojiri, new ed. rev. (Tokyo, 1949), pp. 12-23.
Suzuki = Yoshimatsu Suzuki:
Japanese Legends and Folk-Tales
(Tokyo, 1949). 144 pp. Forty-three legends, with no sources or notes.
Type(s) = Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson:
The Types of the Folk-Tale
(Helsinki, 1928).
Yanagita, Kunio:
Japanese Folk Tales,
translated by Fanny Hagin Mayer (Tokyo, 1954), from
Nippon no Mukashi-banashi,
rev. ed., 1942 (Ist ed., 1930). 299 pp. One hundred and eight tales rewritten for children; a number of legends are included.
_____: "The Japanese Atlantis,"
Contemporary Japan,
III (June, 1934), 3439. Discusses the legend of the image whose face turns red to warn of disaster.
_____:
Studies in Fishing Village Life,
translated from the Japanese publication of 1948, by Masanori Takatsuka, edited by George K. Brady. I had access to the manuscript translation at the Japanese Folklore Institute. It is now available in the University of Kentucky Press microcards, Series A,
Modem Language Series 1,
1954 (7 cards). Because of the interruption caused by the war, the research on this cooperative investigation by the Japanese Folklore Institute is less complete than the companion study on mountain-village folklore.
_____:
Studies in Mountain Village Life,
translated from the Japanese publication of 1937, by Masanori Takatsuka, edited by George K. Brady. I had access to the manuscript translation at the Japanese Folklore Institute. It is now available in the University of Kentucky Press microcards, Series A,
Modem Language Series 2,
1954 (11 cards).
INDEX
SUBJECTS
Akiba, 72, 73, 139, 140
ame,
97
Amida Buddha, 40, 227, 238
ankoro,
77
Asama-sama, 227
Ashio Shrine, 137
badgers, legends of, 134-38
bakemono, 104
Banji, 167-69
Banta,
140
Banzaburo,
see
Banji Benkei, 75, 150, 163, 164
Benkei's Smithy, 164
Benkichi's Shrine, 163
Bizan's Collapse, 124
boasts, 206, 207
Bonari Myojin, 212
bonze, 35, 55, 190
bridges: 111; Bald Bridge of Limerick, 162; Gensuke, 216; Gojo, 163, 222; Ku-mejibashi, 219; London, 222; Motoma-chi 216, 217; Nari-nobu, 133; Shiraki-bashi, 53, 54; Tachi-bana, 216; Temma, 219; Yometori-bashi, 221; legends of, 216, 220-22.
Buddha, legends of, 36-41,
50, 51
Buddha Yakushi, 55, 56
cannibalism, 45, 46
caves: Anamori-sama, 118; demon's caves, 77, 78; Komoridan Cave, 48
charcoal makers, 179-82
Chofuku-ji, 236
choja
: discussed, 178; legends of, 178-96
cures: man cures eyes by washing in St. Kobo's Well, 33
curses: blood appears in food, 105, 235, 236; fires caused by curse, 73; loss of luck in hunting, 169; on crops, 158; on families, 48, 49, 105-9, 233; storms on lake, 46, 47
Dainichi-sama, 127
Daio Shrine, 82
demons: Hachimen Daio, 81; legends of, 76-93
densetsu,
defined, 24-26
dogs: Tametomo's Dog, 166, 167; Todarado Dog of Tsukidami, 137
Emperor Antoku, 41, 42, 54
Enoo-ji, 53, 54
Entsu-ji, 140
fools, legends of, 199, 200, 202, 203
foxes, legends of, 128-33
Fudo, 38, 126
Fuko-ji, 53
funa-yurei,
112, 113
Genji, 42, 43, 150, 160, 161, 167, 199
Genkaku-ji, 37
Gessho-ji, 41
ghosts: as servant, 109, 110; as wife, 113, 114; haunting place of death, 104, 105, 110, 111; returning for revenge, 99-104; returning for a special task, 97, 98
ghost ship, 112, 113
giants, 77, 78
Gongen-do, 53
Gongen-sama, 227
goryo,
48, 52, 96, 101
Goryo Jinja, 49
goryo shinko,
96
Hachiman Shrine, 87, 145, 150
hara-kiri,
162
Heike, 42, 150, 160, 199
Heike Monogatari,
42, 43, 150
heroes: discussed, 150; legends of, 151-76
hito-dama,
52
Hida-no-takumi, 49
hills: Benkei-mori, 163; Mimi-zuka, 82; San-do-no-saka, 106
horse: bodyless, 89; Ike-zuki, 164-66
hyosubo, 65
images, legends of, 37-45
Inari, 128, 179
Inu-jama Shrine, 138
Ise Shrine, 207
Jizo, 37, 60, 238
Jizo, Earless, 41-44
Jote-ji, 161
kami,
96, 111, 150, 168, 210, 237, 238
kami-kakushi,
70
Kamekawa Shrine, 78
Kanda Myojin, 107, 108
Kannon, 37-40, 51, 82
kappa,
165, 210; discussed, 58, 59; legends of, 59-68
kasha,
45, 46
Kashima Shrine, 34
Kazo-ji, 54
Kibitsu Shrine, 50
Kichigo, 198, 200, 201
Kichiemon, 198
Kitchomu, 198, 202
Kihachi, 156-58
Kine-hara Meadow, 191
Kiyomizu Kannon, 82
knaves: discussed, 198; legends of, 199-208
Kobo Daishi, 32-36, 80
kodama
rats, 140-42
Koga Saburo, 157-160
Komine Shrine, 73-75
Komoridan Cave, 48
Ko-zenji Temple, 137
Kumano Shrine, 69
Kumo-buchi, 88
lakes, 46-47; Shinju, 70; Suwa, 159-60
legends, defined, 17-18; discussed in connection with animals, 24;
choja,
25; collecting, 26-28; demons, 23-24; foxes, 24; Gen-ji, 22; geography, 22; Hearn, Lafcadio, 23, 28-29; Heike, 22; history, 21; Japanese culture, 17, 22;
kappa,
23, 28; Kazuo, Higo, 24; the
Kojiki,
21; literary classics, 20-21;
minkan shinko,
see religion; the
Nihongi,
20, 21; Okesa, 28; present time, 25-26; religion, 22-25; serpents, 24; spirits of the dead, 22-23; Ta-kagi, Toshio, 26;
tengu,
23-24; topography, 22; village life, 19, 21;
yama-uba,
24; Yanagita, Kunio, 17, 26, 27, 29
Lu Tung-pin, 36
maeri-baka,
96
magic: magic treasure ball, 171;
ninjitsu,
76
mamono,
109
Manji, 167-69
Manju-ji, 156
marshes: Tatsuko-numa, 127
Mii Temple, 47
Minamoto, 42, 160, 163, 166
miracles: cane brings forth water, 34; fish disappear from river, 35; footprints remain in snow, 35; heavy statue becomes light, 41; image of deity substitutes for person, 37, 38; potatoes grow hard as stones, 35; river divides to let men pass, 41; river turns dry, 35, 36; small chestnut trees bear fruit, 34, 35; spring of
sake,
234, 235; staff brings forth water, 34; stick flies three miles and takes root upside down, 33; straw dolls assist carpenter, 49, 50
monks, 46, 47, 68
monsters: discussed, 58
mounds: Ashi-zuka, 110; Hara-zuka, no; Kubi-zuka, no; Yuriwaka, 156; Onizuka, 157; Sakai-zuka, 230; Utano-suke-zuka, 230