Japanese tales from times past : stories of fantasy and folklore from the Konjaku monogatari shu : new translations from Japan's most famous collection of folk wisdom

Stories of fantasy and folklore from the Konjaku Monogatari ShuThis collection of translated tales is from the most famous work in all of Japanese classical literature—the Konjaku Monogatari Shu. This collection of traditional Japanese folklore is akin to the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer or Dante's Inferno—powerfully entertaining tales that reveal striking aspects of the cultural psychology, fantasy, and creativity of medieval Japan—tales that still resonate with modern Japanese readers today. The ninety stories in this book are filled with keen psychological insights, wry sarcasm, and scarcely veiled criticisms of the clergy, nobles, and peasants alike—suggesting that there are, among all classes and peoples, similar failings of pride, vanity, superstition and greed—as well as aspirations toward higher moral goals. This is the largest collection in English of the Konjaku Monogatari Shu tales ever published in one volume. It presents the low life and the high life, the humble and the devout, the profane flirting, farting and fornicating of everyday men and women, as well as their yearning for the wisdom, transcendence and compassion that are all part and parcel of our shared humanity. Stories Include: The Grave of Chopsticks Robbers Come to a Temple and Steal Its Bell, The Woman Fish Peddler at the Guardhouse Fish are Turned into the Lotus Sutra, A Dragon is Caught by a Tengu Goblin, The Monk Tojo Predicts the Fall of Shujaku Gate, Wasps Attack a Spider in Revenge... This Collection Of Translated Tales Is From The Most Famous Work In All Of Japanese Classical Literature--the Konjaku Monogatari Shu. This Collection Of Traditional Japanese Folklore Is Akin To The Canterbury Tales Of Chaucer Or Dante's Inferno--powerfully Entertaining Tales That Reveal Striking Aspects Of The Cultural Psychology, Fantasy, And Creativity Of Medieval Japan--tales That Still Resonate With Modern Japanese Readers Today. The Ninety Stories In This Book Are Filled With Keen Psychological Insights, Wry Sarcasm, And Scarcely Veiled Criticisms Of The Clergy, Nobles, And Peasants Alike--suggesting That There Are, Among All Classes And Peoples, Similar Failings Of Pride, Vanity, Superstition And Greed--as Well As Aspirations Toward Higher Moral Goals. This Is The Largest Collection In English Of The Konjaku Monogatari Shu Tales Ever Published In One Volume. It Presents The Low Life And The High Life, The Humble And The Devout, The Profane Flirting, Farting And Fornicating Of Everyday Men And Women, As Well As Their Yearning For The Wisdom, Transcendence And Compassion That Are All Part And Parcel Of Our Shared Humanity. Stories Include: The Grave Of Chopsticks Robbers Come To A Temple And Steal Its Bell The Woman Fish Peddler At The Guardhouse Fish Are Turned Into The Lotus Sutra A Dragon Is Caught By A Tengu Goblin The Monk Tojo Predicts The Fall Of Shujaku Gate Wasps Attack A Spider In Revenge--,this Collection Of Translated Japanese Tales Are Selected From One Of The Most Famous Works In The Japanese Literary Canon--the Konjaku Monogatari Shu. This Cycle Of Traditional Folklore Is Akin To The Canterbury Tales Of Chaucer Or Dante's Inferno--powerfully Entertaining Stories That Reveal Striking Aspects Of The Cultural Psychology, Fantasy, And Creativity Of The Medieval Japanese--literary Themes That Still Resonate Strongly With Modern Readers Today. Many Of The Ninety Stories In This Book Are Translated Into English For The Very First Time And Are Filled With Keen Psychological Insights, Wry Sarcasm, And Scarcely Veiled Criticisms Of The Clergy, Nobility, And Peasants Alike--suggesting That There Are, Among All Classes And Peoples, Similar Failings Of Pride, Vanity, Superstition And Greed--as Well As Aspirations Toward Higher Moral Goals. This Is The Largest Collection In English Of The Konjaku Tales Ever Published. This Book Presents The Low Life And The High Life, The Humble And The Devout, The Profane Flirting, Farting And Fornicating Of Everyday Men And Women, As Well As Their Yearning For The Wisdom, Transcendence And Compassion That Are Part And Parcel Of Our Shared Humanity-- This collection of translated tales is from the most famous work in all of Japanese classical literaturethe Konjaku Monogatari Shu . This collection of traditional Japanese folklore is akin to the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer or Dante's Inferno powerfully entertaining tales that reveal striking aspects of the cultural psychology, fantasy, and creativity of medieval Japantales that still resonate with modern Japanese readers today. The ninety stories in this book are filled with keen psychological insights, wry sarcasm, and scarcely veiled criticisms of the clergy, nobles, and peasants alikesuggesting that there are, among all classes and peoples, similar failings of pride, vanity, superstition and greedas well as aspirations toward higher moral goals. This is the largest collection in English of the Konjaku Monogatari Shu tales ever published in one volume. It presents the low life and the high life, the humble and the devout, the profane flirting, farting and fornicating of everyday men and women, as well as their yearning for the wisdom, transcendence and compassion that are all part and parcel of our shared humanity. Stories Include: The Grave of Chopsticks Robbers Come to a Temple and Steal Its Bell The Woman Fish Peddler at the Guardhouse Fish are Turned into the Lotus Sutra A Dragon is Caught by a Tengu Goblin The Monk Tojo Predicts the Fall of Shujaku Gate Wasps Attack a Spider in Revenge "This collection of translated Japanese tales are selected from one of the most famous works in the Japanese literary canon--the Konjaku Monogatari Shu. This cycle of traditional folklore is akin to the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer or Dante's Inferno--powerfully entertaining stories that reveal striking aspects of the cultural psychology, fantasy, and creativity of the medieval Japanese--literary themes that still resonate strongly with modern readers today. Many of the ninety stories in this book are translated into English for the very first time and are filled with keen psychological insights, wry sarcasm, and scarcely veiled criticisms of the clergy, nobility, and peasants alike--suggesting that there are, among all classes and peoples, similar failings of pride, vanity, superstition and greed--as well as aspirations toward higher moral goals. This is the largest collection in English of the Konjaku tales ever published. This book presents the low life and the high life, the humble and the devout, the profane flirting, farting and fornicating of everyday men and women, as well as their yearning for the wisdom, transcendence and compassion that are part and parcel of our shared humanity"-- Provided by publisher "This collection of translated stories from the classic work of Japanese medieval literature, the "Konjaku Monogatari shu", contains powerfully entertaining tales that reveal striking aspects of the imagination, fantasy, and creativeness of the Japanese. The ninety stories contain psychological insight, wry sarcasm, and barely veiled criticisms of the doings of clergy, nobles, and peasants alike, suggesting that there are, among all classes and peoples, similar susceptibilities to pride, vanity, superstition, and greed--as well as aspirations toward higher moral goals. This is the largest selection from the "Konjaku Monogatari shu" ever gathered together in one volume. It presents the low life and the high, the humble and the devout; the drinking, flirting, farting and fornicating, as well as the yearning for wisdom, transcendence and compassion that are all part and of our shared human nature."--