Synopses & Reviews
This handsomely illustrated book includes myths of gods, heroes and warriors; legends of Buddha, Benten and Daikoku; tales of the sea and of Mount Fuji; accounts of superstitions and supernatural beings; and much more. 32 full-page illustrations offer compelling images of Buddha and the Dragon, A Kakemono Ghost, The Jellyfish and the Monkey, The Firefly Battle, Tokoyo and the Sea Serpent and other subjects of these enthralling myths. 32 plates. Many useful appendixes. Index. Bibliography.
Synopsis
The most popular myths and legends of Japanese culture are charmingly retold in English in this handsomely illustrated book. Here are myths of gods, heroes and warriors; legends of Buddha, and of the goddess Benten and the god Daikoku; tales of the sea and of Mount Fuji; accounts of superstitions and supernatural beings; observations on the spiritual properties of fans, flowers, dolls and butterflies and much more.
The collection begins with the early myths of Japan, which the author describes as "quaint, beautiful, quasi-humorous." These are followed by legends celebrating early heroes and warriors, and the earliest examples of the Japanese romance, "The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Maiden." Many of the legends that follow reflect a poetic love of beauty and of nature. But as the author points out, "there is plenty of crude realism in Japanese legend. We are repelled by the Thunder God's favorite repast, amazed by the magical power of foxes and cats; and the story of 'H ichi-the-Earless' and of the corpse-eating priest afford striking examples of the combination of the weird and the horrible."
Thirty-two full-page illustrations offer compelling images of Buddha and the Dragon; A Kakemono Ghost; The Jelly-Fish and the Monkey; The Firefly Battle; Tokoyo and the Sea Serpent; Sengen, the Goddess of Mount Fuji; and other subjects of these timeless myths. In addition, the author has included several invaluable appendixes that offer a helpful note on Japanese poetry, a listing of gods and goddesses, a genealogy of The Age of the Gods, and an index of poetical quotations."
Synopsis
This handsomely illustrated book includes myths of gods, heroes, warriors; legends of Buddha, Benten and Daikoku; tales of the sea and of Mount Fuji; accounts of superstitions; and much more. 32 full-page illustrations offer compelling images of Buddha and the Dragon, The Firefly Battle, and other subjects of these myths.
Synopsis
This handsomely illustrated book includes myths of gods, heroes, warriors; legends of Buddha, Benten and Daikoku; tales of the sea and of Mount Fuji; accounts of superstitions; and much more. 32 full-page illustrations offer compelling images of Buddha and the Dragon, The Firefly Battle, and other subjects of these myths.
Synopsis
The most popular myths and legends of gods, heroes, and warriors; Buddha; the goddess Benten and the god Daikoku; and many more. Handsomely illustrated with 32 full-page plates.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 397-401) and indexes.
Table of Contents
CHAP.
INTRODUCTION
I. THE PERIOD OF THE GODS
II. HEROES AND WARRIORS
III. THE BAMBO-CUTTER AND THE MOON-MAIDEN
IV. BUDDHA LEGENDS
V. FOX LEGENDS
VI. "JIZO, THE GOD OF CHILDREN"
VII. LEGEND IN JAPANESE ART
VIII. THE STAR LOVERS AND THE ROSE OF FEATHERS
IX. LEGENDS OF MOUNT FUJI
X. BELLS
XI. "YUKI-ONNA, THE LADY OF THE SNOW"
XII. FLOWERS AND GARDENS
XIII. TREES
XIV. MIRRORS
XV. "KWANNON AND BENTEN, DAIKOKU, EBISU, AND HOTEI"
XVI. DOLLS AND BUTTERFLIES
XVII. FESTIVALS
XVIII. THE PEONY-LANTERN
XIX. "KOBO DAISHI, NICHIREN, AND SHODO SHONIN"
XX. FANS
XXI. THUNDER
XXII. ANIMAL LEGENDS
XXIII. BIRD AND INSECT LEGENDS
XXIV. CONCERNING TEA
XXV. LEGENDS OF THE WEIRD
XXVI. THREE MAIDENS
XXVII. LEGENDS OF THE SEA
XXVIII. SUPERSTITIONS
XXIX. SUPERNATURAL BEINGS
XXX. "THE TRANSFORMATION OF ISSUNBOSHI AND KINTARO, THE GOLDEN BOY"
XXXI. MISCELLANEOUS LEGENDS
A NOTE ON JAPANESE POETRY
GODS AND GODDESSES
GENEALOGY OF THE AGE OF THE GODS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX OF POETICAL QUOTATIONS
GLOSSARY AND INDEX