*
This is a memorable collection of historical legends and folktales from Japan.
Nearly all of them are set in a well-defined time and place, instead of
'once upon a time.'
Themes include ghosts; unrequited love across social boundaries; Shinto landscape, tree and ocean spirits;
and tales driven by Bushido and Buddhist ethics.
Not a few of these yarns end up with someone committing Seppuku.

Smith does not try to dress up the language or narrative for westerners, or sentimentalize the stories.
Instead, he tells each story very literally, even when they include supernatural elements.
The result is an anthology of Japanese 'magical realist' tales which contemporary readers will find appealing.

Each chapter, with one exception, is illustrated by one or more colorful plates done in a typical 19th century Japanese style, all of which are included in this etext.

Title Page

Preface

Contents

I. The Golden Hairpin

II. The Spirit Of The Willow Tree

III. Ghost of the Violet Well

IV. Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb

V. A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province

VI. A Carp Gives a Lesson in Perseverance

VII. Legends Told by a Fisherman on Lake Biwa, At Zeze

Viii. A Miraculous Sword

IX. 'The Procession of Ghosts'

X. A Faithful Servant

XI. Prince Hosokawa's Most Valuable Title-Deeds

XII. The Story of Kato Sayemon

XIII. Great Fire Caused by a Lady's Dress

XIV. History of Awoto Fujitsuna

XV. A Life Saved by a Spider and Two Doves

XVI. Murakami Yoshiteru's Faithfulness

Xvii. A Story of Oki Islands

Xviii. Cape of the Woman's Sword

XIX. How Yogodayu Won A Battle

XX. The Isolated or Desolated Island

XXI. Chikubu Island, Lake Biwa

XXII. Reincarnation

Xxiii. The Diving-Woman of Oiso Bay

XXIV. Theft And Recovery of a Golden Kwannon

XXV. Saigyo Hoshi's Rock

XXVI. How Masakuni Regained His Sight

Xxvii. Sagami Bay

Xxviii. The King of Torijima

XXIX. The Perpetual Life-Giving Wine

XXX. The Hermit's Cave

XXXI. Yosoji's Camellia Tree

Xxxii. Whales

Xxxiii. The Holy Cherry Tree of Musubi-no-Kami Temple

Xxxiv. A Story of Mount Kanzanrei

XXXV. White Bone Mountain

Xxxvi. A Stormy Night's Tragedy

Xxxvii. The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province

Xxxviii. White Sak

Xxxix. The Blind Beauty

XL. The Secret of Iidamachi Pond

XLI. The Spirit of Yenoki

XLII. The Spirit of the Lotus Lily

Xliii. The Temple of the Awabi

XLIV. Human Fireflies

XLV. The Chrysanthemum Hermit

XLVI. The Princess Peony

Xlvii. The Memorial Cherry Tree

Xlviii. The 'Jirohei' Cherry Tree, Kyoto

XLIX. The Snow Ghost

L. The Snow Tomb

LI. The Dragon-Shaped Plum Tree

LII. The Chessboard Cherry Tree

LIII. The Precious Sword 'Natori no Hoto'

LIV. The White Serpent God

LV. A Festival of the Awabi Fish

LVI. The Spirit of a Willow Tree Saves Family Honour

LVII. The Camphor Tree Tomb