Xix. How Yogodayu Won A Battle : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 116 23. Yogodayu Saves the Bee's Life in Kizugawa Valley XIX HOW YOGODAYU WON A BATTLE DURING the reign of the Emperor Shirakawa, which was between the years 1073 and 1086 A.D., there lived a general whose name w...
Xxiii. The Diving Woman Of Oiso Bay : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 136 28. O Kinu San Inspects the Place Where Takadai Jiro Committed Suicide XXIII THE DIVING-WOMAN OF OISO BAY OISO, in the Province of Sagami, has become such a celebrated place as the chosen residence of the Marquis I...
Xv. A Life Saved : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 91 18. Oba Kage-chika Feels in the Tree with his Bow XV A LIFE SAVED BY A SPIDER AND TWO DOVES OF Yoritomo "Murray" says that 'he lived from 1147 to 1199. He was the founder of the Shogunate--the first Japanese May...
Ix. 'the Procession Of Ghosts : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 61 12. The Procession of Ghosts IX 'THE PROCESSION OF GHOSTS' 1 SOME four or five hundred years ago there was an old temple not far from Fushimi, near Kyoto. It was called the Shozenji temple, and had been deserted...
Lii. The Chessboard Cherry Tree : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 326 58. Ukon Shows Sayemon that he has Already Sacrificed Himself LII THE CHESSBOARD CHERRY TREE 1 IN olden times, long before the misfortunes of Europeanisation came to Japan, there lived at Kasamatsu, in Nakasatani...
Xiii. Great Fire Caused : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 82 16. O Same Sees the Handsome Young Priest XIII GREAT FIRE CAUSED BY A LADY'S DRESS SOME 120 years ago, in the year of Temmei, a most terrible fire broke out in the western corner of Yedo,--the worst fire, probably...
Iii. Ghost Of The Violet Well : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 19 4. Shimizutani. The Servants find their Mistress Lying Insensible III GHOST OF THE VIOLET WELL 1 IN the wild province of Yamato, or very near to its borders, is a beautiful mountain known as Yoshino yama. It is not...
Xxi. Chikubu Island, Lake Biwa : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 126 25. O Tsuru Sees the Giant Carp XXI CHIKUBU ISLAND, LAKE BIWA MANY years ago, when I was a boy, there was a song about a Chinaman. It began: In China once there lived a man, And his name was Ding-dong-dang. His legs...
Xlvi. The Princess Peony : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 291 52. 'Aya Hime,' or Princess Aya, is Saved in her Fall by the 'Botan Spirit,' Peony Spirit XLVI THE PRINCESS PEONY MANY years ago at Gamogun, in the province of Omi, was a castle called Adzuchi-no-shiro. It w...
Untitled : * 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...
Xli. The Spirit Of Yenoki : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 259 47. The Spirit of the One-Eyed Priest, Yenoki, Appears to Sonob XLI THE SPIRIT OF YENOKI 1 THERE is a mountain in the province of Idsumi called Oki-yama (or Oji Yam a); it is connected with the Mumaru-Yama mountains...
Lvi. The Spirit Of A Willow Tree Saves Family : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 346 61. The Spirit of the Willow Tree Appears to Gobei LVI THE SPIRIT OF A WILLOW TREE SAVES FAMILY HONOUR LONG ago there lived in Yamada village, Sarashina Gun, Shinano Province, one of the richest men in the northern...
Iv. Ghost Story Of The Flute's Tomb : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 27 5. The Ghost of Yoichi Appears to the Three as They Talk IV GHOST STORY OF THE FLUTE'S TOMB 1 LONG ago, at a small and out-of-the-way village called Kumedamura, about eight miles to the south-east of Sakai city...
Xxxi. Yosoji's Camellia Tree : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 189 36. The Spirit of Fuji Shows Yosoji the Health-Giving Stream XXXI YOSOJI'S CAMELLIA TREE IN the reign of the Emperor Sanjo began a particularly unlucky time. It was about the year 1013 A. D. when Sanjo came...
Viii. A Miraculous Sword : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 56 11. Yamato-dake no Mikoto Destroys his Enemies and Saves Himself from Being Burned by the Aid of the Miraculous Sword VIII A MIRACULOUS SWORD ABOUT the year 110 B.C. there lived a brave prince known in Japanese...
Xxix. The Perpetual Life Giving Wine : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 178 33. Okureha is Saved by the Goddess XXIX THE PERPETUAL LIFE-GIVING WINE BETWEEN the north-eastern boundary of Totomi Province and the north-western of Suruga Province stands a lofty mountain, Daimugenzan. It is...
L. The Snow Tomb : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 312 56. Rokugo Sees a Ghostly Spirit L THE SNOW TOMB 1 MANY years ago there lived a young man of the samurai class who was much famed for his skill in fencing in what was called the style of Yagyu. So adept was he, he...
Xxxvi. A Stormy Night's Tragedy : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 223 41. The Sentry Finds Watanabe Tatsuzo on the Pine Branch XXXVI A STORMY NIGHT'S TRAGEDY 1 ALL who have read anything of Japanese history must have heard of Saigo Takamori, who lived between the years 1827 and 1877...
Xxxviii. White Sak'e : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 239 44. Mamikiko Tastes the White Sake XXXVIII WHITE SAK Two thousand or more years ago Lake Biwa, in Omi Province, and Mount Fuji, in Suruga Province, came into being in one night. Though my story relates this as fact...
Xxxii. Whales : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 196 37. Yoda Emon Finds Himself on a Whale's Back XXXII WHALES THERE are many stories and superstitions regarding whales. I take one, dating back to the period of 'Hoen' (1135), which will show the venerati...
Xl. The Secret Of Iidamachi Pond : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 253 46. Iidamachi Pond, Hayashi's House XL THE SECRET OF IIDAMACHI POND IN the first year of Bunkiu, 1861-1864, there lived a man called Yehara Keisuke in Kasumigaseki, in the district of Kojimachi. He w...
Ii. The Spirit Of The Willow Tree : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 12 3. Heitaro meets Higo Under the Willow Tree II THE SPIRIT OF THE WILLOW TREE ABOUT one thousand years ago (but according to the dates of the story 744 years ago) the temple of 'San-j-san-gen Do' was founded. That w...
I. The Golden Hairpin : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 1 2. The Spirit of O Ko appears to Konojo as O Kei San ANCIENT TALES AND FOLKLORE OF JAPAN I THE GOLDEN HAIRPIN 1 UP in the northern city of Sendai, whence come the best of Japanese soldiers, there lived a samurai named...
Xxvii. Sagami Bay : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 162 31. O Cho San Commits Suicide XXVII SAGAMI BAY HATSUSHIMA ISLAND is probably unknown to all foreigners, and to 9999 out of every 10,000 Japanese; consequently, it is of not much importance. Nevertheless, it h...
Xxxiv. A Story Of Mount Kanzanrei : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 208 39. The Woodcutter Saves Choyo From Robbers XXXIV A STORY OF MOUNT KANZANREI FAR up on the north-eastern coast of Korea is a high mountain called Kanzanrei, and not far from its base, where lies the district of Kanko...
Xxiv. Theft And Recovery Of A Golden Kwannon : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 144 1. Iganosuke Dives for the Pipe and Finds the Idol XXIV THEFT AND RECOVERY OF A GOLDEN KWANNON IN the period of Gen-roku, which lasted from 1688 to 1704, when the Shogun or military ruler Tsunayoshi's power w...
V. A Haunted Temple In Inaba Province : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 36 6. Jogen Sights the Haunted Temple V A HAUNTED TEMPLE IN INABA PROVINCE 1 ABOUT the year 1680 there stood an old temple on a wild pine-clad mountain near the village of Kisaichi, in the Province of Inaba. The temple...
Vi. A Carp Gives A Lesson In Perseverance : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 44 7. Rosetsu Watches the Carp VI A CARP GIVES A LESSON IN PERSEVERANCE 1 BETWEEN the years 1750 and 1760 there lived in Kyoto a great painter named Okyo-Maruyama Okyo. His paintings were such as to fetch high prices...
Liv. The White Serpent God : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 336 59. Harada and Gundayu Fencing LIV THE WHITE SERPENT GOD HARADA KURANDO was one of the leading vassals of the Lord of Tsugaru. He was a remarkable swordsman, and gave lessons in fencing. Next in seniority to Harad...
Xlv. The Chrysanthemum Hermit : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 287 51. Kikuo Prays at the Grave of his Feudal Lord XLV THE CHRYSANTHEMUM HERMIT MANY years ago there lived at the foot of the Mountains of Nambu, in Adachi gun, Saitama Prefecture, an old man named Kikuo, which means...
Xi. Prince Hosokawa's Most Valuable Title Deeds : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 71 14. Okawa Plunges the Hosokawa Deed Into His Stomach XI PRINCE HOSOKAWA'S MOST VALUABLE TITLE-DEEDS 1 SEVERAL hundred years ago there dwelt in lands of the Hosokawas a widow and her daughter, a beautiful girl...
Xliii. The Temple Of The Awabi : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 274 49. The Fishermen are Astonished at the Extraordinary Light XLIII THE TEMPLE OF THE AWABI IN Noto Province there is a small fishing-village called Nanao. It is at the extreme northern end of the mainland. There is...
Xxviii. The King Of Torijima : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 168 32. Kume Slays the Eagle, Torijima XXVIII THE KING OF TORIJIMA 1 MANY years ago there lived a Daimio called Tarao. His castle and home were at Osaki, in Osumi Province, and amongst his retinue was a faithful...
Xxxvii. The Kakemono Ghost Of Aki Province : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 231 42. O Kimi Kills Herself on the Island XXXVII THE KAKEMONO GHOST OF AKI PROVINCE 1 DOWN the Inland Sea between Umedaichi and Kure (now a great naval port) and in the province of Aki, there is a small village called...
Xviii. Cape Of The Woman's Sword : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 110 22. Tarada Sees the Mysterious Figure of a Girl XVIII CAPE OF THE WOMAN'S SWORD 1 DOWN in the Province of Higo are a group of large islands, framing with the mainland veritable little inland seas, deep bays...
Liii. The Precious Sword 'natori No Hoto : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 331 LIII THE PRECIOUS SWORD 'NATORI NO HOTO' IDE KAMMOTSU was a vassal of the Lord of Nakura town, in Kishu. His ancestors had all been brave warriors, and he had greatly distinguished himself in a battle at Shizugatake...
Lv. A Festival Of The Awabi Fish : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 341 60. What Saotome and Tamajo Found LV A FESTIVAL OF THE AWABI FISH MANAZURU-MINATO is situated on a small promontory of the same name. It faces the Sagama Bay, famed for beauty; at its back are mountains rising...
Xliv. Human Fireflies : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 282 50. Jimpachi's Miserable Death XLIV HUMAN FIREFLIES IN Funakami mura, Omi Province, lived an old farmer called Kanshiro. The like of him for honesty, charity, and piety had never been known--no, not even among...
Xx. The Isolated Or Desolated Island : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 120 24. Makino Heinei Gets Blown Away in the Storm XX THE ISOLATED OR DESOLATED ISLAND MANY years ago the Lord of Kishu, head of one of the three families of the Tokugawas, ordered his people to hold a hunting-party...
Preface : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. vii PREFACE THE stories in this volume are transcribed from voluminous illustrated diaries which have been kept by me for some twenty years spent in travel and in sport in many lands--the last nine of them almost...
Xii. The Story Of Kato Sayemon : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 75 15. Ishidomaro Meets His Father, But Fails to Identify Him For Sure XII THE STORY OF KATO SAYEMON 1 IN the days when Ashikaga was Shogun there served under him a knight of good family, Kato Sayemon, of whom he w...
Xiv. History Of Awoto Fujitsuna : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 88 17. Awoto Fujitsuna Orders Every One to Search for the Half-Cent XIV HISTORY OF AWOTO FUJITSUNA 1 HOJO TOKIYORI--who, my "Murray" says, was born in 1246 A. D., and died seventeen years later, in 1263--was Regent...
Xvi. Murakami Yoshiteru's Faithfulness : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 96 19. Murakami Yoshiteru Does 'Harakiri' and Throws His Entrails at the Enemy XVI MURAKAMI YOSHITERU'S FAITHFULNESS MURAKAMI YOSHITERU--We shall call him Yoshiteru for short--was one of the faithful retainers of Prince...
Xxxv. White Bone Mountain : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 215 Mad Joan, Though Muttering, is Dead and a Skeleton XXXV WHITE BONE MOUNTAIN AT the foot of Mount Shumongatake, up in the northwestern province of Echigo, once stood, and probably even still stands in rotten...
Lvii. The Camphor Tree Tomb : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 352 62. Chogoro and his Men Fail to Move the Kusunoki Tree LVII THE CAMPHOR TREE TOMB FIVE ri (ten miles) from Shirakawa, in the province of Iwaki, there is a village called Yabuki-mura. Close by is a grove some 400 feet...
Xlii. The Spirit Of The Lotus Lily : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 267 48. XLII. The Spirit of the Lotus Lily XLII THE SPIRIT OF THE LOTUS LILY FOR some time I have been hunting for a tale about the lotus lily. My friend Fukuga has at last found one which is said to date back some two...
Xvii. A Story Of Oki Islands : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 101 20. O Tokoyo Sees the Girl About to be Thrown Over Cliff XVII A STORY OF OKI ISLANDS THE Oki Islands, some forty-five miles from the mainland of Hoki Province, were for centuries the scene of strife, of sorrow...
Li. The Dragon Shaped Plum Tree : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 319 57. The Spirit of the Tree Appears to Kotaro and the Old Man LI THE DRAGON-SHAPED PLUM TREE IN the year 1716 of the Kyoho Era--191 years ago--there lived at Momoyama Fushimi, an old gardener, Hambei, who was loved...
Xxvi. How Masakuni Regained His Sight : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 157 30. O Ai San Continues Her Prayers Under the Fall XXVI HOW MASAKUNI REGAINED HIS SIGHT SOME seventy years ago there dwelt in Kyoto a celebrated swordmaker, a native of the province of Awa, in Tokushima. Awanokami...
X. A Faithful Servant : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 65 13. Matsuo Declares the Head to be That of Kanshusai X A FAITHFUL SERVANT 1 IN the reign of the Emperor Engi, which began in the year 901 A.D., there lived a man whose name has ever since been celebrated on account...
Xxii. Reincarnation : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 132 26. They Monkeys Listen to the Priest's Sermon XXII REINCARNATION IN the far-north and mountainous portion of Echigo Province is a temple which during the reign of the Emperor Ichijo had a curious story attached...
Xxv. Saigyo Hoshi's Rock : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 150 29. Furuzuka Iga Cuts Off the Head of the Ex-Emperor Shutoku, Who is His Own Son XXV SAIGYO HOSHI'S ROCK SOME twelve miles south of Shodo shima (Shodo island) is the largish island of Nao or Naoshima, on the western...
Xlix. The Snow Ghost : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 307 55. Kyuzaemon Sees the 'Yuki Onna.' XLIX THE SNOW GHOST PERHAPS there are not many, even in Japan, who have heard of the 'Yuki Onna' (Snow Ghost). It is little spoken of except in the higher mountains, which are...
Xxxix. The Blind Beauty : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 245 45. Kichijiro Finds Poor O Ima Blind XXXIX THE BLIND BEAUTY NEARLY three hundred years ago (or, according to my story-teller, in the second year of Kwanei, which would be 1626, the period of Kwanei having begun...
Vii. Legends Told : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 47 VII LEGENDS TOLD BY A FISHERMAN ON LAKE BIWA, AT ZEZE WHILE up fishing on Lake Biwa, and later shooting in the vicinity (shooting is not allowed on the lake itself, the water being considered a holy place), I often...
Xxxiii. The Holy Cherry Tree Of Musubi No : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 202 38. Hanano San Takes the Cherry Branch From the Youth XXXIII THE HOLY CHERRY TREE OF MUSUBI-NO-KAMI TEMPLE IN the province of Mimasaka is a small town called Kagami, and in the temple grounds is a shrine which h...
Title Page : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], ANCIENT TALES AND FOLK-LORE OF JAPAN BY RICHARD GORDON SMITH London, A. & C. Black [1918] Front Cover Scanned, proofed and formatted , February 2006, by John Bruno Hare. This text is in the public domain in the United...
Xlviii. The 'jirohei' Cherry Tree, Kyoto : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 302 54. Jirohei Clings to the Cherry Tree Even in Death XLVIII THE 'JIROHEI' CHERRY TREE, KYOTO THE Japanese say that ghosts in inanimate nature generally have more liveliness than ghosts of the dead. There is an old...
Xxx. The Hermit's Cave : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 183 35. The Old Hermit Entertains the Children XXX THE HERMIT'S CAVE MANY years ago there lived in the village of Nomugi, in Hida Province, an old farmer named Jinnai, with his wife. They had a daughter on whom they...
Xlvii. The Memorial Cherry Tree : * "Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan", by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918], p. 297 53. The Girl brings the Kakemono to Kihachi's Shop in the Middle of the Night XLVII THE MEMORIAL CHERRY TREE 1 IN the compound or enclosure of the temple called Bukoji, at Takatsuji (high cross street), formerly...
