| Demon at Agi Bridge and Other Japanese Tales Contributor(s): Watson, Burton (Translator), Shirane, Haruo (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0231152450 ISBN-13: 9780231152457 Publisher: Columbia University Press OUR PRICE: $24.75 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: December 2010 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Folklore & Mythology - Literary Collections | Asian - Japanese - History | Asia - Central Asia |
| Dewey: 398.209 |
| LCCN: 2010018857 |
| Series: Translations from the Asian Classics |
| Physical Information: 0.5" H x 5.5" W x 8.5" (0.50 lbs) 160 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Asian - Cultural Region - Japanese |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Burton Watson and Haruo Shirane, renowned translators and scholars, introduce English-speaking readers to the vivid tradition of early and medieval Japanese anecdotal (setsuwa) literature. These orally narrated and written tales drew on both local folk tradition and continental sources. Taken from seven major anthologies of anecdotal literature compiled between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, these dramatic and often amusing stories open a major window onto the foundations of Japanese culture. Out of thousands of setsuwa, Shirane has selected thirty-eight of the most powerful and influential, each of which is briefly introduced. Recounting the exploits of warriors, farmers, priests, and aristocrats, and concerning topics as varied as poetry, violence, power, and sex, these tales reveal the creative origins of a range of literary and dramatic genres, from court tales and travel accounts to no drama and Kabuki. Watson's impeccable translations relay the wit, mystery, and Buddhist sensibility of these protean works, while Shirane's sophisticated analysis illuminates the meaning and context of their compact stories. Capped by an extensive bibliography, this collection fully immerses the reader in the thrilling world of secular and religious tales. |