Japanese Fairy Tales is a book published in 1907 written by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Japanese Fairy Tales is a collection of traditional Japanese folk tales translated and compiled by Basil Hall Chamberlain, a British Japanologist and professor at Tokyo Imperial University. [1]
Context
editFirst published in 1886, the book reflects Chamberlain’s deep engagement with Japanese culture during the Meiji era, a time of significant cultural and political change in Japan.[2][3]
The collection is influenced by the Meiji Restoration, a period marked by Japan’s rapid modernisation and the efforts to preserve its cultural heritage. During this period of cultural transformation the collection aided in the preservation of traditional stories.[2] Japanese Fairy Tales includes stories passed down through generations, capturing moral lessons, cultural values and mythical elements all central to Japanese society.[2]
Prior to Japanese Fairy Tales, Chamberlain had already made contributions to the field of Japanese studies. Previous books included linguistic works and translations, such as A Handbook of Colloquial Japanese (1888) and Things Japanese (1890).[4]. With his translations Chamberlain’s aimed to introduce Western audiences to Japanese folklore, which remained largely unknown outside of Japan during this period.[5]
Contents
editJapanese Fairy Tales features a variety of stories, each reflecting aspects central to Japanese culture and folklore.[1]
The Silly Jelly-Fish
editThe Silly Jelly-Fish is an animal fable that tells the story of a jellyfish sent by the Dragon King to retrieve a monkey’s liver, believed to have healing properties for the Dragon Queen. The jellyfish, however, is outwitted by the monkey, who tricks it into returning without its liver. As a punishment for its failure, the jellyfish is beaten until its bones were shattered.[6] This tale aids as an etiological explanation why jellyfish are boneless.[1]
The story is a classic example of Japanese folklore’s use of animals to convey moral lessons about intelligence, trust, and the consequences of gullibility.[3][7] The Monkey's deception reflects the common theme in Japanese stories where wit and intelligence triumph over brute force or simplicity, reminiscent of other Japanese folktales, like "The Crab and the Monkey".[1][3]
The Matsuyama Mirror
editThe Matsuyama Mirror describes the deep bond between a mother and her daughter. The mother, knowing she is near death, gives her daughter a mirror, telling her that whenever she looks into it, she will see her mother’s face. After her mother’s death, the daughter continues to find comfort in the mirror, believing she sees her mother’s spirit within it.[1][6]
The story illustrates the importance of family heirlooms and the cultural significance of mirrors in Japan, where in Shinto belief, they are often associated with deities and used in rituals.[8]
Reception
editAfter the publication of Japanese Fairy Tales in 1886, Basil Hall Chamberlain continued his work as a professor at Tokyo Imperial University and contributed significantly to the field of Japanese studies. Chamberlain remained deeply engaged in translating and studying Japanese culture, which was a consistent theme in his academic career.[9]
Throughout the period of growing Western interest in Japanese culture during the late 19th century., Chamberlain remained a respected scholar after the release of this collection, and his work was part of the broader movement to introduce Japanese culture to the West through accessible and authentic translations of Japanese works.[9][10][11]
After the publication of Japanese Fairy Tales the interest in Japanese folklore and fairy tales has evolved significantly. Initially, works like Chamberlain’s or Lafcadio Hearn’s were among the few accessible resources for Western readers, helping to shape their understanding of Japanese culture.[12][13] As more translations and scholarly research on Japanese folklore became accessible, the field has evolved into a deeper and more specialized area of study, with greater attention to regional variations and historical contexts.[14]
There have been multiple editions of Japanese Fairy Tales, including translations into other languages. Some editions included illustrations by Japanese artists or additional commentary aimed at helping Western readers better understand the cultural context surrounding the stories.[15] These efforts not only enhanced the understanding of the stories but also helped bridge the cultural gap between Japan and the rest of the world.[16] By providing these additional layers of context and interpretation, these editions allowed readers to appreciate the deeper meanings of the tales—such as lessons about morality, relationships with nature, and the importance of community—while also preserving the uniqueness of the cultural heritage they represent.[17]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Chamberlain, Basil Hall. Japanese Fairy Tales.
- ^ a b c Keene, Donald (2002). Emperor of Japan: Meiji and His world, 1852 - 1912. New York,: Columbia Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12340-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ a b c Seki, Keigo (1963). Folktales of Japan. Internet Archive. [Chicago] University of Chicago Press.
- ^ Cronin, Joseph (2016), Cortazzi, Hugh (ed.), "Basil Hall Chamberlain's Things Japanese and the 'Invention of a New Religion': A Critique of Bushido", Britain & Japan Biographical Portraits Vol X, Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits, Amsterdam University Press, pp. 349–361, ISBN 978-1-898823-46-9, retrieved 2024-08-25
- ^ Yuzo, Kato (2000), Nish, Ian; Kibata, Yoichi (eds.), "The Opening of Japan and the Meiji Restoration, 1837–72", The History of Anglo-Japanese Relations: Volume 1: The Political-Diplomatic Dimension, 1600–1930, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 60–86, doi:10.1057/9780230598959_3, ISBN 978-0-230-59895-9, retrieved 2024-08-25
- ^ a b Chamberlain, Basil Hall (1917). Japanese fairy tales. London, Boston, U.S.A: Gowans & Gray, Ltd.
- ^ Yen, Alsace (1974). "Thematic-Patterns in Japanese Folktales: A Search for Meanings". Asian Folklore Studies. 33 (2): 1–36. doi:10.2307/1177548. ISSN 0385-2342.
- ^ Dumpert, Jennifer (1998). "In the Presence of the Goddess: Bowing Before the Mirror in Shinto". Journal of Ritual Studies. 12 (1): 27–37. ISSN 0890-1112.
- ^ a b "Basil Hall Chamberlain: Portrait of a Japanologist". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Bary, Wm Theodore de; Keene, Donald; Tsunoda, Ryusaku, eds. (2005-04). Sources of Japanese Tradition: 1600 to 2000, second edition. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51812-3.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dorson, Richard Mercer (1961). Folk legends of Japan. Internet Archive. Tokyo, Rutland, Vt., C.E. Tuttle Co.
- ^ Evangelista, Stefano (2023-03-30). "Translating the Beauty of Japan: Lafcadio Hearn's Art Writing". 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century. 2023 (34). doi:10.16995/ntn.9130. ISSN 1755-1560.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ "Lafcadio Hearn in International Perspectives", Lafcadio Hearn in International Perspectives, Brill, 2007-03-29, ISBN 978-90-04-21347-0, retrieved 2024-08-25
- ^ Oguma, Makoto (2016). "The Study of Japan through Japanese Folklore Studies". Japanese Review of Cultural Anthropology. 16: 237–250. doi:10.14890/jrca.16.0_237.
- ^ "Basil Hall Chamberlain (Chamberlain, Basil Hall, 1850-1935) | The Online Books Page". onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Morris-Suzuki, Tessa (1995-08). "The Invention and Reinvention of "Japanese Culture"". The Journal of Asian Studies. 54 (3): 759–780. doi:10.2307/2059450. ISSN 1752-0401.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ academic.oup.com https://academic.oup.com/jaac/article/65/1/85/5957631. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
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