Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

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Japan, which still breathes in the soul of the Samurai, but we cannot withhold our admiration from the self-sacrifices which men will still make for the love of their country. The first two of the Tales have already appeared in the Fortnightly Review, and two of the Sermons, with a portion of the Appendix on the subject of the Hara-Kiri, in the pages of the Cornhill Magazine. I have to thank the editors of those periodicals for permission to reprint them here. LONDON, January 7, 1871. 4
The Forty-Seven Rônins The books which have been written of late years about Japan have either been compiled from official records, or have contained the sketchy impressions of passing travellers. Of the inner life of the Japanese the world at large knows but little: their religion, their superstitions, their ways of thought, the hidden springs by which they move—all these are as yet mysteries. Nor is this to be wondered at. The first Western men who came in contact with Japan—I am speaking not of the old Dutch and Portuguese traders and priests, but of the diplomatists and merchants of eleven years ago—met with a cold reception. Above all things, the native Government threw obstacles in the way of any inquiry into their language, literature, and history. The fact was that the Tycoon's Government—with whom alone, so long as the Mikado remained in seclusion in his sacred capital at Kiôto, any relations were maintained—knew that the Imperial purple with which they sought to invest their chief must quickly fade before the strong sunlight which would be brought upon it so soon as there should be European linguists capable of examining their books and records. No opportunity was lost of throwing dust in the eyes of the new-comers, whom, even in the most trifling details, it was the official policy to lead astray. Now, however, there is no cause for concealment; the Roi Fainéant has shaken off his sloth, and his Maire du Palais, together, and an intelligible Government, which need not fear scrutiny from abroad, is the result: the records of the country being but so many proofs of the Mikado's title to power, there is no reason for keeping up any show of mystery. The path of inquiry is open to all; and although there is yet much to be learnt, some knowledge has been attained, in which it may interest those who stay at home to share. The recent revolution in Japan has wrought changes social as well as political; and it may be that when, in addition to the advance which has already been made, railways and telegraphs shall have connected the principal points of the Land of Sunrise, the old Japanese, such as he was and had been for centuries when we found him eleven short years ago, will have become extinct. It has appeared to me that no better means could be chosen of preserving a record of a curious and fast disappearing civilization than the translation of some of the most interesting national legends and histories, together with other specimens of literature bearing upon the same subject. Thus the Japanese may tell their own tale, their translator only adding here and there a few words of heading or tag to a chapter, where an explanation or amplification may seem necessary. I 5
Page 1 and 2: Tales of Old Japan Lord Redesdale P
Page 3: Preface In the Introduction to the
Page 7 and 8: On the left-hand side of the main c
Page 9 and 10: all preparations accordingly; and t
Page 11 and 12: etainers having become Rônins, som
Page 13 and 14: pedlars contrived to gain access to
Page 15 and 16: the verandah; while the rest of his
Page 17 and 18: castle. There being no possibility
Page 19 and 20: is, that, for this audacious conduc
Page 21 and 22: carrying out his intention of killi
Page 23 and 24: came to pray before the grave of Oi
Page 25 and 26: enthusiasts called the Japanese nig
Page 27 and 28: cheek by jowl with the old shrines
Page 29 and 30: If you are in luck, you may cool yo
Page 31 and 32: loved him even in death may be seen
Page 33 and 34: But his dangers were not yet over;
Page 35 and 36: implore you, desert me now!!" and a
Page 37 and 38: And yet a girl is not disgraced if
Page 39 and 40: The better the Japanese people come
Page 41 and 42: desirable investments. The engageme
Page 43 and 44: Kazuma's Revenge It is a law that h
Page 45 and 46: y strong ties of friendship, and we
Page 47 and 48: who was my foster-child. You had be
Page 49 and 50: you had better return home as quick
Page 51 and 52: lance exercise, and enjoyed both we
Page 53 and 54: the vendetta within its precincts;
Page 55 and 56:
man who had come up from the castle
Page 57 and 58:
present chief of which is known as
Page 59 and 60:
used to fight for the honour of vic
Page 61 and 62:
"Yes, sir, at your service. I am al
Page 63 and 64:
temper, began fighting less careful
Page 65 and 66:
"It is a great honour for a humble
Page 67 and 68:
home rather crestfallen. Umanojô,
Page 69 and 70:
It soon became known that Banzayém
Page 71 and 72:
without obtaining a clue to the whe
Page 73 and 74:
ack the sword, your head shall be l
Page 75 and 76:
Mound of the Yoshiwara, has thwarte
Page 77 and 78:
that any one was following him, swa
Page 79 and 80:
When he had introduced the two appr
Page 81 and 82:
deed, do you come to-morrow night w
Page 83 and 84:
"Nay," answered Gombei, "but we hav
Page 85 and 86:
women and children, and by foul and
Page 87 and 88:
exhibitions by an actor dressed up
Page 89 and 90:
one by one into the demon's chamber
Page 91 and 92:
called Nô, which is performed on s
Page 93 and 94:
The second piece was Tsunémasa. Ts
Page 95 and 96:
fisherman is so transported with jo
Page 97 and 98:
servant leading the way. Arrived at
Page 99 and 100:
like the "spill-and-pelt" scene in
Page 101 and 102:
The Wonderful Adventures of Funakos
Page 103 and 104:
Sixteen and upwards being considere
Page 105 and 106:
losing them to no purpose, thought
Page 107 and 108:
that Jiuyémon does not find out wh
Page 109 and 110:
"Listen to me, Master Takaségawa.
Page 111 and 112:
At this the pair looked very foolis
Page 113 and 114:
pipe, and kept a sharp look-out for
Page 115 and 116:
Jiuyémon, out of gratitude for the
Page 117 and 118:
Jiuyémon, having received this per
Page 119 and 120:
heaven, begged the Emperor that his
Page 121 and 122:
iron. Like the Gods Niô, 63 they s
Page 123 and 124:
The Eta Maiden and the Hatamoto It
Page 125 and 126:
annoyed him very much; however, he
Page 127 and 128:
ing the girl to you. But for to-day
Page 129 and 130:
"Dear me, Miss O Koyo, his lordship
Page 131 and 132:
this tea-house. But, as people woul
Page 133 and 134:
"Very well, then, the day after to-
Page 135 and 136:
lull the suspicions of that fellow
Page 137 and 138:
eauty; and Sazen, drawing aside a s
Page 139 and 140:
have not so much money by me at pre
Page 141 and 142:
desire. When he heard this, Kiyomor
Page 143 and 144:
Fairy Tales I think that their quai
Page 145 and 146:
"I'll go and call upon the sparrows
Page 147 and 148:
place than it was time for them to
Page 149 and 150:
"Oh!" answered the hare, "this is c
Page 151 and 152:
That night, when the good old man w
Page 153 and 154:
The Battle of the Ape and the Crab
Page 155 and 156:
The Adventures of Little Peachling
Page 157 and 158:
The Foxes' Wedding Once upon a time
Page 159 and 160:
The History of Sakata Kintoki A lon
Page 161 and 162:
The Elves and the Envious Neighbour
Page 163 and 164:
grass rain-coats, and carrying sick
Page 165 and 166:
entirely composed of dead men's rem
Page 167 and 168:
I am taking care of myself; so for
Page 169 and 170:
"We may congratulate ourselves on o
Page 171 and 172:
this Sôgorô, he is not the only o
Page 173 and 174:
"Ay! ay! what you say is just from
Page 175 and 176:
standing to this day. He fell sick
Page 177 and 178:
Then Shigayémon, one of the servan
Page 179 and 180:
The peasants, having heard this deg
Page 181 and 182:
whole household was thrown into con
Page 183 and 184:
other nobles, Ogasawara Iki no Kami
Page 185 and 186:
the castle of Sakura; and in the 17
Page 187 and 188:
following day, the officers of that
Page 189 and 190:
story of this nature in the house o
Page 191 and 192:
to the Abbot was granted the right,
Page 193 and 194:
1625, in honour of Yakushi Niôrai,
Page 195 and 196:
How Tajima Shumé Was Tormented by
Page 197 and 198:
whole body was thin and worn and th
Page 199 and 200:
Concerning Certain Superstitions Ca
Page 201 and 202:
overcome this mysterious drowsiness
Page 203 and 204:
"It is true that he is but a common
Page 205 and 206:
Sôda, who was wide awake; and so,
Page 207 and 208:
was as big as either of the cats: t
Page 209 and 210:
Tokutarô thought this very odd, an
Page 211 and 212:
"I ought to have the honour of invi
Page 213 and 214:
The Grateful Foxes One fine spring
Page 215 and 216:
choosing a pretty spot, produced th
Page 217 and 218:
And as she spoke, the fox shed tear
Page 219 and 220:
which is nominally the reward of le
Page 221 and 222:
time forth it came every night to t
Page 223 and 224:
suspicious, and I shall have to tel
Page 225 and 226:
"You don't know what you're talking
Page 227 and 228:
Japanese Sermons "Sermons preached
Page 229 and 230:
"Nammiyô! nammiyô!" grateful and
Page 231 and 232:
"'Verily, as to this skull, whether
Page 233 and 234:
Sermon I (The Sermons of Kiu-Ô, Vo
Page 235 and 236:
hearts, which we would not change f
Page 237 and 238:
garlands of flowers round torches,
Page 239 and 240:
visit Kiôto, and had also ascended
Page 241 and 242:
come upon him for fifty or a hundre
Page 243 and 244:
Sermon II (The Sermons Of Kiu-Ô, V
Page 245 and 246:
Well, this man's relations and frie
Page 247 and 248:
well. The best plan will be for me
Page 249 and 250:
this place I shall be dunning you t
Page 251 and 252:
The relations, after hearing the fi
Page 253 and 254:
Sermon III (The Sermons of Kiu-Ô,
Page 255 and 256:
Môshi severely censures the disreg
Page 257 and 258:
Chokichi, pretending not to know wh
Page 259 and 260:
egan to compose poetry. One would w
Page 261 and 262:
Old and young, men and women, rich
Page 263 and 264:
However, young men, trusting to the
Page 265 and 266:
Kami 117 disembowelled himself in t
Page 267 and 268:
ceremony is gone through in other w
Page 269 and 270:
although the hara-kiri cannot be ca
Page 271 and 272:
One of the councillors present, add
Page 273 and 274:
On Certain Things to Be Borne in Mi
Page 275 and 276:
and took leave of them, and calling
Page 277 and 278:
duty: he must perform his part in s
Page 279 and 280:
Sanô reached out his hand to take
Page 281 and 282:
it off, and then submit it for insp
Page 283 and 284:
the blood. When the identification
Page 285 and 286:
himself, to the condemned man, who
Page 287 and 288:
death. I believe that, in the inter
Page 289 and 290:
proposer, Ono Seigorô, who on more
Page 291 and 292:
it is carried and received by a per
Page 293 and 294:
pourers. A different sort of condim
Page 295 and 296:
In old times the bride and bridegro
Page 297 and 298:
The author of the "Sho-rei Hikki" m
Page 299 and 300:
On the Birth and Bearing of Childre
Page 301 and 302:
it of dried fish or seaweed which a
Page 303 and 304:
he keeps until the time of the cutt
Page 305 and 306:
in paper from their bosoms, they ho
Page 307 and 308:
urgeoning, Hearn published this del
Page 309:
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