Jul 27, 2016 these are 10 legendary monsters, ghosts and demons that terrify japanese locals. Hands down japan has some of the weirdest myths in the world, from phantoms who lick your bathroom clean to raccoons with magical scrotum, from haunted umbrellas, to. It can only be seen at night in large cities, hopping like a rabbit and searching for human souls to steal. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. It exists largely outside the japanese yokai canon, best known from the tale of the heike 71 the kanji for the word nue are night and bird. Myths and legends are the basis of much japanese art, drama, and literature, and people still learn and tell stories about the gods and goddesses. I found this book to be informative and interesting and expanded my knowledge of mythical monsters. Jul 26, 2010 here is a collection of wonderfully weird illustrations by gojin ishihara, whose work graced the pages of numerous kids books in the 1970s. The mythical creatures of japan are an effective part of japanese mythology. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dec 16, 2014 the book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study. Most of the surviving japanese myths are recorded in the kojiki compiled 712. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook.
The book reveals the origins of japans myths in the very different realms of buddhism, shinto, and folklore, and explores related mythologies of the ainu and. What if legends of sea monsters turned out to be true. Not so much a collection of translated japanese myths and legends as an excuse to showcase hadlands opinions of them. Her greyskinned body was utterly unclothed, and her slightly plump form. Theres an ancient japanese legend of the one hundred yokaimonsters, ghosts, apparitions and demonswho parade through the streets on hot summer nights. These are 10 legendary monsters, ghosts and demons that terrify japanese locals. The art of japanese monsters is a fascinating book filled with rare and delightful images of great monster art from around the worldthough the currently available version is cut down from previous editions, and still has some room for improvement. Notes tucows, inc has graciously donated a copy of this software to the internet archives tucows software archive for long term preservation and access. Hadland must choke all his retellings with commentary, attempted translations of timeless folkloric culture into the pop culture of his contemporary readers this book was originally published in england, 19, presumptuous direct. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology.
Jan 5, 2014 lets jumpstart this year with rich stories of japanese mythology and folklore. Ubagabithe ghost of an old woman that appears as fireball. I have no real way of judging the quality of reliability of what i find. The kaibutsu ehon illustrated book of monsters features woodblock prints of yokai, or creatures from japanese folklore. Mar 11, 2008 handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Kyokotsu a skeletal figure that emerges from a well.
A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the study of mythology and folklore is a peculiar one to the ext. Weird monsters of japanese folklore dangerous minds. Here is a collection of wonderfully weird illustrations by gojin ishihara, whose work graced the pages of numerous kids books in the 1970s. Aug 17, 2016 an island of monsters from japanese folklore. Tossing in a descendant of jack frost, an overemotional siren, and several other mythological creatures only makes life ever more.
The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in japanese mythology. Hadland davis pulled from hearns works, from basil chamberlains things japanese, from various translations of the kojiki and the nihongi, and from all of the new research available to create a single volume detailing the myths and legends of japan. From the ruler of the heavens amaterasu to ryujin, the dragonking of the sea, this book helps kids understand the myths that shape and direct peoples lives. Kunekune a tall, slender strip of paper sheet that wiggles on rice or barley fields during hot summer. When it comes to the creatures of japanese mythology, everyone knows the strange and absurd monsters, from the kappa to the kasaobake. Japanese mythology consists of stories derived from old folk beliefs and incorporates elements of shinto mythology as well as buddhism. Came across these illustrations a while back from a book entitled illustrated book of japanese monsters 1972 by gojin ishihara. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. Japanese mythology has its fair share of weird monsters, and theyve quickly become quite wellknown worldwide. See more ideas about mythology, japanese folklore and japanese mythology. Nuedori nuebird described as a birdbeast, the nue lacks any avian physical features. May 23, 2014 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. They honor the nature spirits of an agricultural community and the warriors and gods of an imperial culture.
Described as a birdbeast, the nue lacks any avian physical features. Is this a story that everyone or a large portion of the populace would know in japan. For much of japans history, communities were mostly isolated, which allowed for local legends and myths to grow around unique features of the geographic location where the people who told the stories lived. Matthew meyer is raising funds for the book of the hakutaku. Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. The book of yokai mysterious creatures of japanese. Ancient myths comes alive as greek gods battle giant mythical beasts, young kids fend off a viking god invasion that could lead to the end of the world, a young boy finds hes destined to become a japanese warrior who fights legendary monsters, and a girl from another world battles powerhungry spider gods, in george oconnor s apollo. Traditional stories of monsters and magic book of japanese mythology, folk tales from japan 9781452174464. Japanese monsters in childrens book art by gojin ishihara. It exists largely outside the japanese yokai canon, best known from the tale of the heike 71. It is likely that the legend of the nue started with a chinese bird. The woman sat in the center of a massive web, her four eyes unblinking as they examined him. Aug 11, 2016 gojin ishiharas illustrated book of japanese monsters 1972, is filled with the spirits and monsters, ogres and imps of traditional japanese. Japanese monsters in childrens book art by gojin ishihara when we was a kid, we went through a phase where we was way into monsters draculas, frankensteins, demons from the pits of hell, all that good stuff and, as these were the dark days before the internet, i would hit the library on a weekly basis checking out books illustrated.
This title explores the myths and legends of sea monsters from yesterday through the latest findings from today. The first 16 images below appeared in the illustrated book of japanese monsters 1972, which profiled supernatural creatures from japanese legend. What are some beautiful japanese myths, stories and fables. When we was a kid, we went through a phase where we was way into monsters draculas, frankensteins, demons from the pits of hell, all that good stuff and, as these were the dark days before the internet, i would hit the library on a weekly basis checking out books illustrated. Kyonshi the japanese version of the chinese hopping vampire, known as jiangshi. A book of creatures our imagination has always been our greatest ally, and our worst enemy. Still, in all, there are some key texts, tales, and characters we can focus on which will give us a pretty good sense of japanese mythology.
Most of the stories concern the creation of the world, the foundation of the islands of japan, and the activities of deities, humans, animals, spirits, and magical creatures. The most popular myths and legends of japanese culture are charmingly retold in english in this handsomely illustrated book. This screen saver depicts the japanese folk character, rokurokubi. Japanese myths stand out in in the study of mythology in that they often do not subscribe to many of. What linkenback has assembled here is impressive in scope. In this book, youll discover stories of mystery, horror, and romance while simultaneously learning about the japanese culture. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The book also includes a glossary, monster quiz, and bonus trading cards featuring some of the seas most infamous creatures. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of japan. There are many japanese myths, stories folklore and fables. Like the rising sun on its flag, japans mythology celebrates two important concepts.
The word yokai is made up of the kanji for bewitching. These creatures were either created by people in japan or passed down from traditional folk tales and culture. Yokai is a common word in japanese mythology studies as it means monsters. The book reveals the origins of japans myths in the very different realms of buddhism, shinto, and folklore, and explores related mythologies of the ainu and okinawan cultures and recent myths arising from japans encounters with. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. We have selected for you 9 of the best japanese myths and fairy tales.
Macabre kids book art by gojin ishihara pink tentacle. To simplify things, i would like to tell you my list of top 5 japanese folklore and fables. On the other hand it may not be suitable for some readers because of its graphic content and subject matter. Yokai are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in japanese folklore. Legacy of japanese mythology mythology plays an important role in the lives of the japanese people today. Japanese myths are passed down through oral tradition, through literary sources including traditional art, and through archaeological sources. Not unlike the western folk tales compiled by the brothers grimm, these stories faithfully preserve the spirit of medieval japan, while rendered in a translation accessible to all ages. The book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study.
The book is easy to read, and at the same time immensely informative on the complicated and varied ways yokai have existed throughout japanese history. Apr 23, 20 hands down japan has some of the weirdest myths in the world, from phantoms who lick your bathroom clean to raccoons with magical scrotum, from haunted umbre. Within this book, youll find the following japanese myths and topics covered. Illustrated book of japanese monsters by gojin ishihara kappa river imp jorogumo lit.
Macabre kids book art by gojin ishihara japanese mythology. I could assume that you mustve have heard some of the folk. The illustrated book of japanese monsters by gojin ishihara. Dalans heart pounded in his chest as the spider matron looked down at him. Contains information about the monsters found in movies, mythology, and the imagination, from dragons and sea monsters to fairies and witches. There are hundreds of them, many harmless, many tragic, and more than a few just mischievous.
Mar 09, 2020 a little bit of background before we dive into the myths. Japanese myths, like the story of izanagi and izanami, explain the origins of its islands and the divine line of its emperors. Rooted in japanese animism, ancient japanese religion, and the providence of nature, these mythical creatures are attributed with strange. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan. Life is hard when youre a succubus thats literally dying of starvation because youre too afraid to put the moves on your halfdragon best friend. If anyone is unfortunate to see these creaturesor to be caught up in itthen they will perish away or worse be taken captive for the twisted pleasure. An introductory guide to the mythology of japanone of the most pervasive yet least understood facets of japanese culture. Davis entitles the story the rip van winkle of old japan. Passed down from generations through both spoken word and writing, there is a vast number of ancient tales that touch upon virtually every aspect of life. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology. Download it once and read it on your kindle device.