aE SAY Se Sale Goan Ri EAPaii ale Nee omer unl eeeS: "TALES OF OLD JAPAN 1 TU eM eve Ges iatcui west tect iri Cawww. forgotienbooks. org ISBN 9781440080444Rorgotten Books This is a Forgotten Books Library high-quality e-book from www.forgottenbooks.org Thank you for supporting Forgotten Books by purchasing this e-book. This e-book may not be distributed. If you wish to share this e-book with friends or other people, please give them the free low-quality version from www.forgottenbooks.org This book is also available in print as high-quality paperback from www.amazon.comVERTICAL LINES The vertical black lines appearing on most pages are deliberate. This is required to stop people from selling printed copies of our e-books. Our own printed books do not have these watermarks. TERMS & CONDITIONS This e-book may not be distributed. This e-book may not be modified in any way. This e-book may be printed for personal use only. No pages may be extracted or removed from this e-book. 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However, this Forgotten Books takes ee uppermost care to preserve book has been generate: from a scan of the original, and as such we cannot guarantee that it is free from errors or contains the But we ‘Truth may Becuty b Truth an Fo thie wt Thotare or these dead birds sigh « prayer il content of the original. y our best! jeer, but cannot be 9, but tis rod she; Deauty burfed Le. inlet those repair thor true or fair: Bacon © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. org© 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. org“WIN-VUVHE WWOAUTL O35, FAAS ON PAASLON ANT SNINGE TRL www. forgottenbooks. org © 2010 Forgotten BooksTALES OF OLD JAPAN. cr A. B. MITFORD, AECOND SECRETARY To TNE BRITISE LEOATION EN Jaram, 4 VITH ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWN AND CUT ON WOOD BY JAPANESE ARTISTS. NEW EDITION, Fondon: MACMILLAN AND CO, 1883, The Right of Transintion and Reproduction ia Reteree 1. © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. org© 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. orgP In the Introduction to th have said almost as mu to my stories. Those of my readers out the many shortcom| also be the most indul has been in Japan, great difficulties by wh For the illustrations, i REFACE. e story of the Forty-seven Ronins. 1 th as is needful by way of preface who are most capable of pointing lings and fawts of my work, will ent towards me; for any one whe nd studied Japanese, knows the ich the learner is beset. at least, I feel that I need make ne apology, Drawn, in the first instance, by one Odaké, an artist in my cmple famous wood-engraver ine specimens of Japa amining the wood bl interesting fact, that of the wood, after the iy, they were cut on wood by a at Yedo, and are therefore genu- nese art. Messrs. Dalziel, on ex- cks, pointed out to me, as an Ihe lines are cut with the grain anner of Albert Durer and some of the old German nfs process which has been abandoned by modern It will be noticed th these Tales to the Em Huropcan wood-engravers. lat very little allusion is made m peror and his Court. Although | © 2010 Forgotten Books www. forgottenbooks. orgvi PREFACE. searched diligently, 1 was able to find uo story in which they played a conspicuous part. Another class to which no allusion is made is that of the Géshi. The Géshi are a kind of yeomen, or hounet-lairds as they would be called over the border, living on th own land, and owning no allegiance to auy feudal Jord. Their rank is inferior to that of the Satourai, or men of the military class, between whom and the peasantry they hold a middle place. Like the Samurai, they wear two swords, aod are in many cases prosperous and wealt men, claiming @ descent more ancient than that of mai of the feudal Princes. A large number of them are eu- rolled among the Emperor's body-guard; and these ha played a conspicuous part in the recent political change in Japan, as the most conservative and anti-foreiy element in the nation. With these exceptions, I think that all classes ar fairly represented in my stories. The feudal system has passed away like a dissolving view before the eyes of those who have lived in Japa during the last few years. But when they arrived there it was in full force, and there is not an incident narrated in the following pages, however strange it may appear to Europeans, for the possibility and probabilit: of which those most competent to judge will not vouch. Nor, as many a recent event can prove, have heroisim, chivalry, and devotion gone out of the land altogether, We may deplore and inveigh against the Yamato Damashi, ov Spirit of Old Japan, which still breathes in the soul a a =a ce © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. org,the Samurai, but we the selfisacrifices which men will still make for the love of their The t the For country, PREFACE. vil anpot withhold yur admiration from o first of the Tales have already appeared in nightly Kevtew, and two ot the Sermons, with a portion of the Appendix on the subject of the Hara-Kiri, in the pages of the Curnhili Magazine. L have to thank the editors of those periodicals tor permission to reprint them here. Lox pon, January 7, 1871. © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. org© 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. orgCONTENTS. pane THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS ©. - ee eee ee Te 1 {UE LOVES OF GOMVACHI AND KoMUHasaKt. 60. 6 2 ee | 88 KAZUMA'B REVENGE © 0-6 ee ee tee et ee ee fe 4 A STORY OF THE otoKODATE oF YEDU. 2... eee ee | 88 THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF FUNAROSUL JIUwEMON =... |. 118 THR BTA MAIDFN AND THE HATAMOTO. © 6. 5 6 ew we | 148 WAIRY TALES 2. 0. 1 woe ew fe TD TOR TONOCE-CUT SPARROW 2 2. ke » 73 THE ACCOMPLISHED AND LUCKY TEA-KPVILE 6 2. 2 6. |. 178 THE CRACKLING MOUNTAIN. 2.) 7 eee ee fe 177 THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN WIO MADE WITHERED TREES TO BLOSSUM , 6 ee ee ee ee | 180 TUE BATTLE OF THR APE AND THE CRAR 2 1. 2. |. 188 THE ADVENTORES OF LITLE TEArMEING 2 6 2 1 7 ee |e 188 THE FOXES WEDDING»... ee ee ew 8 THE WISTORY UF SAKATA KINTORE 22 2. 2k ee 182 THE ELVES AND TUE ENYIOUS NEIGHDOUA . . 6 6 - ee | 190 TRE GHOST OF BARURA. © 6. 2 ee ee ee ee ee fe NOW TAJIMA SIUMG Wis TORMENTED RY A DEVIL OF HIS OWN ORFATION © 2. ee Lo . oe. | eBe © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. orgx CONTENTS, CONCERNING CERTAIN SUPERSTITIONS «0 6 1 ee ee THE VAMPIRE CAT OF NABESHIMA. . . sone THE STORY OF THE FAIBHFUL UAT. . «©» 1 + ee HOW A MAN WAS REWITCHED AND HAD HIS HEAD SHAVED BY THE FOXES 2 6 2 6 + es 8 8 6 wh ee ew THE GRATEFUL FOXES, © - - / 6 s+ 6 2 ew ee THE BADGER'S MONEY. 5 1 se ee et we THE PRINCE AND TNE BADGER. . - 2. 2 8 4 JAPANESE SEBMONS © 6 ee 6 ee ee ee THE SERMONS OF KIU-6, VOL. 1, SERMON I. . . . - TOE SERMONS OF EIV-6, VOL L SERMON TN. 2. » " SERMON NIT... APPENDICES -— AN ACCOUNT OF THE HARA-KIKE 204 6 2 1 ee THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY » «© © 6 st 6 ee 8 THE BIRTH AND REARING OF CHILDREN. . 2. . FUNERAL RITHS 2 6 6 6 ee ee we ee © 2010 Forgotten Books «| 255 ww forgottenbooks. orgLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. THE RONINS INVITR KOTAUEE NO SURG TO FREFORM IAnA-KINI— T THE TOMB OF THY AONINS |. . THE TOMB OF THE AHIYUKE 6 6. 1 ee 0) PORGING TUR SWORD, © 6. ee MATAGORO KILLA YUKIVE TRE DEATH OF DAN’ TRICKS OF BWORDSMANSHIP AT ASAKUSA WELL IN WHICH THE NRAD WAS WASHED BATSUMA MAN INSULTS OISHT KURANOSUKE BMON, ee ee ee ee THE DEATH OF CHOBFI OF RANDZUIN, 2 6 1. FUNAKOSIT JIDYEMON ON BOARD THE PIRATE sity a FUNAKOSH? JIUYEMON AND THE GOWLINS . 2 ENZABURO'S MEETING WITH THR ETA MAIDEN. VAMON PUNISHES HIS WIFE AND THR WEEATLER }OKUMON” 2 we RESTLING MATCH. 6 0. ee we MPION WRESTLER. IB TONGUE-CUT SPARROW. . 2. JE ACCOMMLISIIED AND LUCKY TEA-KETILE . . + PACH] AWAKENED BY TAY MAIDEN IN THY RoBNYRS DEX . © 2010 Forgotten Books eee 99 » 122 . . Wt soe. 133 oo. e189 soe ew 1H . . 143 soe TD . . 173 6 15 www. forgottenbooks. orgxt LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. To face Page THR HARE AND THE BADGER. © 1s 4 6 4 6 ee ee ee 1B THE OLD MAN WHO CAUSED WITHERED TREES TO ELOWER - » 182 THR APE AND THE ORAR . - eee ee ee ee ew we 188 TITTLE PEACHLING © 6 ee ee ee 185 THE FOXES WEDHING . . « - cote ee ee ee ee 187 THE DEPUTATION O¥ PEASANTS AT THEIR LORD'S GATE . . . . . 194 THE GHOST OF SAKURA. «© 6 + 6 6 ee ew ee ee eee 1 86G0K6 THEUSTING THR PETITION INTO THE SHOGUN'S LITTAR. . . 203 THE OAT OF NABEBHIMA ©) 6 ee ee ee we ee ME THE FEAST OF INARI SAMA ©. ee ee ee ew R07 A JAPANESE BERMPN. 7 ee ee eg 287 © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. orgTALES OF OLD JA THE FORTY-SEVEN RONINS. AN. Tas books which have been written of late ycars about Japan, have either been compiled from offidial records, or have contained the sketchy impressions of pagsing travellers. Of the inner life of the Japanese, the world pt large knows but little: their religion, their superstitions, their ways of thought, the hidden springs by which they move—all these are as yct mysteries. Nor is this to be wondered at. The first Western nen who came in contact with) Japan—I am speaking not of the old Dutch and Portuguqse traders and priests, but of the diplomatists and merchdnts of eleven years agu—imet wit! a cold reception. Abpve 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 Kidto, any relations were maintain¢d—knew that the Imperial purple with which they sought fo invest their chief rust quickly fade before the strong sunlight which would be brought upon it so soon as the should be European linguists capable of examining th records, No opportunity was lost of throwi sD B is © 2010 Forgotten Books eir books and ¢ dust in the www. forgottenbooks. org2 TALES eyes of the new-comers, details, it was the cfiici however, there is uo ¢: Fainéant has shaken off together, and an intelligi fear scrutiny from abroad, country being but so mi power, there is no reason tery. The path of inquiry is yet much to be learnt, s in which it may interest t The recent revolution to the advance which hi telegraphs shell have con Land of Sunrise, the old been for centuries when as well as political ; so ago, will have become ext} no better means could be curious and fast disappeai tion of some of the most, histories, together with ot! upon the same subject. own tale, their translator words of heading or tag t or emplification may see’ and hard names wil) ofte| but I believe that those who will bear with the difficulty w t OF OLD JAPAN. whom, even iv the most trifling ‘al policy to lead astray. Now, use for concealment; the Ao is sloth, and his Maire du Palais, le Government, which need not js the result: the records of the any proofs of the Mikado’s title to for keeping up any show of mys- is open to all; and although there ome knowledge has been attained, ose who stay at home to share. Japan bas wrought changes social t may be that when, in addition already been made, railways and aected the principal points of the Japanese, such as he was and had e found him eleven-short years met. It has appeared to me that Phogen of preserving a record of a ting civilization, than the transla- interesting national legends and rt specimens of literature bearing hus the Japanese may tell their nly adding here and there a tew 4 chapter, where an explanation necessary. I fear that the long make my tales tedious reading, at learn more of the character of the Japanese people than by skimming over descriptions of travel and adventure, however brilliant. The lord and priest, the humble artisa is retainer, the warrior and the and the despised Eta or pariah, each in his turn will become a leading character in my budget of stories; and i is out of the mouths of these personages that I hope |to shaw forth a tolerably coim- plete picture of Japanese socicty. Having said so much way of preface, I beg my reader: © 2010 Forgotten Books www. forgottenbooks. orgTHE FORTY-SEFEN RONINS. 3 to fancy themselves wafted away to the shores o the Ray of Yedo—a fair, smiling lundscape: gentle slopes, cre: bya dark fringe of pines and fire, lead down to the |sea; the quaint eaves of wany a temple aud holy slirine peep out her: and there from the groves; the bay itself is studdet with picturesque fisher-eralt, the torches of which shine) by night lke glow-worms among the outlying forts; far away to the west looin the goblin-hauated heights of Oyama, and beyond the twin hills of the Hakoné Pass—Fuji-Yama, the Peerless Mountain, solitary and grand, stands in the ceitre of the plain, from which it sprang vomiting flames twenty-one cen- turies ago.! Fora hundred and sixty years the luge moun- tain has been at peace, but the frequent carthquakes still tell of hidden fires, and none can say when the red-hot stones and ashes may once mure fall like rain over five provinces. Tn the midst of a nest of venerable trees in Takanawa, a suburb of Yedo, is hidden Sengakuji, or the Spring-hill Temple, renowned throughout the length and breadth of the land for its cemetery, which contains the graves of the Forty-seven loning? famous in Japanese history, herves 1 Accotding to Japanese tradition, in the fifth year of the Emperer (286 5.¢.), the earth opened in the province of Cini, near Kista, and Biwa, sixty miles long by about eighteen bread, wus formed in the shi pe of a Biwa, or tour-stringed Inte, from which it takes its namie. At the saime time, to compensate for the depression of the earth, hut at a cistance of over three hundred miles from the luke, rose Faji-Yama, the last eruption off which was in the year 1707. The last great earthquake at Yeo touk place about fifteen years age. Twenty thousnd souls are said to have perished in lit, and the oad were carried away apd huried by cartloals ; many persong, trying to escape from their falling and burning bouses, were caught in yewned suddenly in the earth, and as suddenly closcd upon erusbiog them to death. For sevcral days heavy shocks continued to be felt, and the people camped out, not daring to return to such houses as lad been spared, nor to build ap those which lay i in ruins, 3 The word Aéain means, literally, “wuve-man ;” one who is tossed about hither and thither, as a wave of the sen, It in used to designate persons of tle blood, entitled to bear arms, who, having become acparated from their feudal Jords by their own act, or by disinissal, or by fate, wamler about tho country in the capacity of autnewhat disrey epaitable knights-errant, without ostensible means oF living, iu some cases offering, then ca for |hire to new masters, in oUters supporting thenmelves by pillage ; or who, Culling a grade in tho eocial esale, go into trade, and become siinple wardsmen. | Sumetiincs B2 © 2010 Forgotten Books www.forgottenbooks. orgTALES OP CLD JAPAN. of Japanese drama, the tale of whose deeds 1 am about to trauscribe. On the left-hand side of the main court of the temple is a chapel, in which, surmounted by a gilt figure of Kwanyin, the goddess of mercy, are jenshrined the images of the forty- seven men, and of the master whom they loved so well. The statues are carved in wood, the faces coloured, and the dresses richly lacquered ; merit—the action of thi favourite weapon, being Some are venerable mm seventy-seven years old); Close by the chapel, at th is a little well of pure w tiny fernery, over which {i “This is the well in whi not wash your hands or y ig a stall, at which a poor as works of art they have great heroes, each armed with his onderfully life-like and spirited. » With thin, grey hair (ove is others are mere boys of sixteen, side of a path leading up the hill, ter, fenced in and adorned with a an inscription, setting forth that the head was washed; you must our feet here.” A Jittle Jurther on Id man earns « pittance by selling books, pictures, and medals, commemorating the loyalty of the Forty-seven ; and higher trees, is 2 neat inclosure, by voluntary contribution: eizht little tombstones, e with its tribute of water a departed spivit. There wi forty-eight tombstones, a! truly characteristic of Ja touching the rail of the it hay s that for political reas this Ta may not be implicated ii eugage. Sometimes, also, men for awhile, until some scrapo in blown over ; after which they re it is not unusual for men to bee iu the service of foreigners at the hope that they may pick up som: folks. I know instances of men this course in their zeal for educal ip yot, shaded by a grove of stately ept up, as a signboard announces, » round which are ranged forty- ch decked with evergreens, each md incense for the comfort of the ve forty-seven Rénins; there are id the story of the forty-eighth is panese ideas of honour. Almost graveyard is 2 more imposing ns 2 inan will Lecome Réniv, in order thet some decd of blood iu which he is about to ecome Rénins, aud leave their native place hich they have become entangled shall have 1mm to their former allegiance. Now-a-days 0 Rénins for a time, and engage themselves ‘open ports, even in meniol capacities, in the thing of tho language and lore of Western ‘of considerable position who bave adopted tion, © 2010 Forgotten Books www. forgottenbooks. org