Tales of Ancient Japan

"Tales of Ancient Japan" is the key to the cultural code of the Land of the Rising Sun. This collection of tales by Sazanami Sandzin has been read by dozens of generations of Japanese people. Now, echoes of this book can be found in the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki, in anime, and in the works of Haruki Murakami, Kobo Abe, and other writers. Sazanami captured in the recorded tales the very essence of Japan — its history, mythology, everyday life, and beliefs. Here, there is a legendary-historical tale about the hero Momotaro, who was born from a large peach and, at a young age, defeated a whole pack of evil goblins. There is a religious-ethical tale about the cunning and cruel Tanuki, who was avenged by the Rabbit for the death of his neighbor, the old woman. There is also a mythological tale about a descendant of the heavenly gods, who descended to the bottom of the sea into the realm of the Dragon in search of a lost fishing hook. The collection of tales is preceded by an article by the orientalist Vasily Mendrin about the culture and development of Japan. The tales themselves are illustrated by Japanese artist Kobayashi Eitaku.