Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan
Richard Gordon Smith
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Tales of Folklore are often of special interest. Anything may happen to ordinary mortals in the world painted by folklore. But it becomes even more interesting when you dive into folklore of places away from your own culture.
This volume is a collection of ancient Japanese tales. We hear of ordinary mortals interacting with the spirit world, sometimes to their benefit, sometimes to their doom, we hear of love and hate, and of war and peace. Some of the stories will be entirely new to most readers, some of them will be uncannily familiar. - Summary by Carolin (11 hr 32 min)
Chapters
Preface | 4:14 | Read by Stefan Von Blon |
The Golden Hairpin | 25:03 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Spirit Of The Willow Tree | 16:34 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
Ghost of the Violet Well | 12:56 | Read by David McKay |
Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb | 14:31 | Read by David McKay |
A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province | 13:57 | Read by David McKay |
A Carp Gives a Lesson in Perseverance | 8:16 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
Legends Told by a Fisherman on Lake Biwa, At Zeze | 15:19 | Read by realisticspeakers |
A Miraculous Sword | 12:46 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
'The Procession of Ghosts' | 8:57 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
A Faithful Servant | 8:22 | Read by melaniebjensen |
Prince Hosokawa's Most Valuable Title-Deeds | 8:22 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Story of Kato Sayemon | 12:59 | Read by realisticspeakers |
Great Fire Caused by a Lady's Dress | 10:13 | Read by Maria Melodia Queri |
History of Awoto Fujitsuna | 6:05 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
A Life Saved by a Spider and Two Doves | 11:43 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
Murakami Yoshiteru's Faithfulness | 9:54 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
A Story of Oki Islands | 14:05 | Read by Josh Kibbey |
Cape of the Woman's Sword | 11:11 | Read by Angelique G. Campbell |
How Yogodayu Won A Battle | 7:59 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Isolated or Desolated Island | 11:27 | Read by realisticspeakers |
Chikubu Island, Lake Biwa | 12:05 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
Reincarnation | 7:08 | Read by Angelique G. Campbell |
The Diving-Woman of Oiso Bay | 14:31 | Read by realisticspeakers |
Theft And Recovery of a Golden Kwannon | 10:32 | Read by realisticspeakers |
Saigyo Hoshi's Rock | 12:56 | Read by realisticspeakers |
How Masakuni Regained His Sight | 9:45 | Read by realisticspeakers |
Sagami Bay | 9:17 | Read by lcastleb1 |
The King of Torijima | 15:44 | Read by Maria Melodia Queri |
The Perpetual Life-Giving Wine | 9:31 | Read by realisticspeakers |
The Hermit's Cave | 9:29 | Read by Rob Marland |
Yosoji's Camellia Tree | 12:42 | Read by Rob Marland |
Whales | 10:24 | Read by Vlad Amelchuck |
The Holy Cherry Tree of Musubi-no-Kami Temple | 16:12 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
A Story of Mount Kanzanrei | 12:48 | Read by Vlad Amelchuck |
White Bone Mountain | 13:14 | Read by Angelique G. Campbell |
A Stormy Night's Tragedy | 11:19 | Read by Colleen McMahon |
The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province | 13:22 | Read by Colleen McMahon |
White Saké | 13:07 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Blind Beauty | 18:18 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Secret of Iidamachi Pond | 10:22 | Read by Rob Marland |
The Spirit of Yenoki | 19:13 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Spirit of the Lotus Lily | 15:11 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Temple of the Awabi | 17:45 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
Human Fireflies | 8:26 | Read by Rob Marland |
The Chrysanthemum Hermit | 6:11 | Read by realisticspeakers |
The Princess Peony | 14:18 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Memorial Cherry Tree | 13:00 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The 'Jirohei' Cherry Tree, Kyoto | 7:55 | Read by David McKay |
The Snow Ghost | 9:28 | Read by realisticspeakers |
The Snow Tomb | 10:52 | Read by Maria Melodia Queri |
The Dragon-Shaped Plum Tree | 11:08 | Read by David McKay |
The Chessboard Cherry Tree | 8:50 | Read by David McKay |
The Precious Sword 'Natori no Hoto' | 10:32 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The White Serpent God | 12:36 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
A Festival of the Awabi Fish | 11:11 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Spirit of a Willow Tree Saves Family Honour | 12:56 | Read by Lynda Marie Neilson |
The Camphor Tree Tomb | 15:42 | Read by David McKay |
Reviews
A LibriVox Listener
Many interesting old stories, which also give a fascinating look into old Japanese culture and history. A lot of the stories are quite sad and melancholy though, so you definitely need to be in the right mood for that. Most of the readers are also really good!
some good stories
Gerard Kelly
my 4 year old granddaughter is a more fluent reader than one of these readers, totally ruined this collection.
Mark Browning
I tried but the voices did my head in. good luck finishing it. Shame wanted to listen to this one