Narrative Summary of Fables et légendes du Japon

Overview:

As a reader of “Fables et légendes du Japon,” I was transported to a world of fantastical creatures and moral lessons. The book explores a diverse range of stories, from ancient myths about the origins of Japan to clever fables about animals and their interactions with humans. The author, Claudius Ferrand, masterfully weaves together humor, suspense, and wisdom to create a captivating narrative, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Japan through its traditional folktales.

Main parts:

Ourashima Taro and the Ocean Goddess: This tale tells the story of a kind fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded with a trip to the undersea palace of Otohimé, the Ocean Goddess. Taro’s time in the palace, however, results in a devastating consequence when he breaks his promise and opens a mysterious box, causing him to age seven hundred years in an instant.
The Little Thief: Aki, a spoiled and deceitful girl, uses a series of clever tricks to steal a valuable cup and a dozen gold watches from a wealthy minister. The story highlights the consequences of unchecked greed and selfishness.
The Hare’s Revenge: A cunning hare outsmarts a malicious badger, seeking revenge for the badger’s murder of an old woman and the old woman’s husband’s subsequent suicide. The tale emphasizes the power of compassion and the eventual triumph of good over evil.
The Monster Yatama: Susanoonomikoto, the mischievous sun god’s brother, is banished from the heavens and travels to the land of Idzumo, where he meets a family plagued by a fearsome eight-headed serpent. Susanoonomikoto saves the family by defeating the beast, earning the hand of the daughter and restoring balance to the world.
The Unique Umbrella: A young boy named Yotaro, known for his eccentricities, carries a large umbrella even when the weather is clear. This leads to a humorous clash with a passerby, highlighting the importance of considering the consequences of our actions.
The Eight Kids: A mother goat leaves her eight kids at home, warning them not to open the door to anyone. A cunning wolf disguises himself as the goat’s sister and then as her mother, but the kids are wise to his trick. However, when he finally imitates the mother’s voice, the kids are fooled and fall victim to the wolf’s hunger.
The Adventures of Benké: Benké, a young man of superhuman strength, is expelled from a monastery for his disruptive behavior. He later seeks refuge in another monastery where he faces off against a bully named Kayémon. Benké ultimately wins a fierce battle, but his actions result in the destruction of the monastery. The story emphasizes the destructive power of unbridled anger and the need for self-control.
The Kompéito Jar: A greedy old man gets his hand stuck in a jar of candy while attending a wedding celebration. This humorous tale highlights the danger of being overly preoccupied with material possessions.
The Rats at the Temple: A family of rats, plagued by a fearsome cat, pray to the goddess of mercy for salvation. A frog, hidden behind the statue, advises them to consider the true source of their misfortune – their own sharp teeth. The story underlines the importance of examining our own faults and taking responsibility for our actions.
The Strawberries in December: A cruel stepmother forces her stepdaughter, Chrysanthème, to find strawberries in the middle of winter. A kind winter goddess and her son, the summer god, miraculously provide Chrysanthème with strawberries, while the stepmother and her own daughter, Rose, perish in the snow. This story illustrates the triumph of good over evil, as well as the rewards of kindness and compassion.
The Tongue-Tied Sparrow: A kind old man adopts a young sparrow named Bidori. A vengeful old woman cuts the sparrow’s tongue after it nibbles on her laundry starch. The sparrow flees to live with his mother, but the old man sets off to find him. The story showcases the power of friendship and loyalty, with the old man receiving a treasure box filled with jewels as a gift.
The Two Warts: A woodcutter with a wart on his cheek is befriended by mischievous goblins. The goblin leader takes the wart as a token of their bond, but a greedy carpenter, with a wart on his other cheek, tries to trick the goblins in the same way. This results in him ending up with two warts, emphasizing the dangers of greed and envy.
Jiro’s Trick: A clever orphan, Jiro, convinces a kind, old vegetarian to give him his prized pig by pretending it’s his deceased mother, reincarnated as an animal. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting appearances and blindly following beliefs.

View on Life:

Karma and consequences: Many of the stories emphasize the interconnectedness of actions and consequences, demonstrating that good deeds are often rewarded, while bad deeds lead to misfortune.
The power of kindness and compassion: Kindness and compassion are repeatedly shown to be powerful forces that can bring joy, fortune, and even salvation. Characters who are kind and generous are often blessed, while those who are cruel and selfish frequently suffer.
The value of humility and patience: Many of the characters who are arrogant and boastful are humbled, while those who are humble and patient often find success.
The importance of self-awareness and self-control: Characters who lack self-awareness and fail to control their emotions or desires often find themselves in difficult situations, while those who can manage their emotions and desires are more likely to achieve their goals.

Scenarios:

A kind fisherman is rewarded for rescuing a turtle: This scenario leads to a journey into the magical underwater palace of the Ocean Goddess.
A spoiled girl steals from a wealthy minister: Aki’s actions lead to a humorous series of misadventures.
A vengeful hare sets a trap for a malicious badger: This scenario highlights the hare’s cleverness and resourcefulness.
A family is terrorized by a monstrous serpent: Susanoonomikoto’s heroic intervention saves the family from a gruesome fate.
A woodcutter is befriended by goblins: This encounter leads to an unexpected change in his appearance and fortune.
A young boy tricks an old man into giving him his pig: This scenario is a humorous example of a clever trick that backfires.
A family of rats prays for protection from a cat: This scene illustrates the rat’s desperation and their eventual understanding of their own faults.
A stepdaughter is forced to find strawberries in winter: This scenario highlights the stepmother’s cruelty and leads to a magical encounter that results in the stepmother’s death.
A young sparrow is punished for stealing food: The sparrow’s act of disobedience leads to an unlikely friendship and an unexpected reward.
A greedy carpenter tries to replicate the woodcutter’s experience: This scene emphasizes the dangers of envy and greed.

Challenges:

Ourashima Taro’s struggle with temptation: The promise made to Otohimé is a powerful temptation that ultimately leads to Taro’s downfall.
The eight kids’ vulnerability to deception: They are easily persuaded by the wolf’s trickery, leading to their capture.
Benké’s inability to control his anger: His anger leads to the destruction of two monasteries, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked rage.
The rat family’s struggle with their own destructive nature: They are forced to confront the destructive nature of their sharp teeth, which is the root cause of their troubles.
Chrysanthème’s struggle with her stepmother’s cruelty: She endures constant mistreatment and humiliation, but is ultimately rewarded for her patience and kindness.
The old woman’s desire for material wealth: Her greed leads to a horrifying encounter with a box filled with demons, resulting in her demise.
The carpenter’s struggle with his envy of the woodcutter: His desire to experience the same good fortune leads to a disastrous outcome.
Jiro’s struggle to survive as an orphan: He is forced to rely on his own cunning to create a better life for himself.

Conflict:

Ourashima Taro vs. temptation: Taro’s curiosity and desire to see what’s inside the box lead to his tragic fate.
The eight kids vs. the wolf: The kids are constantly wary of the wolf’s deception, but eventually succumb to his cunning.
Benké vs. Kayémon: Benké’s anger toward Kayémon leads to a violent confrontation that results in Kayémon’s death.
The rats vs. the cat: The rats are constantly hunted by the cat, ultimately realizing they are responsible for their own misfortune.
Chrysanthème vs. her stepmother: Chrysanthème endures her stepmother’s cruelty and is eventually rewarded for her resilience.
Arababa vs. the demons: Her greed leads to a horrifying encounter with demons, who punish her for her wickedness.
The carpenter vs. his own envy: His envy of the woodcutter drives him to attempt to replicate his experience, resulting in a negative outcome.
Jiro vs. poverty: Jiro is forced to rely on his wit and cunning to improve his situation.

Plot:

Ourashima Taro: The story arc follows a hero’s journey, with a protagonist being rewarded for a good deed. This is followed by a series of events that lead to the hero’s downfall, culminating in his tragic death.
The Little Thief: This story follows a series of escalating crimes, culminating in a humorous climax where the thief is revealed for the deceitful person she is.
The Hare’s Revenge: The hare’s clever plan to avenge the death of the old couple unfolds in a series of well-crafted events, culminating in the badger’s demise.
The Monster Yatama: This arc follows the hero’s journey of a banished god who restores balance to the world by conquering a monstrous serpent, leading to his marriage and a happy ending.
The Eight Kids: This plot unfolds in a series of escalating threats, culminating in the wolf’s demise through a clever and satisfying act of revenge.
The Adventures of Benké: The story arc follows a character’s trajectory from being an unruly student to a destructive force, and eventually to a more peaceful existence.
The Kompéito Jar: This short story centers on a humorous scene that highlights the dangers of greed.
The Rats at the Temple: The story arc follows the rats’ journey of recognizing their own faults, leading to their decision to move to a new home.
The Strawberries in December: The plot follows the stepdaughter’s journey from suffering to being miraculously rewarded for her kindness, while her stepmother and sister experience a tragic end.
The Tongue-Tied Sparrow: The story follows a simple narrative of an animal’s misfortune, the old man’s search to find him, and the unexpected reward that comes from kindness.
The Two Warts: This short tale follows the carpenter’s attempt to repeat the woodcutter’s experience, resulting in a humorous twist that underscores the dangers of greed.
Jiro’s Trick: Jiro’s cunning plan unfolds with a simple yet effective manipulation of his uncle’s beliefs, leading to a satisfying conclusion for the orphan.

Point of View:

Third-person omniscient: The stories are narrated from a third-person perspective, allowing the reader to see into the thoughts and motivations of all the characters. This point of view enhances the reader’s understanding of the characters’ complexities and the underlying themes.

How it’s written:

Descriptive Language: The author uses rich, vivid language to paint a picture of the characters, setting, and events. For example, in the story of The Monster Yatama, he describes the serpent’s eyes as “sixteen stars of diamonds” and the landscape as “white with the snow.” This descriptive language creates a sense of wonder and immerses the reader in the fantastical world of the stories.
Direct Address: Ferrand occasionally addresses the reader directly, using phrases like, “You will understand all of this in a moment” or “Morale: When a kind sparrow offers you two boxes, always choose the smaller one.” This direct address engages the reader and invites them to participate in the story.

Tone:

Humorous: Many of the stories are written in a humorous tone, often relying on witty dialogue and playful situations. The story of the Kompéito Jar is an excellent example of this humorous style, with the absurdity of the situation providing lighthearted entertainment.
Moralizing: The stories often convey clear moral lessons, underscoring the importance of honesty, kindness, and compassion. This moralizing tone adds a layer of depth to the stories, encouraging readers to reflect on their own values and behaviors.
Suspensful: Some of the stories build suspense, especially those with villains or supernatural elements. For example, the tale of the Hare’s Revenge keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with its depiction of the hare’s cunning plan and the badger’s inevitable demise.
Whimsical: The tales often embrace a whimsical approach, with fantastical creatures, magic, and supernatural events. This whimsical tone adds a sense of wonder and escapism to the stories.

Life choices:

Ourashima Taro: His choice to open the box, despite the warning from the Ocean Goddess, leads to his untimely death.
Aki: Her choices to steal and deceive demonstrate her lack of moral compass and lead to her downfall.
The hare: He makes a conscious choice to seek revenge, which is a difficult choice but ultimately leads to a better outcome.
Benké: His choices to indulge in violence and anger have devastating consequences.
The rats: Their choice to retain their sharp teeth, despite the frog’s advice, leads to further troubles.
Chrysanthème: Her choice to be kind and patient, despite her stepmother’s cruelty, is rewarded with a miraculous outcome.
Arababa: Her choice to prioritize greed and wealth over wisdom and compassion leads to her tragic fate.
The carpenter: His choice to act out of envy leads to a negative consequence.
Jiro: His choice to use his cunning to gain wealth highlights his determination to create a better life for himself.

Lessons:

The dangers of greed and selfishness: The tales demonstrate that greed and selfishness often lead to negative consequences. Aki’s thievery, Arababa’s desire for wealth, and the carpenter’s envy all result in misfortune.
The importance of keeping promises: Ourashima Taro’s failure to keep his promise to the Ocean Goddess ultimately leads to his tragic fate.
The consequences of unchecked anger and violence: Benké’s violent actions have disastrous consequences, highlighting the dangers of unchecked rage and the importance of self-control.
The value of humility and compassion: Characters like Chrysanthème are rewarded for their kindness and humility, while cruel characters like Arababa and the stepmother suffer due to their lack of compassion.
The need for self-awareness: The rat family learns the importance of self-awareness and recognizing their own faults in order to change their circumstances.
The power of resilience and perseverance: Jiro’s determination to improve his life, even after losing both his parents, demonstrates the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Characters:

Ourashima Taro: A kind and virtuous fisherman who is rewarded for his good deed but ultimately succumbs to temptation.
Aki: A spoiled, deceitful, and cunning young girl who uses trickery to steal valuable items.
The Hare: A cunning and resourceful hare who seeks revenge for the murder of his friends.
Susanoonomikoto: The mischievous and powerful brother of the sun goddess who saves a family from a monstrous serpent.
Yotaro: A quirky and eccentric young boy who carries an umbrella even when the weather is clear.
The Wolf: A cunning predator who uses deception to trick and prey on the eight kids.
Benké: A young man of immense strength and a short temper who is expelled from two monasteries for his destructive behavior.
Kayémon: A malicious and arrogant student who bullies his classmates but ultimately falls victim to Benké’s wrath.
Goroyémon: A temperate old man who gets his hand stuck in a jar of candy, highlighting the dangers of greed.
The Rats: A family of rats struggling with the dangers of their own sharp teeth and the threats of a cat.
Chrysanthème: A kind and patient stepdaughter who endures her stepmother’s cruelty and is eventually rewarded for her virtue.
Faucon: A cruel and selfish stepmother who prioritizes her own daughter, Rose, over Chrysanthème.
Rose: A spoiled and ungrateful daughter who is ultimately punished for her selfishness.
Bidori: A young sparrow whose tongue is cut off by Arababa, symbolizing the consequences of cruelty.
The Old Woman: A compassionate winter goddess who helps Chrysanthème find strawberries.
The Carpenter: A greedy and envious carpenter who is punished for his desire to replicate the woodcutter’s experience.
Jiro: A clever and resourceful orphan who uses trickery to escape poverty.

Themes:

The importance of good deeds: The stories emphasize the positive outcomes of acting with kindness, compassion, and humility, highlighting the power of good deeds in a world that is often driven by greed and selfishness.
The dangers of unchecked desires: The characters who succumb to greed, anger, envy, and other negative emotions often experience misfortune, while those who strive to control their desires find greater success.
The interconnectedness of actions and consequences: The tales often show that actions have consequences, and that good deeds are often rewarded, while bad deeds lead to negative outcomes.
The search for justice and balance: Many of the stories illustrate the struggle between good and evil, with the triumph of good often restoring balance to the world.

Principles:

The Golden Rule: The stories often demonstrate the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, reflecting the principle of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The consequences of sin: The stories often depict the negative outcomes of bad actions and the importance of seeking forgiveness and redemption.
The power of faith and belief: Many of the characters rely on faith and belief in higher powers to guide them and offer them solace, demonstrating the importance of spiritual guidance in times of need.
The cycle of karma: The concept of karma, where actions have consequences, is a recurring theme in the stories.

Intentions of the characters in the text or the reader of the text:

Characters:
- Ourashima Taro: To live a happy life, but ultimately driven by curiosity.
- Aki: To gain wealth and status through deceit and thievery.
- The Hare: To avenge the death of his friends and restore justice.
- Susanoonomikoto: To protect and help those in need, seeking redemption for his past mistakes.
- Benké: To express his anger and frustration through violence and destruction.
- The Rats: To escape the cat and find a safe and comfortable place to live.
- Chrysanthème: To endure her stepmother’s cruelty and find happiness.
- Faucon: To prioritize her own daughter and show favoritism.
- Rose: To satisfy her desires and get whatever she wants.
- Bidori: To find a safe and loving home after being harmed.
- The Carpenter: To replicate the woodcutter’s good fortune out of envy.
- Jiro: To overcome poverty and create a better life for himself.
Reader:
- To be entertained by the fantastical stories and colorful characters.
- To learn about Japanese culture and folklore.
- To reflect on the moral lessons and principles embedded in the tales.

Unique Vocabulary:

Kompéito: This unique Japanese term refers to small, colorful candy, similar to dragées.
Kurumaya: This word describes a Japanese rickshaw puller.
Shamisen: A three-stringed Japanese musical instrument.
Koto: A traditional Japanese zither.
Kakemono: A traditional Japanese hanging scroll.
Gheta: A type of Japanese wooden clog.

Anecdotes:

The story of Shiba Onkô: The tale of Shiba Onkô, an ancient hero who saves a child trapped in a giant urn, is used as a metaphor for the old man’s plight in the story “The Kompéito Jar.” This anecdote highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Shiba Onkô and provides a hopeful solution to the current situation.
The story of the reincarnated mother: In “Jiro’s Trick,” Jiro claims that his deceased mother has been reincarnated as the old man’s pig, This anecdote highlights the old man’s devout belief in the concept of metempsychosis and his willingness to help those in need, making him an easy target for Jiro’s clever scheme.

Ideas:

The importance of kindness and compassion: The stories present kindness and compassion as virtues that are often rewarded, while cruelty and selfishness are frequently punished.
The consequences of unchecked desires: The stories explore the negative outcomes of greed, anger, envy, and other unchecked emotions.
The search for justice and balance: The stories often demonstrate the struggle between good and evil, with the triumph of good often restoring balance to the world.
The role of faith and belief: The stories emphasize the power of faith and belief in higher powers, showing how these beliefs can provide guidance and solace.

Facts and findings:

The three sacred treasures of Japan: The story of Susanoonomikoto and the eight-headed serpent mentions the three sacred treasures of Japan: the Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (the sword), the mirror, and the jewel.
The existence of goblins and other supernatural creatures: The stories suggest a belief in supernatural creatures like goblins, demons, and deities, highlighting the role of folklore in Japanese culture.

Statistics:

The forty years of Project Gutenberg: The “Project Gutenberg” information included at the end of the text provides the statistic that the Project Gutenberg concept of freely distributing electronic works has been around for forty years.

Points of View:

The stories are written from a third-person omniscient point of view: This allows the reader to see into the minds of all the characters, providing a comprehensive understanding of the story’s themes and motivations.

Perspective:

The perspective of traditional Japanese culture and values: The stories provide a glimpse into traditional Japanese culture and values, highlighting the importance of kindness, respect, and responsibility.
The perspective of a diverse set of characters: The stories showcase a variety of characters, both human and animal, each with their own unique perspectives, experiences, and motivations.
The perspective of moral lessons and spiritual beliefs: The stories often convey moral lessons and spiritual beliefs, offering insights into the way Japanese people viewed the world and the relationships between humans, animals, and the supernatural.

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