Japanese legends and tales of ghosts and miracles. The Soul of Japan

The collection includes the so-called kaidans - ancient mysterious, "fateful" Japanese parables and tales. They were lovingly collected under one cover in the early twentieth century by British-born American Lafcadio Hearn. He spent the last years of his life in Japan, sincerely loving the ancient spirit of this country. The works of the collection are illustrated with magnificent color drawings by Japanese artists of the XIX century. Familiarity with Japanese kaidans not only entertains the reader, but also allows you to better understand the unique culture of this country. The deep basis of the culture of any nation is ancient legends, myths, legends, fairy tales. They reflect its customs, beliefs, attitude to nature, ethical and aesthetic views. The traditional folklore genre in Japan is kaidans - outlandish legends about unusual superstitions, scary fatal stories about ghosts and miracles, about human encounters with the supernatural: demons, witches, werewolves, etc. In the early 20th century they were collected and translated into English by the Irish-American novelist, translator and orientalist, a specialist in Japanese literature, Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904). He was named after the same Greek island in the Ionian Sea, Lefkas, or Lefkada, on which he was born in 1850. Lafcadio's father was an Irishman, a military doctor, his mother a native Greek. The first years of the boy's life under the sunny azure sky of Greece were cloudless. And then a family drama broke out. The father took the family to England. Landscapes and climate of Foggy Albion affected the mother of the boy depressingly, and soon she returned to her beloved Greece. The marriage broke up. Lafkadio stayed with his father, who did not care too much about the upbringing of his son, until his adulthood was under the care of an old aunt. The collapse of the family was a tragedy for the young man. Perhaps this was the reason for his passion for mysticism, the otherworld, because in reality there was no joy or happiness. So Lafcadio went to America. Sunny New Orleans, where he settled, reminded cheerful Greece. Here he perked up and began to write cheerful feuilletons, bringing delight to the locals. However, the happy period in his life was short-lived - it was replaced by disappointment and loneliness. In 1890, Lafcadio escapes from himself to the ends of the earth - in faraway Japan, working there as an American correspondent. The writer marvels at the ancient spirit of this country, so close to his romantic nature. He is fascinated by Buddhist culture, visits ancient monasteries, avidly listens, looking into the terrible stories of the supernatural. But the contradictions between the rational present and the ancient, mysterious Japan did not give rest to the floundering soul Lafkadio. It was as if he was always between two worlds - real and unreal. The desire to preserve the unique image of ancient Japan, to show it to people prompted Lafkadio to compile a collection of kaidans, the book you are holding in your hands. It is illustrated with exquisite prints by Japanese artists of the XIX century, which allow you to understand and feel more deeply this richly colored country.