Jataka Tales Animal Stories Re-told by Ellen C. Babbitt Vith
Illustrations by Ellsworth Young Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. New
York COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY THE CENTURY CO. COPYRIGHT, I94O, BY D.
APPLETON-CENTURY CO., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THE RIGHT
TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, IN ANY FORM. 566-15
PRINTED IK THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Dedicated to DOT FOREWORD
Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and
realized the excellent use that might be made of them in the
teaching of children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable
for little people, and beneath the obvious there are depths and
depths of meaning which they may learn to fathom later on. The
Oriental setting lends an additional fascination. I am glad that
Miss Babbitt has under taken to put together this collection, and
commend it freely to teachers and parents, FELIX ABLER. CONTENTS
PAG8 I THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE 3 II How THE TURTLE SAVED His
OWN LIFE . . 10 III THE MERCHANT OF SERI 13 IV THE TURTLE WHO COULD
N J T STOP TALKING . 18 V THE Ox WHO WON THE FORFEIT .... 21 VI THE
SANDY ROAD 25 VII THE QUARREL OF THE QUAILS . 30 VIII THE MEASURE
OF RICE 34 IX THE FOOLISH, TIMID RABBIT 39, . X THE WISE AND THE
FOOLISH MERCHANT . . 44 XI THE ELEPHANT GIRLY-FACE 52 XII THE
BANYAN DEER 58 XIII THE PRINCES AND THE WATER-SPRITE ... 63 XIV THE
KINGS WHITE ELEPHANT . . . . 69 XV THE Ox WHO ENVIED THE PIG 74 XVI
GRANNIES BLACKIE 77 XVII THE CRAB AND THE CRANE 84 XVIII WHY THE
OWL Is NOT KING OF THE BIRDS . . 90 PUBLISHERS NOTE The Jatakas, or
Birth-stories, form one of the sacred books of the Buddhists and
relate to the adventures of the Buddha in his former existences,
the best character in any story being identified with the Master.
These legends were continually introduced into the religious
discourses of the Buddhist teachers to illus trate the doctrines of
their faith or to magnify the glory and sanctity of the Buddha,
somewhat as medi eval preachers in Europe used to enliven their
sermons by introducing fables and popular tales to rouse the
flagging interest of their hearers. Sculptured scenes from the
Jatakas, found upon the carved railings around the relic shrines of
Sanchi and Amaravati and of Bharhut, indicate that the Birth
stories were widely known in the third century B. C., and were then
considered as part of the sacred history of the religion. At first
the tales were prob ably handed down orally, and it is uncertain
when they were put together in systematic form. xi ORIGIN OF THE
JATAKAS While some of the stories are Buddhistic and de pend for
their point on some custom or idea peculiar to Buddhism, many are
age-old fables, the flotsam and jetsam of folk-lore, which have
appeared under various guises throughout the centuries, as when
they were used by Boccaccio or Poggio, merely as merry tales, or by
Chaucer, who unwittingly puts a Jataka story into the mouth of his
pardoners when he tells the tale of the Ryotoures three Quaint
humor and gentle earnestness distinguish these legends and they
teach many wholesome lessons, among them the duty of kindness to
animals. Dr. Felix Adler in his Moral Instruction of Chil dren,
says The Jataka Tales contain deep truths, and are cal culated to
impress lessons of great moral beauty. The tale of the Merchant of
Seri, who gave up all that he had in exchange for a golden dish,
embodies much the same idea as theparable of the priceless Pearl,
in the New Testament. The tale of the Measures of Rice illustrates
the importance of a true estimate of values. The tale of the Banyan
Deer, which offered its life to save a roe and her young, illus
trates self-sacrifice of the noblest sort. The tale of the Sandy
Road is one of the finest in the collection. xii
General
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