Thrilling Japanese stories of vampires, ghosts and renegade samurai. Step back through the mists of time to ancient Japan, where wandering samurai seek revenge for the death of their master, the red-eyed spectres of an executed man and his wife haunt a palace, and wild animals have great power over men. This collection of classic folktales, which range from adventures to mysteries and ghost stories, is beautifully illustrated with lavish art that evokes this magical time and place. Tales of the Samurai includes these legendary stories: The Forty-Seven Ronin The Vampire cat of Nabeshima Kazuma's Revenge The Prince and the Badger The Ghost of Sakura

"A story of honor and bloody revenge." The legend of the 47 ronin is one of the most popular and best known stories about the samurai in Japan. It is often referred to as the country's "national legend" and is the most revered example of the samurai code of honor, bushido, put to the ultimate test. The story tells of a group of samurai who, in 1701, were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was compelled to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka. The ronin, led by Asano's chief councilor, Oishi Yoshio, avenged their master's honor by killing Kira, after waiting and planning for almost two years. In turn, the ronin were themselves forced to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder. With much embellishment, this true story was popularized in Japanese culture as emblematic of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that people should preserve in their daily lives. The popularity of the almost mythical tale was enhanced by rapid modernization following the fall of the shogun during the Meiji era of Japanese history. Many versions of the events appeared and the story of the 47 ronin continues to be popular in Japan to this day. This book traces the history of the story through various retellings. It includes the first English version to appear in print, from Isaac Titsingh's "Illustrations of Japan," published in 1822, plus the second from "The Capital of the Tycoon" by Rutherford Alcock. It also includes in full "The Forty-Seven Ronins" from "Tales of Old Japan" by A. B. Mitford (plus his account of seppuku/hara-kiri), "The Loyal Ronins" by Shunsui Tamenaga, translated by Shiuichiro Saito and Edward Greey and "The Forty-Seven Ronin" by James Murdoch from "A History of Japan." This is a comprehensive collection which brings together some of the best known versions of the story and serves as a perfect introduction to the legendary tale of the 47 ronin. For more information please visit Purple Rose at www.purplerosebooks.com and view our other titles and new releases.

1893. The author relates in English various Japanese tales, providing with it commentary on Japanese society and culture. Contents: 47 Ronins; Loves of Gompachi and Komurasaki; Kazuma's revenge; Story of the Otokodate of Yedo; Wonderful adventures of Funakoshi Jiuyemon; Eta maiden and the Hatamoto; Fairy tales; Ghost of Sakura; How Tajima Shume was tormented by a devil of his own creation; Concerning certain superstitions; Japanese sermons; Appendices.

THIS 42 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

Compiled by one of the first foreign diplomats in Japan, this famous collection of classic tales covers an engrossing array of subjects: ghost stories, fairy tales, folklore, a fascinating eyewitness account of a hara-kiri ceremony, and gripping narratives of vampires and samurai. A treasury of information on Japanese locales, customs, and characters, this volume delights as it entertains, chronicling acts of heroism, devotion, ruthlessness, and chivalry that illuminate the island nation's culture.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1893 Edition.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1893 Edition.

"A story of honor and bloody revenge." The legend of the 47 ronin is one of the most popular and best known stories about the samurai in Japan. It is often referred to as the country's "national legend" and is the most revered example of the samurai code of honor, bushido, put to the ultimate test. The story tells of a group of samurai who, in 1701, were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was compelled to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka. The ronin, led by Asano's chief councilor, Oishi Yoshio, avenged their master's honor by killing Kira, after waiting and planning for almost two years. In turn, the ronin were themselves forced to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder. With much embellishment, this true story was popularized in Japanese culture as emblematic of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that people should preserve in their daily lives. The popularity of the almost mythical tale was enhanced by rapid modernization following the fall of the shogun during the Meiji era of Japanese history. Many versions of the events appeared and the story of the 47 ronin continues to be popular in Japan to this day. This book traces the history of the story through various retellings. It includes the first English version to appear in print, from Isaac Titsingh's "Illustrations of Japan," published in 1822, plus the second from "The Capital of the Tycoon" by Rutherford Alcock. It also includes in full "The Forty-Seven Ronins" from "Tales of Old Japan" by A. B. Mitford (plus his account of seppuku/hara-kiri), "The Loyal Ronins" by Shunsui Tamenaga, translated by Shiuichiro Saito and Edward Greey and "The Forty-Seven Ronin" by James Murdoch from "A History of Japan." This is a comprehensive collection which brings together some of the best known versions of the story and serves as a perfect introduction to the legendary tale of the 47 ronin. For more information please visit Purple Rose at www.purplerosebooks.com and view our other titles and new releases.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Meanwhile, Oishi had separated from his wife and two younger children, and had taken up his residence in Kyoto. He and his confederates broke up their households and sold their effects, a proceeding which made no small stir in Kyoto and Fushimi at the time. Intelligence of the incident was conveyed to Kira, and he thereupon redoubled his precautions. It was presently rumoured that some of the Ako-ronin had been seized at the various barriers, and some of those in Kyoto urged Oishi to postpone the journey to Yedo till next spring.

THIS 16 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 30 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 34 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 40 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 42 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 46 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 52 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 56 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

THIS 60 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Tales of Old Japan, by A. B. Mitford. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132625.

1893. The author relates in English various Japanese tales, providing with it commentary on Japanese society and culture. Contents: 47 Ronins; Loves of Gompachi and Komurasaki; Kazuma's revenge; Story of the Otokodate of Yedo; Wonderful adventures of Funakoshi Jiuyemon; Eta maiden and the Hatamoto; Fairy tales; Ghost of Sakura; How Tajima Shume was tormented by a devil of his own creation; Concerning certain superstitions; Japanese sermons; Appendices.

Meanwhile, Oishi had separated from his wife and two younger children, and had taken up his residence in Kyoto. He and his confederates broke up their households and sold their effects, a proceeding which made no small stir in Kyoto and Fushimi at the time. Intelligence of the incident was conveyed to Kira, and he thereupon redoubled his precautions. It was presently rumoured that some of the Ako-ronin had been seized at the various barriers, and some of those in Kyoto urged Oishi to postpone the journey to Yedo till next spring.