Hearn writes in his introduction, written only months before his death, that the majority of the stories were translated from old Japanese texts (some of which themselves were based on earlier Chinese tales), although one of the stories, "Riki-Baka", he declares to be of his own making, based on a personal experience. His English versions were translated back into Japanese and are considered classics of Japanese literature to this day-eagerly devoured by Japanese school children.Deriving its title from the word for "ghost story" in Japanese Kwaidan is a book by scholar and translator Lafcadio Hearn in which are compiled an array of ghost stories hailing from Japan. He eagerly gathered delicate, transparent, ghostly sketches in his adopted land and translated them with gusto. Hearn is the best-known early Western interpreter of Japanese culture and was particularly interested in tales of the supernatural. Diplomacy - A Samurai warrior avoids the ghostly revenge of a man he intends to kill by outsmarting him before striking he strikes the death blow.The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi - A musician is unwittingly called upon by a Samurai to perform for the dead, with bloody consequences.Yuki-onna - A ghostly woman saves a man during a fierce snowstorm then gives him a deadly warning.The stories in this volume include among others:
A new foreword by Michael Dylan Foster, the leading Western expert on Yokai literature, places the stories in context and explains the lasting importance of Hearn's pioneering look at Japan's bewitching spirit world. This new edition includes over 20 full-color woodblock prints that showcase the rich visual tradition of Japanese Yokai. They are fresh reminders of the dark and mysterious corners of the Japanese psyche, from popular representations in anime, manga and video games to Masaki Kobayashi's Oscar-nominated horror film Kwaidan. This unforgettable collection of 17 eerie tales and 3 original cultural studies by Hearn are based on traditional oral tales passed down for generations. Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan (which means ghost story in Japanese) is the first and most famous collection of Japanese yokai stories ever published. Even as she screamed, her voice became thin, like a crying of wind then she melted into a bright white mist that spired to the roof beams.
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