Konjaku Monogatari

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KONJAKU MONOGATARI

Konjaku monogatari (or Konjaku monogatarishū, Collection of Tales Now Past) is a monumental collection of popular stories (setsuwa), mostly emphasizing Buddhist themes, compiled during the twelfth century. The portion still extant today consists of twenty-nine books containing more than one thousand stories grouped into three geographic categories: tales of India, tales of China, and tales of Japan. The tales of India consist of the biography of Śākyamuni Buddha, as well as stories of his disciples and his previous lives (jĀtaka). The tales of China concern the introduction and propagation of Buddhism, as well as miracles, both Buddhist and non-Buddhist. The tales of Japan are divided into Buddhist themes and secular themes, which tell of famous warriors, ghosts, strange animals, and humorous events. Konjaku monogatari is an indispensable work for understanding the role of Buddhism in Japanese culture. Its stories have served as the basis for countless subsequent retellings in the form of dramas, short stories, novels, and screenplays.

See also:Japanese, Buddhist Influences on Vernacular Literature in

William M. Bodiford

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Konjaku Monogatari

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