Japanese Book of Ghosts and Demons. The Tales of Past and Present ‘Konjaku monogatari' [Japońska księga duchów i demonów. Zbiór historii dawnych i obecnych Konjaku monogatari], tr. Renata Iwicka, Kirin 2013.

Konjaku monogatari shū is the most extensive collection of miscellaneous Japanese setsuwa (fables, anecdotes) dating back to the 12th century. This particular volume is the only one scroll consisting entirely of stories about demons, ghosts and various unexplained phenomena. The stories, handed down from older times, were supposed to make the audience laugh, frighten them, make them ponder, but first and foremost – to entertain. Nowadays, the stories tell us why it would be better to not wander alone through desolate places, why camping in unknown buildings is risky, and why political offices are so dangerous. The stories afford us a glimpse into a Japan where it was not unusual to meet a real demon on the street and the beautiful stranger could turn out to be… a fox.

Keywords: demon, fox, ghost, Heian, Japan, spirit

 

Table of Contents

Story 1: One Demon from Demon Villa

Story 2: The Ghost of Sadaijin at Kawara'in

Story 3: A Child's Hand at Momozono

Story 4: The Mysterious Thing at Sōzudono

Story 5: The Water Spirit as an Older Man

Story 6: The Bronze Spirit as a Noble Man

Story 7: The Devouring of Ariwara Narihira's Lover

Story 8: The Matsubara Demon

Story 9: Asamatsurigoto

Story 10: The Happening at Jinjūden

Story 11: Dainagon's Ghost

Story 12: The Mysterious Theft of the Fruits

Story 13: Agi Bridge Demon

Story 14: Seta Bridge Demon (incomplete)

Story 15: A Young Mother in Minamiyama

Story 16: The Adventure of Ōkimi no taifu

Story 17: The Couple from Azuma at Kawara'in

Story 18: A Killer Demon

Story 19: A Vial on the Road

Story 20: A Woman from Afumi

Story 22: The Meeting on the Seta Bridge

Story 23: A Voracious Mother

Story 24: A Demon from Harima

Story 25: The First Wife

Story 26: The Husband's Ghost

Story 27: The Adventure of an Ox

Story 28: A Silver Bowl

Story 29 (1): Poetry at Kyōgokudono

Story 29 (2): Two Nursemaids

Story 30: Blood on the Rice Grain

Story 31: Saisho Miyoshi no Kiyotsura and His House

Story 32: A Woman in the House of Yorikiyo

Story 33: The Light in Ōtenmon Gate

Story 34: The Adventure in the Forest

Story 35: The Mysterious Light over the Casket

Story 36: The Wild Boar in Inamino, Harima Prefecture

Story 37: The Pitiful Adventure of One Fox

Story 38: The Fox and Yasutaka

Story 39: Two Wives

Story 40: The Gratitude of the Fox

Story 41: A Girl at the Kōya River

Story 42: Madowashigami in the Capital

Story 43: A Woman with Child at the River

Story 44: The Adventures of Three Men on Suzuka Hill

Story 45: The Fatal Power of a Mountain Deity's Song