East Asian
Traditional Literature
A country’s traditional literature is composed of the short trickster
tales, folktales, myths, and fables passed down from generation to generation,
usually in the custom of oral storytelling. Therefore, some date back to countries’
ancient origins. Due to the informal oral beginnings and sustenance of these
works, many are scattered online, as digital resources, or still stay locked inside the country itself, having not yet found the
international audience or attention to make their way into the publishing
sphere. However, some have been gathered, anthologized, and officially
published for easy, worldwide access and enjoyment.
Below are several examples of the published anthologies of East Asian traditional literature. However, if you navigate the subcategories of the header, "Traditional Literature," on the tabs above, you will find annotated lists of both informal and formal resources for discovery of East Asian traditional literature. They are organized by three motifs: trickster tales, Cinderella, and miraculous births.
Feel free to click on the book pictures to link to Amazon’s website for purchasing or more information on the title.
Below are several examples of the published anthologies of East Asian traditional literature. However, if you navigate the subcategories of the header, "Traditional Literature," on the tabs above, you will find annotated lists of both informal and formal resources for discovery of East Asian traditional literature. They are organized by three motifs: trickster tales, Cinderella, and miraculous births.
Feel free to click on the book pictures to link to Amazon’s website for purchasing or more information on the title.
Published & Anthologized
East Asian Traditional Tales
Asian Tales and Tellers
Spagnoli, Cathy (2005). Asian Tales and Tellers. August House Publishers, Inc.
To write Asian Tales and Tellers, Cathy Spagnoli traveled throughout Eastern Asia to retrieve traditional, orally spread and famous fables, myths, and folktales from firsthand experiences with native sources, like Korean monks, Japanese epic singers, and Tibetan dancers. As a compilation of more than thirty stories, the anthology represents many overlooked Asian countries, like Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia. Intending to pin down the intangible oral gems of Asia, Spagnoli brings to life a vivid text that showcases Asian intellect and humor. Textbook anthology. |
Folktales from Japanese Countryside
Fujita, Hiroko (2008). Folktales from the Japanese Countryside. Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
As an impressive anthology of myriad folktales and fables passed on from generation to generation in Japan, Folktales from the Japanese Countryside compiles many Japanese tales that originated in the culture’s oral tradition of storytelling. Thematically sectioned into seven parts, the rich anthology includes stories of animals, village people, priests, strange happenings, Yamanbas, supernatural creatures, and food, games and crafts. All included stories are presented as palatable short stories, lending themselves well to classroom instructional use as supplemental texts. Textbook anthology (Ages 15+). |
Lao Folktales
Tossa, Wajuppa & Nettawong, Kongdeuane (2008). Lao Folktales. Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. Bringing together over fifty traditional tales from Lao, Lao Folktales ranges from animal fables to creation myths to ghost stories. Gathering the stories with the assistance of the director of the Lao National Library, supervisors of the Lao folklore course online project for the Center of Southeast Asian Studies, and Art Crisfield for his connections to Lao storytellers to make in-person interviews possible, Tossa and Nettawong went to great lengths to produce this comprehensive anthology. With many ambiguously alluring titles – like “Nine Bamboo Clumps” and “Why Pythons are not Poisonous” – the text pulls readers in, holding their attention with its short, simple retellings that makes navigation of the anthology anything but arduous. Of utmost quality, Lao Folktales also includes traditional Lao crafts and children’s games as further extension of one’s exploration of Lao culture. Textbook anthology. |
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