Legend in Japanese art; a description of historical episodes, legendary characters, folk-lore myths, religious symbolism

About this book

Henri L. Joly’s reference guide identifies the historical episodes, legendary figures, folk beliefs, and religious symbols represented in Japanese art, giving readers a key to the stories behind its images. Rather than a continuous history, its numbered entries are meant for consultation. In one Chinese tale, a sage dreams of ruling an underground kingdom, and his friends find an ant colony laid out like the palace he described. The account of Kiyotaka links court politics to a haunting, as Iga-no-Tsubone carries a lantern of fireflies while persuading his ghost to leave the palace gardens in peace.