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Author
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Comment
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Jennifer
Unregistered User
(12/13/02 5:14:54 am)
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another question on Japanese folktales
My son borrowed a book from the library called Jojofu. The intro to the book says the tale was taken from the "ancient Ima Mukashi scrolls, today knows as the Ages Ago Stories." We thought we'd do some research on these scrolls, but a Web search turns up absolutely nothing. Are these "scrolls" something real?
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Richard
Parks
Registered User
(12/13/02 6:26:17 am)
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Re: another question on Japanese folktales
I think what this is referring to is the "Konjaku Monogatari" from the Heian period (12th C, approx). This is THE major collection of early Japanese folktales (Momotaro, The Princess From the Moon (Bamboo Princess) and many others are collected here first), though it includes some from China and India. Konjaku is two kanji that translate into "ima" (now) and "mukashi" (the past). Supposedly all the stories began either with the phrase "Ima wa Mukashi" or "Mukashi, Mukashi" which roughly translates as "Then, as Now" or "Long, long ago..."
Edited by: Richard Parks at: 12/13/02 6:46:42 am
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Richard
Parks
Registered User
(12/13/02 7:36:41 am)
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Re: another question on Japanese folktales
Actually, I'm not too sure about the "Ima wa Mukashi"
translation. It might be closer to: "In a time before now."
That might even work better as a story opening.
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