The Project Gutenberg eBook, Tales of Old Japan, by Algernon Bertram
Freeman-Mitford

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Title: Tales of Old Japan

Author: Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford

Release Date: July 24, 2004 [eBook #13015]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF OLD JAPAN***

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Note: The author, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (1837-1916), Lord
Redesdale, was in the British Foreign Service as a young man.
He was assigned to the legation in Japan for several years and
acquired a life-long fascination with Japanese culture. This
book has been a standard source of information about Japanese
folklore and customs since its original publication in 1871 and
has been in print ever since.

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TALES OF OLD JAPAN

by

LORD REDESDALE, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.
Formerly Second Secretary to the British Legation in Japan

With Illustrations Drawn and Cut on Wood by Japanese Artists

1910

[Illustration: THE RONINS INVITE KOTSUKE NO SUKE TO PERFORM
HARA-KIRI.]

PREFACE

In the Introduction to the story of the Forty-seven Ronins, I have
said almost as much as is needful by way of preface to my stories.

Those of my readers who are most capable of pointing out the many
shortcomings and faults of my work, will also be the most indulgent
towards me; for any one who has been in Japan, and studied Japanese,
knows the great difficulties by which the learner is beset.

For the illustrations, at least, I feel that I need make no apology.
Drawn, in the first instance, by one Odake, an artist in my employ,
they were cut on wood by a famous wood-engraver at Yedo, and are
therefore genuine specimens of Japanese art. Messrs. Dalziel, on
examining the wood blocks, pointe