Description
Book Synopsis: A lively excursion into Japanese folklore and its ever-expanding influence on global popular culture through the concept of yokai. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shape-shifting foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers.
Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. Drawing on years of research in Japan, Michael Dylan Foster unpacks the history and cultural context of yokai, tracing their roots, interpreting their meanings, and introducing people who have hunted them through the ages.
In this delightful and accessible narrative, readers will explore the roles played by these mysterious beings within Japanese culture and will also learn of their abundance and variety through detailed entries, some with original illustrations, on more than fifty individual creatures.
The Book of Yokai invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them. By exploring yokai as a concept, we can better understand broader processes of tradition, innovation, storytelling, and individual and communal creativity.
Details
Discover the enchanting world of yokai with The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore and explore the ever-expanding influence of these supernatural beings on global popular culture. From mischievous tengu mountain goblins to shape-shifting foxes and mysterious ceiling-lickers, yokai come in infinite shapes and sizes, captivating the imaginations of people worldwide.
Uncover the fascinating history and cultural context of yokai as renowned author Michael Dylan Foster takes you on a captivating journey through Japanese legends and regional ghost stories. Delve into the origins of these mystical creatures and decipher their hidden meanings. With detailed entries on over fifty yokai, accompanied by original illustrations, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of their abundance and variety.
Whether you are a fan of anime, manga, film, or computer games, understanding yokai is essential. Their presence in popular media proves that they continue to captivate audiences across the globe. As you traverse the pages of The Book of Yokai, you will gain insight into the traditional processes of folklore creation and transmission. You will witness the incredible power of storytelling and the role it plays in individual and communal creativity.
Don't miss out on this delightful and accessible narrative that is not only a window into Japanese culture but also a celebration of human imagination. Explore the unknown, embrace the mysterious, and embark on a journey like no other with The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore.
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