The Magic of "Once Upon a Time": Whispers of a Thousand Years Told in the "Tales of Now and Then"

The Magic of "Once Upon a Time" - A Thousand Years of Whispers Told in the "Tales of Now and Then"

"Once upon a time" - stories that begin with these words speak to us like a small voice hidden in the folds of time.

The Konjaku Monogatarishu is a collection of tales believed to have been compiled in the late Heian period. Of the 31 volumes, only 28 remain, containing over 1,000 stories. The setting is three worlds: India (Tenjiku), China (Zhentan), and Japan (Honcho). It weaves together a wide variety of stories, from tales conveying Buddhist teachings to the lives of ordinary people, strange happenings, and humorous episodes.

This collection of stories is not simply a historical document. Rather, it is filled with sharp observations and humor that reveal the power of storytelling, something we have all but forgotten in modern times, and that delve into the true essence of humanity.

Why "Konjaku Monogatarishu" now?

Why is this classic attracting attention again now, after a thousand years?

This is because the human figures depicted there are surprisingly modern. Desire, jealousy, faith, laughter, sadness - the people who appear in the Konjaku Monogatarishu live their lives, worrying, laughing, and sometimes failing just like us.

For example, there is the following story.

• The story of a Tengu disguised as a Buddha and appearing on a tree (Volume 20, Chapter 3)
A monk is training when he tries to worship a Buddha that appears in a tree, only to discover that it is actually a Tengu (long-nosed goblin) in disguise. This story tests one's faith and explores the line between belief and doubt.
The story of Goi who wanted to eat potato porridge until he was full (Volume 26, Chapter 17)
The poor Goi wishes, "I just want to eat my fill of sweet potato porridge just once," and finally his wish comes true, but when he sees it in front of him, he loses his appetite - a very human story.
• A strange tale of a demon playing the famous biwa instrument "Gensho" (Volume 24, Chapter 24)
This is a fantastical story about a famous instrument called "Gensho" that is stolen by a demon and produces beautiful sounds every night. It is a story where music, the supernatural, and human desires intersect.

These stories are not just folk tales, but have had a major influence on modern literature and creative writing. For example, Akutagawa Ryunosuke's "The Nose" and "Imogayu" are works reconstructed from tales from the Konjaku Monogatarishu. Akutagawa keenly extracted the humorous and sad aspects of human nature found in the tales and elevated them to the level of modern literature.

For young readers: Recommendations for "cute" stories

WABISUKE's readership is likely made up of young people who are familiar with traditional culture but also have a modern sensibility. For such readers, we would like to introduce some ways to make "Konjaku Monogatarishu" feel more familiar to them.

• "Are Tengu actually a bit clumsy?"
A manga-style story about a Tengu who tries to disguise himself as a Buddha but fails. By adding humor to the Tengu's expressions and movements, he becomes a relatable character.
• "Is sweet potato porridge really such a coveted food?"
This book explains the food culture of the Heian period with illustrations. It might be interesting to introduce a modern version of the taro porridge recipe.
• "The Story of Friendship Between a Dragon and a Monk"
Volume 20, Chapter 11 tells a fantastical story about a dragon preaching Buddhism to a monk. If this story were reconstructed into a picture book, it would become content that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Tales are filled with elements that are easy to visualize, such as animals, monsters, mechanical dolls, ghosts, etc. By adding illustrations and short poems, you can convey the worldview of the story in a deeper and more intuitive way.

Furthermore, by deliberately not depicting the ending of the story and leaving it to the reader's imagination, it also leads to the poetic expression that is characteristic of WABISUKE.

Humor in silence - Resonating with WABISUKE

The Konjaku Monogatarishu is a collection of stories that are both serene and humorous.
It's like a moment when laughter suddenly erupts in a tea room. A moment of humanity seeps out of the tense atmosphere. Such "space" and "white space" resonate with the aesthetic sense that WABISUKE values.

For example, there is a story about a monk who has hallucinations during his training, or a man who is tricked by a fox and keeps dancing, which are somehow humorous yet also sad.Such stories ask us modern people questions such as "What does it mean to live?" and "What does it mean to believe?"

WABISUKE aims not to be merely a nostalgic hobby, but to "reinterpret tradition as living creation."
The Konjaku Monogatarishu is a rich repository of material for this purpose, and acts as an invisible bridge connecting people from a thousand years ago with us living today.

Conclusion: Passing on the story

The appeal of Konjaku Monogatarishu lies in the rhythm of its narration. The narrative style, "Once upon a time, in a certain place...", stimulates the listener's imagination and draws them into the world of the story.

How can we utilize this power of storytelling in modern media and expression?
A zine, a blog, an illustration, a video, or a podcast.
By incorporating the essence of the Konjaku Monogatarishu into WABISUKE's activities, this thousand-year-old story may be brought back to life in a new form.

Stories live on by being told.
And the narrator doesn't necessarily have to be a monk or a nobleman.
As each of us living in the present becomes both a narrator and a listener, the story gains a new "now."