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The Tale of the Shining Princess
The Tale of the Shining Princess
Author:
"Late one afternoon as the forest grew dim and an early moon appeared, a bamboo cutter noticed a strange stalk of bamboo. It was glowing down near the root, as if there were a candle inside. He was mystified and leaned down to examine it. Inside the hollow bamboo was a tiny girl, no more than three inches tall!" — ... more » is the story of that tiny girl, Kaguya-hime. Written in the ninth or tenth century in Japan and as familiar there today "as the bamboo growing before us," this story tells of the gentlemen who come from far and wide to court the beautiful princess and of the impossible tasks she demands of them as proof of their devotion to her. Prince Ishizukuri is sent in quest of the begging-bowl of the Buddha; Prince Kuramochi has to fetch a jeweled branch from Paradise; the Minister of the Right Abe no Mimuraji must secure a robe of Chinese fire-rat fur; the Grand Counselor Otomo no Miyuki must bring back a five-colored jewel from a dragon's head; and the Middle Counselor Isonokami no Marotari has no less a task than to obtain the easy-birth charm of the swallows. When the Emperor himself pursues Kaguya-hime, she mystifyingly rebuffs him. The princess' strange fate is finally revealed in this classic story that has the human insights of a fairy tale and the breathtaking quality of myth.
Reproduced from an eighteenth-century Japanese book with exquisite paintings in watercolor, ink, gold, and silver, the illustrations in this edition are printed in five colors plus gold and silver. They capture Kaguya-hime's world of gold-speckled clouds, silver streams, and figures emerging from mounds of beautiful fabrics.
Based on Donald Keene's translation of the story, this edition includes a note by him on the text and a commentary on the illustrations by Andrew Pekarik.
The original album is in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Author:
"Late one afternoon as the forest grew dim and an early moon appeared, a bamboo cutter noticed a strange stalk of bamboo. It was glowing down near the root, as if there were a candle inside. He was mystified and leaned down to examine it. Inside the hollow bamboo was a tiny girl, no more than three inches tall!" — ... more » is the story of that tiny girl, Kaguya-hime. Written in the ninth or tenth century in Japan and as familiar there today "as the bamboo growing before us," this story tells of the gentlemen who come from far and wide to court the beautiful princess and of the impossible tasks she demands of them as proof of their devotion to her. Prince Ishizukuri is sent in quest of the begging-bowl of the Buddha; Prince Kuramochi has to fetch a jeweled branch from Paradise; the Minister of the Right Abe no Mimuraji must secure a robe of Chinese fire-rat fur; the Grand Counselor Otomo no Miyuki must bring back a five-colored jewel from a dragon's head; and the Middle Counselor Isonokami no Marotari has no less a task than to obtain the easy-birth charm of the swallows. When the Emperor himself pursues Kaguya-hime, she mystifyingly rebuffs him. The princess' strange fate is finally revealed in this classic story that has the human insights of a fairy tale and the breathtaking quality of myth.
Reproduced from an eighteenth-century Japanese book with exquisite paintings in watercolor, ink, gold, and silver, the illustrations in this edition are printed in five colors plus gold and silver. They capture Kaguya-hime's world of gold-speckled clouds, silver streams, and figures emerging from mounds of beautiful fabrics.
Based on Donald Keene's translation of the story, this edition includes a note by him on the text and a commentary on the illustrations by Andrew Pekarik.
The original album is in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
ISBN-13: 9780870992339
ISBN-10: 0870992333
Publication Date: 3/1981
Pages: 70
Rating: 1
ISBN-10: 0870992333
Publication Date: 3/1981
Pages: 70
Rating: 1
3 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review
Genres:
