Setsuwa Literature: Unveiling Japan’s Ancient Tales
When travelers dream of Japan, they often visualize the neon lights of Tokyo or the serene rock gardens of Kyoto. However, the true soul of the country is hidden in its stories. While the aristocracy of the Heian period was busy composing complex poetry and novels like The Tale of Genji, a grittier, more mystical form of storytelling was bubbling up from the monasteries and the streets: Setsuwa (説話).
For the cultural explorer, understanding Setsuwa opens a window into the fears, hopes, and humor of ancient Japanese people. These anecdotes, ranging from miraculous Buddhist parables to terrifying ghost stories, form the bedrock of Japanese folklore that continues to influence pop culture today.
Origins: From Oral Tradition to Written Word
The term Setsuwa literally translates to “spoken story.” Unlike the polished, high-court fiction of Monogatari (tales), Setsuwa literature emerged as a collection of short anecdotes. These stories were originally passed down orally before being compiled by monks and scholars, primarily between the late Nara period (8th century) and the Kamakura period (14th century).
The primary driver behind the earliest Setsuwa collections was Buddhism. Monks needed relatable stories to explain complex doctrines like Karma (cause and effect) to the common people. Consequently, many early tales focus on miracles, rebirth, and the consequences of sin.
The oldest known collection is the Nihon Ryoiki (Record of Miraculous Events in Japan), compiled around 822 CE. It is a fascinating mix of the supernatural and the mundane, where ordinary peasants interact with spirits, bodhisattvas, and demons. As time went on, collections like the massive Konjaku Monogatarishu (Tales of Times Now Past) expanded the genre to include secular stories, rumors from the capital, and tales of warriors.
A Legend Retold: The Old Man and the Demons
To understand the flavor of Setsuwa, one must look at the archetypes found in collections like the Uji Shui Monogatari. One of the most famous stories, which has morphed into a popular children’s tale today, is the story of “The Old Man with the Lump” (Kobutori Jiisan).
In the original Setsuwa context, the story tells of an old man with a large, unsightly wen (lump) on his cheek. One night, caught in a storm, he takes shelter in a hollow tree. To his horror, a group of Oni (demons or ogres) gather nearby to hold a drinking party. Overcoming his fear, the old man is so moved by their music that he steps out and dances for them.
The demons are delighted by his performance. They take the lump from his cheek as a “pledge” to ensure he returns the next night to dance again. A jealous neighbor with his own lump tries to replicate the feat the following night. However, he dances poorly out of fear. The demons, unimpressed, throw the first old man’s lump at him, leaving him with two lumps.
While simple, this story encapsulates the Setsuwa spirit: an encounter with the supernatural (yokai or oni), a lesson on character, and a touch of the bizarre.
Echoes in Modern Culture
If you have ever watched Studio Ghibli films or read modern manga, you have consumed Setsuwa. The genre is the ancestor of Japan’s obsession with the supernatural.
The most famous literary adaptation of Setsuwa is by the modern master Akutagawa Ryunosuke. His celebrated stories Rashomon and The Nose were direct retellings of anecdotes found in the Konjaku Monogatarishu. These stories stripped away the ancient religious context and injected modern psychological realism, yet the core plot remained distinctively Setsuwa.
In pop culture, the Yokai (spirits) seen in anime like Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) or Spirited Away are direct descendants of the creatures cataloged in these ancient collections. The “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons” is a visual trope that originated in the era of Setsuwa literature.
Traveler’s Tips: Walking Through the Stories
For the literary traveler, Japan offers several locations where you can step physically into the world of Setsuwa.
1. The Rashomon Gate Site (Kyoto)
Though the massive gate no longer stands, a stone marker in Kyoto designates the spot where the famous Rashomon story (and the Konjaku tale it was based on) took place. It is a quiet spot, but for the imagination, it is the entrance to the dark side of the ancient capital.
2. Uji City (Kyoto Prefecture)
Home to the Uji Shui Monogatari (Tales from Uji), this city is famous for Byodoin Temple and its green tea. Walking the misty bridge over the Uji River evokes the atmosphere of the ancient tales collected here.
3. Yakushiji Temple (Nara)
Associated with the monk Kyokai, the compiler of the Nihon Ryoiki, this temple allows visitors to see the Buddhist aesthetic that shaped the moral backbone of the earliest Japanese anecdotes.
Sources & Further Reading
To dive deeper into the world of Japanese anecdotes, look for translations of these classical texts:
- Nihon Ryoiki: The oldest collection of Japanese Buddhist legends.
- Konjaku Monogatarishu: A massive anthology covering tales from India, China, and Japan.
- Uji Shui Monogatari: A collection of humorous and secular tales from the Kamakura period.
- Kojiki & Nihon Shoki: While these are historical chronicles and myths, they provide the foundation for many gods and spirits mentioned in later Setsuwa.