THE LINGUISTIC AND SYMBOLIC DIMENSIONS OF JAPANESE FOLKLORE: REFLECTIONS OF A COLLECTIVE
Keywords:
Japanese folktales are not mere children’s stories; they are linguistic and symbolic vessels that transmit centuries of collective wisdom. The Folklore, Folktales, and Fairy Tales from Japan collection provides a window into the ways Japanese people interpret moral, natural, and social realities. In these tales, language is used not only for narration but also for encoding subtle cultural meanings, while symbols serve as a mirror of Japan’s animistic worldview, where every being possesses a spirit (kami).Abstract
Abstract
Japanese folklore, as preserved in Folklore, Folktales, and Fairy Tales from Japan: A Digital Library compiled by D. L. Ashliman, offers profound insight into the cultural consciousness of Japan. Through the linguistic patterns and symbolic imagery embedded within tales such as Momotarō, The Grateful Crane, and The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, one can discern a worldview rooted in harmony with nature, reciprocity, humility, and moral restraint. This paper analyzes how language and symbolism in these folktales encapsulate Japanese values, collective ethics, and philosophical concepts such as wa (harmony) and giri (social obligation).
References
1. Ashliman, D. L. (n.d.). Folklore, folktales, and fairy tales from Japan: A digital library. University of Pittsburgh. https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/japantales.html
