Tales of Old Japan by A.B. Mitford, 1871

Tales of Old Japan is a book of myths, superstitions, religious life, and ceremonies that were collected during Algernon Bertnam Freeman-Mitford’s time as the second secretary to the British legation in Japan during the 1860s. The book was published in London by Macmillian upon his return in 1871.

Between the mid 15th century and mid 19th century Japan was closed off from outsiders by the Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu. Only select Chinese and Dutch traders were allowed into the ports around Nagasaki in Western Japan. It was not until 1853 with the arrival of Commodore Matther Perry’s fleet that the United States forced Japan back open. Following this a number of European countries came into Japan looking to make their own trade deals, leading to Mitford’s position within the British legation.

At the time of its publication, Japan’s culture and society would have been widely unknown by the general public. This book would have been an introduction to social life, ceremony, and belief in Japan to British readers. Each myth captured by Mitford teaches a lesson that reflects on the culture and values of Japan. This includes: Confucian philosophy in “How Tajima Shumé was Tormented by a Devil of His Own Making” and “Japanese Sermons”; loyalty and hierarchy in “The Vampire Cat of Nabéshima” and “The Story of the Faithful Cat”; and origin stories for important festivals and shrines in “The Grateful Fox.”

Aside from being a good piece for research into Japan during the 19th century, this book has visual aspects to add. It would have stood out on the shelf of a bookseller or owner with its gold embossed spine and cover with images of Japanese characters from the stories within. Select stories were also given an image done in the traditional woodblock print. Mitford commissioned two Japanese craftsmen for this, an artist named Ôdaké and an unnamed wood engraver from Yedo who is said to have been famous. With images of a vampire cat the size of a lion and a festival decorated shrine, any curious reader would have picked up this book about an exotic country based on its imagery alone.

References

Gordon, Andrew. A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Mitford, A.B. Tales of Old Japan. London: Macmillan, 1871.
Mitford, A.B. Tales of Old Japan. The Project Gutenberg eBook, 2004.
“The United States and the Opening of Japan, 1853.” Office of the Historian. Accessed March 6, 2020. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/opening-to-japan.

Marissa Chavez

For documentation on this project, personnel, technical information, see Documentation. For contact email: drucker AT gseis.ucla.edu.