Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends

Exotic clever and poignant Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends invites you into a magically distinctive world. Originating from the far corners of the globe—China Korea Japan Thailand the Philippines Vietnam Indonesia and Malaysia—these tales teach us about morality and mysticism in enchanting ways. Organized by universal folkloric themes Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends features animal stories tales of magical skill explanations of how things came to be the way they are delightful depictions of the clever and the foolish ghosts and supernatural beings and legends about heroes and gods. From The Supernatural Crossbow a Vietnamese tale to the Malaysian story of The Man in the Moon each piece in this collection explores a self-contained dreamlike universe that both delights and transports the reader. Shaped by the geographical and cultural influences of a people these stories offer us an introduction to the complex oral traditions of the varied civilizations of one of the worlds most fascinating regions.