Asian American Folktales

Drawing upon the traditions of their native lands, Asian Americans have developed an extensive cultural tradition. At the heart of that tradition are some of the world's most colorful folktales. These reflect the traditional beliefs of the East, as they have been passed down among generations of Asian Americans. But they also reflect the struggles, successes, and experiences of Asian immigrants in the New World. Written expressly for students and general readers, this book is a fascinating introduction to Asian American folktales.This book gathers together a selection of more than 30 Asian American folktales and groups them in thematic sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural. These tales reflect the traditional beliefs of the East as well as the new experiences of Asians in America. Each tale is accompanied by a headnote, and the book closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students studying literature and language will learn much about these tales, while students in social studies and history courses will gain greater insight into the experiences and traditional beliefs of Asian Americans. The volume includes a healthy sampling of tales grouped in topical sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural.

"Green (anthropology, Texas A&M U.) has produced other collections of folktales for Greenwood, and here offers educators, students, and general readers examples of a range of traditional Asian American narrative types. The entire breadth of Asian American tradition too extensive to fit in an single volume, he selects traditions from India, the Philippines, China, Japan, and Korea as established and settled populations whose folktales have been translated into English. Among the titles are the princess Kwan-yin, the ogre of Rashomon, the quarrel of the monkey and the crab, and an encounter with a hobgoblin.' " - Reference & Research Book News

THOMAS A. GREEN is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Texas A&M University. His many books include The Greenwood Library of American Folktales (2006), and The Greenwood Library of World Folktales (2008).