Eastern Stories and Legends

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shedlock, Marie L., 1854-1935

Contributor:

Davids, T. W. Rhys (Thomas William Rhys), 1843-1922.

Moore, Anne Carroll, 1871-1961

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Eastern Stories and Legends" by Marie L. Shedlock, with forewords by T. W. Rhys Davids and an introduction by Annie Carroll Moore, is a collection of moral tales and fables derived from Buddhist literature written in the early 20th century. The work primarily focuses on the Jātakas, ancient stories that illustrate the Buddha's teachings through the lives of animals and humans, highlighting virtues such as kindness, wisdom, and sacrifice. These tales serve not only as entertainment but also as vehicles for teaching ethical principles to children and adults alike. The opening of the collection sets the stage for its rich narrative tradition, emphasizing the enduring appeal and moral significance of these stories across cultures. It begins with a foreword describing the cultural significance of these tales in Buddhist celebrations, where they are recited by monks before engaged audiences. The editor notes the ethical teachings interwoven in these stories and their universal applicability, suggesting they transcend time and geography. The compelling first tale introduces a nervous hare whose fear creates a ruckus among the other animals, leading to a humorous yet insightful parable about the consequences of unfounded fears and the importance of seeking understanding over panic. This tone of moral reflection continues through the tales, inviting readers to ponder deeper ethical lessons while enjoying the narrative journey. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The hare that ran away

The monkey and the crocodile

The spirit that lived in a tree

The hare that was not afraid to die

The parrot that fed his parents

The man who worked to give alms

The king who saw the truth

The bull that demanded fair treatment

The bull that proved his gratitude

The horse that held out to the end

The monkey that saved the herd

The mallard that asked for too much

The merchant who overcame all obstacles

The elephant that was honored in old age

The faithful friend

The hawk and the osprey

Grandmother's golden dish

The elephant that spared life

How the antelope was caught

The Banyan Deer

The pupil who taught his teacher

The man who told a lie

The crow that thought it knew

The Judas tree

The river-fish and the money

The dreamer in the wood

The rice measure

The poisonous trees

The well-trained elephant

The wise physician.

Credits:

E-text prepared by David King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 77.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2018-06-23