Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | 信太妻の話 |
|---|---|
| Author | 折口 信夫 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a world where folklore breathes life into the unseen, a haunting tale unfolds of love and sacrifice between realms. At its heart lies Kuzunoha, a mysterious woman bound by secrets—her true nature veiled beneath human guise. Once a fox spirit saved from peril, she becomes wife to a grieving nobleman, Abe no Yasuna, weaving a fragile domestic bliss. Yet shadows linger: her past as a creature of Shinoda Forest threatens to unravel their fragile peace. When their young son glimpses her hidden truth, Kuzunoha faces an agonizing choice—remain in the human world or vanish into myth. \nThis story pulses with the tension between longing and duty, exploring how legends morph through centuries of theater, oral tradition, and regional lore. From puppet plays to whispered village tales, Kuzunoha’s tragedy echoes Japan’s fascination with liminal beings—those who straddle worlds but belong to neither. Rich with poetic farewells and unresolved yearning, it invites readers into a realm where love transcends form, and every whispered folktale holds a fragment of forgotten truth. What binds humanity to the supernatural? And what survives when such bonds fracture? The answers lie tangled in Shinoda’s mist-shrouded woods. |
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