Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

| Original Title | 百喩経 |
|---|---|
| Author | 岡本 かの子 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | This collection weaves timeless wisdom through quirky misadventures of human folly. A plaster artisan discovers passion via reckless seasoning; a bride hoards marital affection like milk, only to find love cannot be stockpiled. Alongside tales of misplaced devotion—a farmer scattering stench to court a princess, merchants sacrificing their guide in a storm—exist wry meditations on modernity: a Parisian pensioner muses on Einstein’s relativity while mocking the Eiffel Tower’s floating summit. Each parable blooms from sparse Buddhist sutras into vivid narratives where characters chase meaning through absurdity—a man diving into the sea for a lost hairpin, newlyweds unraveling over stolen rice. Blending sly humor and poignant ironies, these stories dissect desire, vanity, and the illusions of control, inviting readers to glimpse life’s truths through cracked mirrors of human error. Here, even mundane acts—licking salt, folding laundry—become portals to profound revelation, where every misstep whispers of deeper cosmic rhythms waiting to be deciphered. |