Japanese Fables: The Influences

Think back to when you were a child, and when your parents read you stories. Do you recall any of these stories being about animals? Chances are good that you heard fables as a child. For those who don’t know what a fable is, a fable is a story that uses animals in the place of humans. In relating fables to the Japanese culture, I discovered that animals play an important role in Japanese culture. And as in most cultures, stories play a big role also. So by using common sense, any person could assume, and be accurate, that there are many fables in Japanese culture. So, Animals are used in Japanese Tales because they have a strong tie to the Japanese culture and its many influences.

If I were to ask someone of a popular fable from American culture, many could assume which stories would be named, but some common ones would probably be the Tortuous and the Hare (Aesop 59), the Three Little Pigs, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We all know these stories because they tie to the American culture and the lessons we were taught as children. For example, a lesson we all know that was taught to us by fable is “Slow and steady wins the race.” (Aesop 59).

Some may ask why animals are so appealing. When relating this to stories that were told us as children, it is apparent that children like animals, so it makes for a more approachable theme and idea for children to grasp onto and enjoy. Also, since the purpose of stories is t teach lessons, it is good to make lessons that a younger audience would be able to comprehend.

If fables are good tales for children, does this mean an older audience cannot enjoy fables as much? This appeal of animals applies to all generations. Whereas younger generations are more interested in the ideas of the ...

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...ith them. So by making animals even more human life in fables, this brings people even closer to nature, and that is what many people would like to strive for.

So because of the importance of nature and animals in Japanese culture, it is apparent that using animals to tell stories is not only interesting, but it makes it obvious that this way of storytelling is very much so influenced by the culture as well. Animals are used in stories because they are interesting, and it makes people want to read them and not feel bad. It also ties strongly into Japanese culture with a good emphasis on the zodiac and focus on animals within the culture. And Aesop helped to take stories like the Japanese ones and bring them together and make them accessible for everyone. When you add all these aspects together, it makes for a good read, and a lesson learned in the remaining time.