Ancient tales and folklore of Japan / by Richard Gordon Smith.

  • Gordon Smith, Richard, 1858-1918.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Ancient tales and folklore of Japan / by Richard Gordon Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The monk was surprised to see the monkeys appear at both his sermons next day ; and when on the third day they came again he could not help asking why they came so regularly. ‘ We have come, holy father, because we like to hear the words and sermons of Buddha as read by yourself, and greatly do we desire to retain all the wisdom and virtues which we have heard you recite. Is it possible for you to copy out the great and holy Buddhist book ? ’ ‘ It would be a very laborious affair,’ answered the priest, highly astonished ; ‘ but, so rare an interest is it that you animals take in the sermons of our Great Lord Buddha, 1 will make an effort to satisfy your wish, hoping that thereby you may be benefited.’ The monkeys bowed and left the priest, pleased with themselves and the promise they had obtained, while the priest set to at his gigantic labours of copying the Buddhist Bible. Some six or seven days later about five hundred monkeys came to the temple, each bearing parchment paper, which they laid before the priest, their foreman saying how deeply grateful they would be when they had got the copy of the Bible, so that they might know the laws and mend their ways ; and, bowing again before the priest, they retired, all except the first two monkeys. These two set diligently to work to find food for the priest while he wrote. Day after day they went into the mountains, returning with wild fruits and potatoes, honey and mushrooms ; and the priest wrote steadily on, being thus attended, until he had copied five volumes of the sacred book. When he had reached the end of the fifth volume