Eight Dogs, or "Hakkenden": Part One-An Ill-Considered Jest

One of the monuments of Japanese literature is Kyokutei Bakin's Nansō Satomi hakkenden, a multigenerational samurai saga that was popular and influential in the nineteenth century. It tells the story of the Satomi clan patriarch Yoshizane and his daughter Princess Fuse, who are betrothed to the family dog, creating the Eight Dog Warriors. Princess Fuse's heroic and tragic sacrifice and her strength, intelligence, and self-determination make her an immortal character in Japanese fiction. Eight Dogs is a culmination of centuries of premodern Japanese tale-telling, combining historical romance, fantasy, Tokugawa-era popular fiction, and Chinese vernacular stories. Glynne Walley's translation conveys the witty and colorful prose of the original, producing a faithful and entertaining edition of this important literary classic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2021
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Kyokutei Bakin's Nansō Satomi hakkenden is a monumental work of Japanese literature that has left an indelible mark on the world of literature. This multigenerational samurai saga, one of the most beloved and influential books of the nineteenth century, has been adapted into numerous forms of media, including film, television, fiction, and comics.

An Ill-Considered Jest, the first part of Hakkenden, unfolds the tale of the Satomi clan patriarch, Yoshizane, and his daughter, Princess Fuse. A casual remark compels Yoshizane to betroth his daughter to the family dog, resulting in a supernatural union that gives birth to the Eight Dog Warriors. Princess Fuse's courageous and tragic sacrifice, coupled with her remarkable strength, intelligence, and unwavering determination, elevates her to an immortal character in Japanese fiction.

Eight Dogs represents the culmination of centuries of premodern Japanese storytelling, seamlessly blending elements of historical romance, fantasy, Tokugawa-era popular fiction, and Chinese vernacular stories. Glynne Walley's lively translation captures the witty and vibrant prose of the original, delivering a faithful and captivating edition of this significant literary classic.

Weight: 28g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501755170