Library

This book is a collection of novels by the Japanese writer Kyoka Izumi. It includes five representative works: "The Holy Monk of Kono", "The Sleepy Watcher", "Surgery Room", "The Legend of Pipa" and "The Love of Yushima". It was translated by the famous translator Wen Jieruo. Izumi Kyoka's writing style is pure and brilliant, the content is profound and realistic, and the cruel reality is revealed in the dreamlike description. For example, "Surgery" uses unexpected dramatic plots to show the struggle of lovers in love against feudal arranged marriages. "Yushima Love" uses the description of the short life of the geisha Tokichi to reflect the miserable life of the people at the bottom, especially women, under the rule of feudal nobles. The novel's writing is compact and the plot is bizarre. While reading, one can speculate about the origin of ghosts, estimate the elasticity of human nature, and rejoice in one's own mediocrity, accompanied by Izumi Kyoka's clear Japanese voice.

A young monk who traveled far and wide met a family in a lonely wilderness. Because it was getting dark, he went to stay overnight. The beautiful hostess entertained the monk warmly and served him while he bathed. By the stream, the woman took off her clothes and washed the monk's body. The monk was confused and suppressed his desires. Late at night, the monk could not sleep. The howls of wild beasts and the moans of the woman next door came from outside the window from time to time. He tossed and turned, and he could only stay up until dawn by chanting sutras. The next day, he hurriedly said goodbye to his hostess and hurried down the mountain. When he reached the foot of the mountain, the plump body and charming voice of the hostess came to mind again. When he was hesitating, the hostess's male servant happened to pass by and told him that the woman was actually a banshee, and any man seduced by her would turn into a beast and be trapped in the mountain...