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Overview

Japanese Folktale Types

Japanese Folktale Types is a classification system in Japanese folklore studies that categorizes oral folktales based on narrative structure, themes, and motifs. Studied by folklorists such as Kunio Yanagita and Shinobu Orikuchi, this system has established 25 major types including Marriage to Non-Human Being, Noble Exile Narrative, and Wealth Acquisition Tale. These types correspond to the Aarne-Thompson Tale Type Index and serve as an important framework for understanding universal narrative structures and cultural characteristics.

folklore folktales narratives oral literature tale types Japanese culture
code slug name description examples
01 irui-konin-tan Marriage to Non-Human Being A narrative type depicting marriage between humans and non-human beings such as animals or spirits. ["鶴の恩返し","狐女房","蛇婿入り","雪女","天人女房"]
02 juteki-toso-tan Magical Flight Tale A narrative pattern where protagonists escape pursuers by throwing magical objects that create obstacles. ["三枚のお札","山姥と小僧"]
03 kishu-ryuri-tan Noble Exile Narrative A narrative pattern where a person of noble birth embarks on a wandering journey and experiences trials. ["スサノオの神話","大国主命の根国訪問","日本武尊","源義経","かぐや姫"]
04 nandai-kyukon-tan Impossible Task Suitor Tale A narrative type where suitors are given impossible tasks, and marriage is promised to whoever succeeds. ["竹取物語（かぐや姫）","鉢かづき"]
05 meikai-homon-tan Underworld Journey Tale A narrative type where the living visit the realm of the dead and return. ["イザナギの黄泉国訪問","地獄巡り"]
06 masshi-seiko-tan Youngest Child Success Tale A folktale pattern where the youngest child outwits older siblings to achieve success. ["山幸彦と海幸彦","大国主の神話","三匹の子豚","シンデレラ"]
07 dobutsu-hoon-tan Animal Gratitude Tale A narrative type where rescued animals return favors to their benefactors. ["鶴の恩返し","舌切り雀","浦島太郎","蟹の恩返し"]
08 ijo-tanjo-tan Miraculous Birth Tale A narrative type featuring children born in unusual forms or through extraordinary means. ["桃太郎","一寸法師","瓜子姫","かぐや姫","田螺息子"]
09 jinro-henshin-tan Lycanthropy Tale A narrative type where humans transform into wolves or other animals. ["狼女房","狐憑き","化け狸"]
10 tochi-bunkatsu-tan Land Division Tale A narrative type depicting conflicts when dividing land or property among siblings. ["兄弟の土地分け","遺産分配の知恵"]
11 kamikakushi-tan Spirited Away Tale A narrative type where people suddenly disappear, attributed to the work of gods or supernatural beings. ["天狗にさらわれた子","狐に化かされた話","隠れ座頭"]
12 satsugai-sosei-tan Death and Resurrection Tale A narrative type featuring themes of resurrection or revival of the killed. ["瓜子姫とあまのじゃく","死体化生譚"]
13 ikyo-homon-tan Otherworld Journey Tale A narrative type where the protagonist visits another world and has various experiences. ["浦島太郎","舌切り雀","花咲か爺","大国主の根国訪問"]
14 yurei-shussan-tan Ghost Childbirth Tale A narrative type where a deceased woman gives birth in her grave and nurtures her child. ["子育て幽霊","飴買い幽霊","産女の幽霊"]
15 mamako-ijime-tan Stepchild Abuse Tale A folktale type depicting children abused by stepmothers or stepfathers. ["米福粟福","灰かぶり","糠福米福"]
16 risshin-shusse-tan Rags-to-Riches Tale A narrative type where poor individuals achieve success through effort or fortune. ["わらしべ長者","一寸法師","桃太郎"]
17 shigai-ogon-tan Corpse Turns to Gold Tale A narrative type where corpses or remains transform into gold or treasure. ["花咲か爺","隣の爺譚"]
18 kannon-reigen-tan Kannon Miracle Tale Buddhist tales depicting the miraculous powers and protection of Kannon Bodhisattva. ["長谷寺霊験記","わらしべ長者","観音利益譚"]
19 tennin-nyobo-tan Celestial Wife Tale A narrative type depicting marriage between humans and celestial maidens who descend from heaven. ["羽衣伝説","七夕伝説","鶴女房"]
20 irui-taiji-tan Monster Slaying Tale A narrative type where heroes defeat monsters or supernatural creatures. ["桃太郎","ヤマタノオロチ退治","猿神退治","大江山の鬼退治"]
21 juteki-shobu-tan Magical Contest Tale A narrative type where monsters are defeated through magical or intellectual contests. ["たのきゅう","化け物との知恵比べ"]
22 hitomi-goku-tan Human Sacrifice Tale A narrative type about rescuing humans offered as sacrifices. ["早太郎伝説","猿神退治","蛇婿入り"]
23 yutai-ridatsu-tan Out-of-Body Experience Tale A narrative type where the soul leaves the body and acts independently. ["六条御息所の生霊","生霊譚","魂抜け話"]
24 ryuja-henshin-tan Dragon-Serpent Transformation Tale A narrative type featuring transformation between humans and dragons or serpents. ["安珍・清姫伝説","蛇婿入り","三輪山神話","龍女伝説"]
25 chifu-tan Wealth Acquisition Tale A narrative type depicting how poor people acquire wealth. ["花咲か爺","舌切り雀","瘤取り爺","わらしべ長者"]

A classification of Japanese folktales based on narrative structure and motifs.