The Tale of the Porcelain-God
This work is a collection of Japanese folk tales, translated from the original texts. It features stories about supernatural beings and spirits that inhabit the natural world. The narrative explores themes of nature, morality, and the human condition through a series of fantastical and often eerie tales.
By Lafcadio Hearn · First published 1891 · Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Literary Fiction · 4,111 words
First lines
_It is written in the _FONG-HO-CHIN-TCH'OUEN_, that whenever the artist Thsang-Kong was in doubt, he would look into the fire of the great oven in which his vases were baking, and question the Guardian-Spirit dwelling in the flame. And the Spirit of the Oven-fires so aided him with his counsels, that the porcelains made by Thsang-Kong were indeed finer and lovelier to look upon than all other porcelains. And they were baked in the years of Khang-hi, -- sacredly called Jin Houang-ti._
What this Textopian page supports
The Tale of the Porcelain-God is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lafcadio Hearn, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Lafcadio Hearn
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 4,111 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Tale of the Porcelain-God by Lafcadio Hearn
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Tale of the Porcelain-God?
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- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves mythical elements, such as a Guardian-Spirit and the transformation of a mortal into a god, which are central to the plot.
- Mythology — The story draws heavily on themes of creation and divine inspiration, resembling mythological tales of gods and artisans.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich and descriptive, focusing on the artistic process and philosophical themes, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and references to historical figures and practices in ancient China provide a historical context to the narrative.
Tags
Japanese Folklore · Folk Tales · Mythology · Spirituality · Cultural Heritage · Asian Literature · Short Stories · Fantasy · Supernatural · Mystery · Philosophy · Psychological Insight