Utsubo monogatari

Japanese literature

Also known as: “Utsuho monogatari”

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Article History

Japanese:: “Tale of the Hollow Tree”

Utsubo also spelled:: Utsuho

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Utsubo monogatari, the first full-length Japanese novel and one of the world’s oldest extant novels. Written probably in the late 10th century by an unknown author, the work was ascribed to Minamoto Shitagō, a distinguished courtier and scholar, but later sources deny his authorship. It is possible that Minamoto was one of several authors who worked on the book. The story is told in 20 sections. The nobleman Kiyowara no Toshikage is shipwrecked while sailing to China and lands on the shores of a fantastic country. In the midst of his adventures there, he learns to play a magical instrument ...(100 of 226 words)

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