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A Scroll of Gleanings
from
Ancient Stories
Together with a Preface
by
Imbe-no-Sukune-Hironari, Junior
Sub-Fifth Court Rank
Tradition says that writing was unknown in old Japan, so that all people, whether high or low, youthful or aged, handed down from hoary antiquity their sacred traditions verbally among themselves, memorizing them from one generation to another. When, however, the art of writing was introduced, the Japanese began to discard the old simple way of transmitting orally their family traditions under the prevailing influence of the new tendency to ostentation and frivolity which caused the people to revolt against the ancient simplicity and despise those who remain faithful to the old manner of oral transmission. Hence, change after change occurred in the traditional accounts handed down during the long centuries, and consequently, no one nowadays is competent enough to decide the true origin and the exact nature of those cherished venerable traditions. Even although there certainly exist some official histories and private
