a less whimsical illustration that encapsulates the fun of searching an archive of over 15

The Archive...

Have a wander through the Fireside folktale archive below, and see what you stumble into. Use the filters to narrow the world down, or fling the doors wide and browse by country, region, theme, collector, or whatever takes your fancy, then let the table do the rest. A few clicks can carry you from storm-tossed coasts to mountain villages, from clever tricksters to quiet miracles, and you will often find that the story you meant to read is not the one that chooses you.

Archive under construction...

Structured Filters

Use these drop down lists to choose one or more filters to select groups of tales to investigate in more detail

Other than my own versions of tales (as indicated), the stories in this archive are in the public domain

Stories in this view:

3988

Title	Book	Author / Collector	Country	Subject	Year
Im, The Hunter	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Im, The Hunter: a tale concerned with a hunter’s encounter with supernatural beings in the upper air and invisible realms.	1913
The Ill-Fated Priest	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Ill-Fated Priest: a story about a formidable priest whose violent encounter brings ruin and astonishment.	1913
The Literary Man Of Imsil	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Literary Man Of Imsil: a story of Taoist-style spirit control and occult power exercised by a learned man.	1913
The Old Man Who Became A Fish	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Old Man Who Became A Fish: a metamorphosis tale about an aged father transformed into a fish-like being.	1913
The Home Of The Fairies	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Home Of The Fairies: a glimpse of a blessed otherworld or heaven reserved for the devout.	1913
The Temple To The God Of War	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Temple To The God Of War: a story about supernatural instruction in choosing the proper site for a temple to the war god.	1913
Haunted Houses (1)	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Haunted Houses: a tale of a poor man repeatedly facing the reality of ghost-haunted dwellings.	1913
Hong's Experiences In Hades	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Hong’s Experiences In Hades: a visionary journey through the punishments of the underworld intended to teach moral conduct.	1913
The Perfect Priest	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The Perfect Priest: a saintly portrait of radical compassion, self-sacrifice, and Buddhist gentleness.	1913
A Story Of The Fox	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	A Story Of The Fox: a tale of fox-spirit deception, shapeshifting, and the danger posed by a supernatural impostor.	1913
The Awful Little Goblin	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Awful Little Goblin: a comic-unnerving story of a grotesque goblin boy intruding into a noble household feast.	1913
The King Of Yom-Na (Hell)	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The King Of Yom-Na (Hell): a tale centred on the ruler of hell and judgement in the Buddhist underworld.	1913
An Encounter With A Hobgoblin	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	An Encounter With A Hobgoblin: a prison-told recollection of a young man nearly destroyed by a goblin haunting his household.	1913
Who Decides, God Or The King?	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	Who Decides, God Or The King?: a court anecdote testing whether rank and fortune come from royal will or divine ordinance.	1913
Whom The King Honors	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Whom The King Honors: a story showing that quiet duty and integrity may earn royal honour more than noisy display.	1913
A Visit From The Shades	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	A Visit From The Shades: a story about a son’s encounter with his dead mother’s spirit and the continuing bond between the living and the dead.	1913
The Senses	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The Senses: a short moral reflection on the senses, with the heart or mind presented as the true seat of discernment.	1913
Faithful Mo	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	Faithful Mo: a story of steadfast love and fidelity tested by class barriers and coercion.	1913
The Man Who Became A Pig	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Man Who Became A Pig: a metamorphosis tale about human transformation into an animal form.	1913
Three Things Mastered	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	Three Things Mastered: a brief exemplar of mastery won by relentless practice in music and archery.	1913
Ta-Hong	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Ta-Hong: a tragic-romantic tale of enduring love, fidelity, separation, and reunion beyond death.	1913
The Vision Of The Holy Man	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Vision Of The Holy Man: a prophetic tale in which a holy stranger foresees and helps others survive a tidal catastrophe.	1913
The Plucky Maiden	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Plucky Maiden: a tale centred on female courage, resolve, and loyalty under pressure.	1913
Yun Se-Pyong, The Wizard	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Yun Se-Pyong, The Wizard: a tale of a Taoist magician whose powers place him above lesser sorcerers.	1913
The Fearless Captain	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Fearless Captain: a story of physical courage in the face of a terrifying supernatural fireball.	1913
The Old Man In The Dream	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The Old Man In The Dream: a dream-warning tale in which an animal spirit pleads for its own life.	1913
The Resourceful Wife	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Resourceful Wife: a tale of a clever wife preserving honour and safety amid royal predation.	1913
The Man On The Road	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Man On The Road: a wartime tale of a mysterious protector who shields fugitives through supernatural illusion.	1913
The Boxed-Up Governor	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Boxed-Up Governor: a satirical tale in which a priggish governor is tricked and humiliated by those he scorns.	1913
The Honest Witch	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Honest Witch: a tale that complicates scepticism about shamans by presenting one whose spirit-mediation proves true.	1913
The Brave Magistrate	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Brave Magistrate: a confrontation between a fearless official and a deadly goblin terrorising a district.	1913
A Wonderful Medicine	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	A Wonderful Medicine: a story of a statesman driving off goblins and devils with a specially prepared anti-demon remedy.	1913
The Story Of Chang To-Ryong	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Story Of Chang To-Ryong: a Taoist fairy tale about a figure linked to earthly sacred places and the world of genii.	1913
The Man Who Lost His Legs	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Man Who Lost His Legs: a Korea-meets-Sinbad adventure about shipwreck, monstrous beings, and terrible bodily loss.	1913
The Renowned Maing	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The Renowned Maing: a brief character sketch of the famous minister Maing Sa-song, stressing humility over status.	1913
The Fortunes Of Yoo	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Fortunes Of Yoo: a tale of hidden destiny, humble beginnings, and unexpected advancement in office.	1913
God's Way	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	God’s Way: a moral tale about divine justice and the punishment of filial cruelty.	1913
The Soldier Of Kang-Wha	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Soldier Of Kang-Wha: a Taoist-magic tale about a seemingly ordinary soldier who can conjure forms from the unseen air.	1913
The Geomancer	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Geomancer: a story about the occult power of burial-sites and the belief that land-shape governs human fortune.	1913
The Snake's Revenge	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Snake’s Revenge: a supernatural revenge tale in which a slain snake returns harm for harm.	1913
The Magic Invasion Of Seoul	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Magic Invasion Of Seoul: a dream-vision of magical forces threatening Seoul, checked by divine protection.	1913
The Propitious Magpie	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The Propitious Magpie: a witty tale about omen, ambition, and trying to manufacture good fortune.	1913
The Wild-Cat Woman	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	The Wild-Cat Woman: a shapeshifter tale about an animal spirit taking human form and betraying itself.	1913
Ten Thousand Devils	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Ten Thousand Devils: a tale of spirit-command and occult authority over a vast host of demons.	1913
Strangely Stricken Dead	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	Strangely Stricken Dead: a ghostly revenge story in which a dead general appears to punish dishonour after death.	1913
The 'Old Buddha'	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Yi Ryuk	Korea	The ‘Old Buddha’: a brief anecdote about a great minister whose saintly reputation and nickname command awe.	1913
Cursed By The Snake	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Cursed By The Snake: a warning tale about killing a monstrous snake and suffering the supernatural curse that follows.	1913
Cheung Puk-Chang, The Seer	Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts And Fairies	Im Bang	Korea	Cheung Puk-Chang, The Seer: a portrait of an uncanny prodigy whose gifts include second sight, intuition, and knowledge beyond ordinary learning.	1913
The Priest And The Beggar	Latvian Fairy Tales	Victor von Andrejanoff	Latvia	The Priest And The Beggar: charity, hypocrisy, poverty, humility, justice, satire, religion	1909
The Bear Hunt	Latvian Fairy Tales	Victor von Andrejanoff	Latvia	The Bear Hunt: courage, wilderness, hunting, danger, survival, man versus nature	1909

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