Editing Japanese folktales (section)

==Theorized influences==
{{Fringe theories|section|date=May 2012}}
The folklore of Japan has been influenced by foreign literature as well as the kind of [[spirit worship]] prevalent all throughout prehistoric Asia.

The monkey stories of Japanese folklore have been influenced both by the [[Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] [[Ramayana]] and the [[Chinese literature|Chinese]] classic ''[[Journey to the West]]''.<ref>On the Road to Baghdad Or Traveling Biculturalism: Theorizing a Bicultural Approach to... By Gonul Pultar, ed., Gönül Pultar. Published 2005. New Academia Publishing, LLC. {{ISBN|0-9767042-1-8}}. Page 193</ref> The stories mentioned in the Buddhist [[Jataka]] tales appear in a modified form throughout the Japanese collection of popular stories.<ref>The Hindu World By Sushil Mittal. Published 2004. Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-21527-7}}. pp93</ref><ref>Discovering the Arts of Japan: A Historical Overview By Tsuneko S. Sadao, Stephanie Wada. Published 2003. Kodansha International. {{ISBN|4-7700-2939-X}}. pp41</ref>

Some stories of [[History of India|ancient India]] were influential in shaping Japanese stories by providing them with materials. [[India]]n materials were greatly modified and adapted in such a way as would appeal to the sensibilities of common people of Japan in general, transmitted through China and Korea.<ref>Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Buddhist Tradition: The [[Nihon Ryōiki]] of the Monk Kyōkai By Kyōkai. Published 1997. Routledge. {{ISBN|0-7007-0449-3}}</ref><ref>The Sanskrit Epics By John L Brockington. Published 1998. Brill Academic Publishers. {{ISBN|90-04-02642-8}}. pp514</ref>