We find many animals in folk tales and children's literature. Those which live close to people are described in familiar terms, while others are seen as alluring or menacing. Depending on how animals are related to human lives, people's attitude towards them varies.

poster of the exhibition

The International Library of Children'sLiterature (ILCL) hosted an exhibition, Animalsin children's books, in 2001, which attracted a wide range ofgenerations.In response to requests for an encore, the library organized anotherexhibitionon the same theme, this time highlighting the 12 animals of the Chinesezodiac: rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey,cock,dog, and boar.

Expressing one's birth year in terms ofthe Chinesezodiac is a popular custom in Japan and other Asian countries that havebeen influenced by Chinese culture. Even a small child knows his/heranimalsymbol. The exhibition this year, "Animals in children's books II: theChinese zodiac as keyword" features the creatures of the Chinese zodiacdescribed in children's literature around the world. The exhibitionalsosets up two special sections: "the world of animal fables", whichfeaturessome valuable books of Aesop's and other animal fables from the NDLcollection,and "the life with animals", which exhibits books on animals such asextinctspecies and assisting dogs. 

The Tokyo Zoological Park Society, theTokyo NationalUniversity of Fine Arts and Music, and the Toyo Bunko helped us inplanningthis exhibition.

The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog

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Originally appearing as one of theMother Gooserhymes, some funny exchanges between the character and her dog werepublishedunder the title of The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and HerDog.It is said that this book was based on the model of The movingadventuresof Old Dame Trot and her comical cat (on exhibit in the cats' section).

Juni-rui makimono

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Title:	Juni-rui makimono
Illustrator:	Sumiyoshi Jokei
Date:	1661
Volume:	2
NDL call no.:	-186 (Rare Books and Old Materials Room)

"Juni-rui" means 12 animals of Chinese zodiac. For the Juni-rui emaki (picture scroll of 12 animals), a number of manuscripts exist including alternative versions made in the early modern period. The Juni-rui makimono, which is on exhibition, is one of them. This is a picture scroll of two volumes painted by Sumiyoshi Jokei in 1661. The story begins with a scene of a poetry party setting a theme of the harvest moon by the twelve animals who are heralds of Yakushi Juni Shinsho (twelve warrior generals belonging to Yakushi, a Buddhist deity). At the party the tanuki (raccoon dog) is publicly humiliated and seeks vengeance on the twelve animals, calling together other animals. As well as the interesting story, its beautiful pictures are highly admired, such as the description of the animals enjoying the elegant poetry party and the scene of a battle of the animals in gorgeous armor.