This book contains twenty-three stories collected in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos by Steven Jay Epstein over a period of seven years, from 1990 to 1997. It also has notes for eleven of the stories, which are actually commentaries on the tales. The notes are helpful because they show the similarities and differences and the relationship between Lao folktales and other East Asian tales. This also makes it easy for the reader or scholar to identify intra-regional and cultural relationships between the tales. The hand-drawn illustrations by Mr. Anoulom Souvandouane enhance the narratives because they match them very well.
The volume is prefaced with a brief introduction by the author. This introduction is very helpful, especially to students and scholars working on East Asia and other parts of the world. Epstein explains in his introduction how the work developed from an initial request of his Lao language teacher to “spice the lessons with some Lao stories” (vi). After hearing the first Xieng Mieng tale, he got so hooked on the stories that he started collecting Lao tales from his friends and colleagues, resulting in this publication.
Generally, folktales have entertained people for generations. The folktales in this collection provide not only entertainment for the reader, but also inform him or her about the culture, customs, history, and everyday life of the Lao people. The stories are short and humorous making them very interesting to read. Further, they are written in a simple style that makes each story flow easily.
The collection contains a number of Xieng Mieng stories such as “How Xieng Mieng Got His Name” and “Xieng Mieng Follows the King Exactly.” These stories center on Xieng Mieng, a trickster who outwits all his opponents such as kings, artists, novices, merchants, etc. Further, Xieng Mieng represents the common man and his struggle against the bourgeoisie and the monarchy. The stories are to be understood also from the socio-cultural context of the Lao, a people who have a good sense humor, and from an economic and political perspective of people living a Buddhist culture in a Marxist state.
Other tales such as “The Bird that Spoke Five Languages Fluently,” “Speed vs. Cunning,” and “Three Friendly Flies” show the wit of animals, their cleverness or stupidity, togetherness or individuality, and so forth. The stories also show common values of love, courage, friendship, honesty, and compassion. The tales are terrific, filled with familiar tale-types, motifs, and characters that are commonly found in various regions of the world.
The author presents the following thesis on the origin of these animal tales:
“Many of the tales with animal themes have their roots in the Panchatantra and Jataka tales. The Panchatantra tales originated in India about twenty-three hundred years ago… The Panchatantra tales are the basis for Aesop’s fables. The Jataka tales are a collection of stories of the past lives of the Buddha. In the Buddha’s previous incarnations, he took many forms, some animal and some human. There is a significant overlap between the the Panchatantra and Jataka tales” (vi–vii).
The book is a significant contribution to the study of Southeast Asian folklore and folktales in general. It will benefit not only Asian folklorists but also folklorists of other parts of the world. The collection can be used for comparative purposes with stories from other regions such as Africa and Europe, thus allowing for internationally oriented, comparative study. Lao Folktales is a text I would recommend for use in classes on Asian oral traditions and broader offerings in folklore and mythology. It can also be read for personal enjoyment and is recommended for people who have an interest in Lao folklore. This collection will undoubtedly delight both young and old readers.
Despite the favorable comments above, there are some flaws in the presentation of the material. As already mentioned, the notes are very helpful, but the question is why the author gives notes for only eleven tales when the book has twenty-three tales. Is this an oversight or was it intentional? Furthermore, I think placing the notes at the back of the book may prove cumbersome for a scholar looking for folkloric information or for someone interested in comparative studies of themes and the relationship between Lao folktales and tales from other parts of the world.
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[Review length: 714 words • Review posted on November 7, 2006]