In many countries of the world, the so-called “horror literature” has long existed - about ghosts, ghosts and other evil spirits, about all kinds of supernatural phenomena and miracles. But, perhaps, only in Japan did such literature take shape into a special genre and even survive to this day. Japanese kaidan - as this genre is called - has given rise to numerous masterpieces, which are represented in this collection by Sanyutei Encho's story "Peony Lantern", stories by Ogita Ansei, Asai Ryoi, Ihara Saikaku, Ueda Akinari, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Edogawa Rampo and others. A significant part of the stories are published for the first time.