Synopses & Reviews
Ichiro Hori's is the first book in Western literature to portray how Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist elements, as well as all manner of archaic magical beliefs and practices, are fused on the folk level.
Folk religion, transmitted by the common people from generation to generation, has greatly conditioned the political, economic, and cultural development of Japan and continues to satisfy the emotional and religious needs of the people. Hori examines the organic relationship between the Japanese social structureand#8212;the family kinship system, village and community organizationsand#8212;and folk religion. A glossary with Japanese characters is included in the index.
Synopsis
Ichiro Hori's is the first book in Western literature to portray how Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist elements, as well as all manner of archaic magical beliefs and practices, are fused on the folk level. Hori examines the organic relationship between the Japanese social structure - the family and kinship system, village and community organization - and folk religion. A glossary with Japanese characters is included in the index.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-263) and index.
Table of Contents
I: Main Features of Folk Religion in Japan
II: Japanese Social Structure and Folk Religion
III: Nembutsu as Folk Religion
IV: Mountains and Their Importance for the Idea of the Other World
V: Japanese Shamanism
VI: The New Religions and the Survival of Shamanic Tendencies
Selected Bibliography
Index