‘What Used to be Called Shinto’ runs the provocative title of a paper by academic Mark Teeuwen (in Japan Emerging, ed. Karl Friday, 2012). In clear and systematic fashion, he questions the notion of Shinto as ‘Japan’s indigenous religion’ … Read the rest
Category: Mythology (Page 9 of 11)
An article in the Daily Yomiuri by naturalist and cultural anthropologist, Kevin Short, talks of the mythological connections of Mt Tsukuba, not far from Tokyo.
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Mt. Tsukuba’s twin peaks represent Japan’s mythical married couple
Kevin Short / Daily Yomiuri … Read the rest
The Daily Yomiuri has an article about a Tokyo National Museum exhibition currently being held on Izumo Taisha. (See end for details.)
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Izumo Taisha: Tree trunks pillar of heavenly treasures
Yasuo Hayakawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer (Nov. … Read the rest
In an article for The Daily Yomiuri, Naoki Matsumoto of Waseda University raises the question to his fellow countrymen of ‘When did we become Japanese?’ and goes on to answer his question with reference to the myths of the Kojiki… Read the rest
Japan Today carries news of a new political party planned by an Ainu activist…
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Fairer-skinned and more hirsute than most Japanese, the Ainu traditionally observed an animist faith with a belief that God exists in every creation—trees, hills, … Read the rest
Dragons
Anyone who has read Joseph Campbell knows of the commonalities amongst ancient myths. Archangel Michael slaying a seven-headed dragon in the West is echoed in Japan by Susanoo slaying the eight-headed monster. The hero’s journey involves facing your inner … Read the rest
Origins
In the late seventh century Emperor Tenmu ordered Are of the Hieda clan to learn by heart the old traditions which were in danger of being lost or ‘interpreted wrongly’. Clearly the intention was to shape the existing … Read the rest