Download or read book Matsuri The Festivals of Japan written by Herbert Plutschow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-11-05 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contribution to Western understanding of the nature and manifestations of Shinto through the vast galaxy of historic festivals (matsuri) that are here categorized and analysed.
Download or read book Matsuri The Festivals of Japan written by Herbert Plutschow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-11-05 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contribution to Western understanding of the nature and manifestations of Shinto through the vast galaxy of historic festivals (matsuri) that are here categorized and analysed.
Download or read book Matsuri Japanese Festival Arts written by Gloria Gonick and published by University of Washington Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The spectacular Japanese community festivals known as matsuri are centuries old. Even today, in a society driven by technological advancement, these annual rites continue to function as a mechanism for purification and renewal and also to ensure all aspects of communal productivity. The pageantry of these events — their extraordinary dress, performance, and Shinto-Buddhist ritual enactment — brings communities together in an act of worship that is, as well, an extravagant artistic celebration. Dominated by the gorgeous textiles worn by troupes of participants, matsuri also boldly incorporate decorated banners, exquisitely "dressed" festival wagons, dramatic masks, and elaborate portable shrines. The historical importance of matsuri within the cycle of annual religious events in Japan is also reflected in the representation of these festivals in several pictorial forms, from lavish screen paintings to elegant woodblock prints. This volume identifies and describes the exuberant textiles and costumes of matsuri and considers their significance within their cultural context. Many of the examples illustrated date from the Meiji period (1868-1912), the last time when handwork was produced by individual artisans for their own use or that of their neighbors. The unique focus on festival arts in this book allows us to identify the special aesthetics that differentiate the textiles worn and used on Japan’s holy days. At matsuri a cascade of beautifully crafted garments in vibrant hues meets the eyes, foregrounded distinctly against the hushed simplicity of the Shinto shrine. It is an incredibly vital spectacle of human artistry at the service of a sacred occasion. Matsuri! documents the use of textiles in more than 25 different festivals scattered over the length and breadth of Japan. The book interweaves these textiles with the other arts that constitute matsuri as well as with their symbolic meanings and the history of textile making in Japan. Gorgeous photographs bring the festivals to life. Gloria Granz Gonick is a student of Japanese textiles and culture. Other contributors include Yo-ichiro Hakomori (adjunct assistant professor of architecture at the University of Southern California), Hiroyuki Nagahara (assistant professor of Japanese at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa), and Herbert Plutschow (professor of East Asian languages and cultures at UCLA and author of Matsuri: The Festivals of Japan among other books).
Download or read book Matsuri written by Michael Ashkenazi and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 1993-03-01 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study of the importance of festivals in Japanese society which also contains a bilingual glossary.
Download or read book Matsuri written by Gorazd Vilhar and published by Shufu No Tomo-Sha. This book was released on 1994 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Star Festival written by Moni Ritchie Hadley and published by Albert Whitman & Company. This book was released on 2021-04-01 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2021 Freeman Book Awards Honorable Mention - Children's Literature The Best Children's Books of the Year 2022, Bank Street College STARRED REVIEW! "Hadley has created a remarkable debut that flows elegantly, interweaving the two tales in a way that is readable and fun...An exquisite choice for all collections."—School Library Journal starred review A multigenerational retelling of a Japanese legend. Tanabata Matsuri, the Star Festival, celebrates a popular folktale: The Emperor of the Heavens separates his daughter, Orihime, from her love, Hikoboshi, all year—but on this day the two stars finally reunite on a bridge across the Milky Way. For Keiko, her mama, and her grandmother, Tanabata is about making tanzaku wishes, taking in the colorful decorations, and eating delicious food like nagashi somen and shaved ice. But when Obasaan gets lost in the crowd, Keiko and Mama must make their own bridge to find her again—and see if their tanzaku comes true.
Download or read book Matsuri and Religion written by and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-08-30 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines matsuri (festivals) from both urban and rural communities in Japan, showing their interconnectedness to religious life. Based on ethnographic research, authors explore historical change, identity, affect, cultural heritage, tourism, and the intersection of religion with politics.
Download or read book The Gion Festival written by Catherine Pawasarat and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-03 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A must-have resource for anyone wishing to unlock the mysteries of Kyoto's 1150-year-old Gion Festival. The Gion Festival: Exploring Its Mysteries is an enriching read that allows for a deep dive into the multi-faceted aspects of Japan's most famous annual festival.
Download or read book Town Talk written by Nas and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2023-07-31 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Tokyo Tales A stranger in the Metropolis of 100 Villages written by Hermann Candahashi and published by Hermann Candahashi. This book was released on 2023-05-21 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A personal word from the Author As I reflect on the pages of "Tokyo Tales: Stories of Life in Japan's Bustling Metropolis," I find myself immersed in a world of wonder, a tapestry of stories that have touched my heart and left an indelible mark on my soul. Through the captivating narratives and vivid descriptions, I have been transported to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, experiencing the city's essence through the eyes of its inhabitants. Tokyo, a city that breathes with a life of its own, is a symphony of sights, sounds, and emotions. It is a place where tradition dances hand in hand with innovation, where the past intertwines with the present, creating a harmonious blend that is uniquely captivating. In these stories, I have witnessed the delicate balance between honoring age-old customs and embracing the relentless tide of progress. Tokyo is a city that embraces its rich cultural heritage while eagerly exploring the frontiers of the future. The people who inhabit this bustling metropolis are the heart and soul of its enchantment. Their dreams, hopes, and struggles reverberate through each tale, creating a tapestry of humanity that is both universal and deeply personal. From the stoic salaryman navigating the demands of corporate life to the artist seeking solace and inspiration in the city's hidden corners, the characters in "Tokyo Tales" have taught me valuable lessons about resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one's passions. In Tokyo, I have discovered a place where contradictions coexist harmoniously. Amidst the labyrinthine streets and towering skyscrapers, there is a serenity that can be found in the simplicity of a traditional tea ceremony or the tranquility of a Japanese garden. It is a city that celebrates the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms in spring and the vibrant colors of autumn leaves, reminding us of the transient nature of life itself. Yet, Tokyo is also a city that pulses with the energy of modernity. Its neon-lit streets, crowded intersections, and technological marvels create a sensory overload that is both exhilarating and awe-inspiring. In these tales, I have marveled at the fusion of ancient traditions with cutting-edge advancements, where futuristic architecture rises alongside centuries-old temples, and where the virtual world seamlessly merges with reality. Beyond the physical landscape, Tokyo is a city of connections. It is a place where strangers become friends, where a shared smile or a moment of kindness transcends language and cultural barriers. In the stories of "Tokyo Tales," I have experienced the warmth and hospitality of Tokyoites, their willingness to embrace diversity and welcome outsiders into their vibrant community. Tokyo has taught me the value of human connection, the power of empathy, and the beauty of forging bonds that transcend borders. As I reach the final pages of this literary journey, I carry with me the memories of Tokyo's tales, the sights, the sounds, and the emotions that have enveloped me throughout this remarkable adventure. The stories have not only provided a glimpse into the lives of Tokyo's inhabitants but have also invited me to reflect on my own journey, my own dreams, and the power of embracing the unknown.
Download or read book Neighborhood Tokyo written by Theodore C. Bestor and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 1989 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the vastness of Tokyo these are tiny social units, and by the standards that most Americans would apply, they are perhaps far too small, geographically and demographically, to be considered "neighborhoods." Still, to residents of Tokyo and particularly to the residents of any given subsection of the city, they are socially significant and geographically distinguishable divisions of the urban landscape. In neighborhoods such as these, overlapping and intertwining associations and institutions provide an elaborate and enduring framework for local social life, within which residents are linked to one another not only through their participation in local organizations, but also through webs of informal social, economic, and political ties. This book is an ethnographic analysis of the social fabric and internal dynamics of one such neighborhood: Miyamoto-cho, a pseudonym for a residential and commercial district in Tokyo where the author carried out fieldwork from June 1979 to May 1981, and during several summers since. It is a study of the social construction and maintenance of a neighborhood in a society where such communities are said to be outmoded, even antithetical to the major trends of modernization and social change that have transformed Japan in the last hundred years. It is a study not of tradition as an aspect of historical continuity, but of traditionalism: the manipulation, invention, and recombination of cultural patterns, symbols, and motifs so as to legitimate contemporary social realities by imbuing them with a patina of venerable historicity. It is a study of often subtle and muted struggles between insiders and outsiders over those most ephemeral of the community's resources, its identity and sense of autonomy, enacted in the seemingly insubstantial idioms of cultural tradition.
Download or read book Prayer and Play in Late Tokugawa Japan written by Nam-lin Hur and published by Harvard Univ Asia Center. This book was released on 2000 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The unique amalgam of prayer and play at the Sensōji temple in Edo is often cited as proof of the "degenerate Buddhism" of the Tokugawa period. This investigation of the economy and cultural politics of Sensōji, however, shows that its culture of prayer and play reflected changes taking place in Tokugawa Japan, particularly in the city of Edo. Play was an integral part of the business of religion at Sensōji, and the temple supplied both in equal measure to often rootless Edoites. Nam-lin Hur's reappraisal of prayer and play and their inherent connectedness provides a cultural critique of conventional scholarship on Tokugawa religion and shows how Edo commoners incorporated cultural politics into their daily lives through the pursuit of prayer and play.
Download or read book The Rousing Drum written by Scott Schnell and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 1999-06-01 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ritual is too often equated with unvarying or repetitive behavior. This impression is encouraged by the ethnographic tendency toward an overly narrow time frame, which highlights current relationships and conditions rather than long-term developments. The Rousing Drum takes a different view. It adopts a historical perspective encompassing several hundred years in exploring the role of ritual as an effective medium for negotiating sociopolitical and economic change. The setting is Furukawa, a town located in Japan's mountainous interior. Every spring the local Shinto shrine festival provides an opportunity for enacting social relationships and attitudes. By day, a portable shrine containing the spirit of the guardian deity is escorted through town in a stately procession. At night, however, a different scenario unfolds. A barrel-shaped drum is borne through the nighttime streets on a massive grid-like platform. Prominent members of the community are obliged to ride upon the platform, while teams of young adults rush out and attack it as it passes through their respective neighborhoods. The action can become quite unruly, and random fights and injuries are accepted as inevitable correlates. In analyzing the festival over time, Schnell reveals a dramatic transformation. The drum ritual, which originated as a minor preliminary to the other events, emerged during the late 1800s as an occasion for airing hostilities and settling scores. As Japan's modernization progressed, the ritual performance came to embody a symbolic challenge to institutionalized authority, and occasionally escalated into politically motivated violence. While the religious ceremonies observed during the day were appropriated by local power holders, the nighttime drum ritual represented a folk response to the officially sanctioned liturgy. The festival as a whole thus represented the clash of competing ideologies within the context of a single public forum. Today's ritual, rather tame by comparison, is being transformed into a tourist attraction aligned with the town's economic development objectives. Schnell's careful examination of the ethnohistorical data offers a valuable new perspective on Japanese festivals as well as the events and conditions that influence their development. His innovative look at ritual behavior over time persuades us that we can grasp the underlying significance of such activities only if we consider them within the context of larger historical patterns.
Download or read book Introduction to Raindrop cake written by Gilad James, PhD and published by Gilad James Mystery School. This book was released on with total page 77 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Raindrop cake is a unique dessert made from water and agar-agar (a type of gelatin). The dessert originated in Japan and is now increasingly popular in various parts of the world. The transparent and jelly-like dessert is often served with toppings such as kinako powder or sweet syrup. The raindrop cake is appealing not only because of its soft, smooth texture but also because of its low-calorie content. It is typically served in a small bowl or dish and is enjoyed for its refreshing taste. The water and agar-agar used to make the dessert are heated and mixed together before being poured into molds to set and cool. The resulting dessert is a delightful and unique addition to any menu.
Download or read book Shinto in History written by John Breen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-10-18 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the only book to date offering a critical overview of Shinto from early times to the modern era, and evaluating Shinto's place in Japanese religious culture. In recent years, a few books on medieval Shinto have appeared, but none has attempted to depict the broader picture, to examine critically Shinto's origins and its subsequent development through the medieval, pre-modern and modern periods. The essays in this book address such key topics as Shinto and Daoism in early Japan, Shinto and the natural environment, Shinto and state ritual in early Japan, Shinto and Buddhism in medieval Japan, and Shinto and the state in the modern period. All of the essays highlight the dynamic nature of Shinto and shrine history by focusing on the three-way relationship, often fraught, between local shrine cults, Shinto agendas and Buddhism.
Download or read book On Understanding Japanese Religion written by Joseph Mitsuo Kitagawa and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 1987-10-21 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Joseph Kitagawa, one of the founders of the field of history of religions and an eminent scholar of the religions of Japan, published his classic book Religion in Japanese History in 1966. Since then, he has written a number of extremely influential essays that illustrate approaches to the study of Japanese religious phenomena. To date, these essays have remained scattered in various scholarly journals. This book makes available nineteen of these articles, important contributions to our understanding of Japan's intricate combination of indigenous Shinto, Confucianism, Taoism, the Yin-Yang School, Buddhism, and folk religion. In sections on prehistory, the historic development of Japanese religion, the Shinto tradition, the Buddhist tradition, and the modem phase of the Japanese religious tradition, the author develops a number of valuable methodological approaches. The volume also includes an appendix on Buddhism in America. Asserting that the study of Japanese religion is more than an umbrella term covering investigations of separate traditions, Professor Kitagawa approaches the subject from an interdisciplinary standpoint. Skillfully combining political, cultural, and social history, he depicts a Japan that seems a microcosm of the religious experience of humankind.
Download or read book Shinto Shrines written by Joseph Cali and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2012-11-30 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Of Japan’s two great religious traditions, Shinto is far less known and understood in the West. Although there are a number of books that explain the religion and its philosophy, this work is the first in English to focus on sites where Shinto has been practiced since the dawn of Japanese history. In an extensive introductory section, authors Joseph Cali and John Dougill delve into the fascinating aspects of Shinto, clarifying its relationship with Buddhism as well as its customs, symbolism, and pilgrimage routes. This is followed by a fully illustrated guide to 57 major Shinto shrines throughout Japan, many of which have been designated World Heritage Sites or National Treasures. In each comprehensive entry, the authors highlight important spiritual and physical features of the individual shrines (architecture, design, and art), associated festivals, and enshrined gods. They note the prayers offered and, for travelers, the best times to visit. With over 125 color photographs and 50 detailed illustrations of archetypical Shinto objects and shrines, this volume will enthrall not only those interested in religion but also armchair travelers and visitors to Japan alike. Whether you are planning to visit the actual sites or take a virtual journey, this guide is the perfect companion. Visit Joseph Cali’s Shinto Shrines of Japan: The Blog Guide: http://shintoshrinesofjapanblogguide.blogspot.jp/. Visit John Dougill’s Green Shinto, “dedicated to the promotion of an open, international and environmental Shinto”: http://www.greenshinto.com/wp/.
