Japanese mythology dates back 2000 years and melds the beliefs of the shinto and buddhist religions with a focus on creation and the forces of nature. Feb 02, 2016 i really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. Dec 16, 2014 overflowing with great stories of japans fantastical monsters, spirits, and other creatures of the collective imagination, the book of yokai is filled with solid information, a variety of new perspectives, and the kind of richness of detail that will enhance any readers enjoyment of japans monstrous folk traditions. Kyonshi the japanese version of the chinese hopping vampire, known as jiangshi. Japanese folklore have their origins in two major religions of japan, buddhism and shinto. These religious beliefs originated in india and came to japan to china and korea. The classic stories of mythology have been repeatedly mined for inspiration and reinterpreted for modern times, and have been an ongoing trend in young adult literature. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology. Shinto, an indigenous religion, and buddhism, which developed in india and came to japan from china and korea. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. Oh, and on a random note about japanese mythology and the ainu. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of japan. Hansen handbook of egyptian mythology, geraldine pinch handbook of hindu mythology, george m.
They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into japan from china along with buddhism. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. Once writing was introduced in japan, those oral traditions were recorded in the kojiki book of ancient things, and the nihongi chronicles of japan, compiled in the eighth century. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the japanese archipelago. Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay. Japanese mythology is a complex system of beliefs that also embraces shinto and buddhist traditions as well as agriculturebased folk religion. The root of their name is a word meaning hidden or. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi waterstones. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions.
Japanese gods, too numerous to count, are known collectively as yaoyorozunokamigamithe eight million. Japanese mythology dates back to more than two centuries and is an intricate system of beliefs that also incorporates the agriculturalbased folk religion as well as traditional buddhist and shinto beliefs. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. The japanese for mythology is find more japanese words at. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in. Originally, all spirits, ghosts, and monsters were known as oni.
Japanese folklore are heavily influenced by the two primary religions of japan, shinto and buddhism. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. The 10 best norse mythology books norse mythology for smart. There are many japanese myths, stories folklore and fables.
You can get it directly here myths and legends of japan the most popular myths and legends of japanese culture are charmingly retold in english in this. Well only go through a couple of myths, and the versions of these myths will be condensed. Japanese mythology is full of countless stories of oni encounters with lords and ladies, warriors and rogues. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of justice. Most of the stories concern the creation of the world, the foundation of the islands of japan, and the activities of deities, humans, animals, spirits, and magical creatures. Handbook of japanese mythology linkedin slideshare. Japanese mythology simple english wikipedia, the free. To simplify things, i would like to tell you my list of top 5 japanese folklore and fables. What are some beautiful japanese myths, stories and fables. Readers have also complimented the book in saying that it does well giving a fresh take on folktales while still keeping the foundation of ancient japanese mythology intact.
Japanese mythology hardcover january 1, 1969 by juliet piggott author. Japanese mythology and millions of other books are available for instant. Author lafcadio hearn was a scholar in tokyo on the cusp of the 20th century, and was fascinated by the customs of the country where he spent his remaining years. They are the cast of a vast, complex mythology that encompasses two religions, three cultures, and three millennia, one whose ancient deities are still hard at work today. The book draws influence from actual japanese events and combines them with stories rooted from japanese fairy tales. From the ruler of the heavens amaterasu to ryujin, the dragonking of the sea, this book helps kids understand the myths that shape and direct peoples lives. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi.
Pages in category japanese mythology the following 85 pages are in this category, out of 85 total. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Japanese mythology consists of stories derived from old folk beliefs and incorporates elements of shinto mythology as well as buddhism. Stories and studies of strange things is a collection of ghost stories full of personified insects, haunted creatures, demons and more. Discusses the mythology of japan, its origins in shintoism and buddhism, and the gods, spirits, men, and animals that appear in the many legends and stories. The shinto religion alone has many kami japanese for gods or spirits most japanese myths, as generally known today, are based on the kojiki, nihonshoki and some other books. The mythology of japan has a long history dating back more than 2,000 years.
By purchasing books through this website, you support. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan. The worlds only hope is korra, goddess of the dawn, who will hopefully bring asami out of her exile before it is too late. Japanese mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, legend.
The 10 best norse mythology books odin riding sleipnir detail from the tjangvide runestone there are so many books on norse mythology out there, especially at the beginner level, that if you were to make a pile with one copy of each it would probably reach all the way up to asgard itself. Yamata no orochi is one of my favorite and more traditional stories. Michael ashkenazis handbook of japanese mythology is an expert study that deserves a prominent place on the shelves of many japanophiles, including those devoted to religious studies and such early sources as the kojiki and nihongi, as well as those who more broadly study the roots of world myth. Korrasami, asian fantasy mythology au, based on japanese mythology. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mar 09, 2020 a little bit of background before we dive into the myths. What is a good book about japanese mythology and other cultures. Handbook of japanese mythology michael ashkenazi oxford. Bill tsutsui, president of hendrix college and author of godzilla on. The book reveals the origins of japans myths in the very different realms of buddhism, shinto, and folklore, and explores related mythologies of the ainu and okinawan cultures and recent myths arising from japans encounters with modernization.
Japanese mythology is collectively chronicled in the kojiki, the oldest historical record written in japan in 712 ad, and in the nihon shoki written in 720. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. May 23, 2014 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. Kunekune a tall, slender strip of paper sheet that wiggles on rice or barley fields during hot summer. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology book book details. Aug 24, 2017 the classic stories of mythology have been repeatedly mined for inspiration and reinterpreted for modern times, and have been an ongoing trend in young adult literature. The kojiki, which translates to the record of ancient matters, is an ancient document that elaborates the legends and myths of japan.
Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion. Based on ancient japanese beliefs and legends, kwaidan. Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn. Japanese myths stand out in in the study of mythology in that they often do not subscribe to many of the common featuresstory arcs that are shared among other world mythologies. Kyokotsu a skeletal figure that emerges from a well. The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in japanese mythology. Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami deities or spirits, oni ogres, andor youkai feylike creatures. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. As was common practice before the age of script, these tales were passed on through oral traditionsthe teiki and kuji, among othersfor generations before they were ever recorded. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology. The drama of myths are particularly wellsuited to provide the scaffolding for teenage stories, whether focused coming of age or romance and adventure.
Asami, goddess of the sun, has abandoned her place in the sky, plunging the land into an eternal night where monsters and yokai roam the world freely. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities. Japanese mythology gods, goddess, creatures and stories. Overflowing with great stories of japans fantastical monsters, spirits, and other creatures of the collective imagination, the book of yokai is filled with solid information, a variety of new perspectives, and the kind of richness of detail that will enhance any readers enjoyment of japans monstrous folk traditions. Japanese mythology submitted names behind the name. No two stories about oni are exactly alike except for one thingoni are always the villains of mankind. Titles in abcclios handbooks of world mythology handbook of arab mythology, hasan elshamy handbook of celtic mythology, joseph falaky nagy handbook of classical mythology, william f. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. Reviewed in the united kingdom on december 7, 2018. Every book ive seen on their mythology either has only one star on barnes and noble, or only 32 pages, which cant possibly teach me anything.
The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of. Korrasami, asian fantasymythology au, based on japanese mythology. The book reveals the origins of japans myths in the very different realms of buddhism, shinto, and folklore, and explores related mythologies of the ainu and okinawan cultures and recent myths arising from japans encounters with. Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shapeshifting foxes and longtongued ceilinglickers. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Most of the surviving japanese myths are recorded in the kojiki compiled 712. See more ideas about japanese mythology, mythology and mythical creatures. Passed down from generations through both spoken word and writing, there is a vast number of ancient tales that touch upon virtually every aspect of life. See more ideas about mythology, japanese folklore and japanese mythology. Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology ashkenazi, michael on. Explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the. Oni, in japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance. Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai originated in.
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