The kojiki or record of ancient things is the oldest known book of myths, legends, and history of japan. 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. The first historical information on her can be traced back to oracle bone inscriptions of the fifteenth century bc. The following is a list of demons, ghosts, yokai, obake, yurei and other legendary creatures that are notable in japanese folklore and mythology. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. The early japanese believed that the world around them was inhabited by gods and spirits. Japanese mythology simple english wikipedia, the free. Their story is told in the 8th century ce japanese compendium of mythology, the kojiki. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. Seiobo is also called the queen mother of the west.
Sep 25, 20 hungarian author laszlo krasznahorkai is known for his dense, challenging fiction. An introductory guide to the mythology of japanone of the most pervasive yet least understood facets of japanese culture. However, my understanding is that it has quite a scholar approach to the subject, and that reading it feels more like a lecture, which is fine but not quite like im. Momotaro peach boy emerging from a peach, a japanese traditional folktale. Japanese mythology is a complex system of beliefs that also embraces shinto and buddhist traditions as well as agriculturebased folk religion. Mar 11, 2008 handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. 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. It originally came out of chinese mythology and was later introduced to both japan 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. Most of the surviving japanese myths are recorded in the kojiki compiled 712. The japanese for mythology is find more japanese words at. Japanese mythology explores the nations attraction to this act of historical grounding and the varying identities that emerged during different historical periods. Dec 31, 2009 todays post is abou japanese mythology. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. The presiding deity of the entire storysequence, of course, is the minor japanese goddess seiobo a curious choice, as her mythology is scant, save that she cultivates a garden of peach trees. No two stories about oni are exactly alike except for one thingoni are always the villains of mankind. Amazing origami models from japanese culture and mythology. Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn.
The link among them if there is one is the goddess seiobo, a figure of japanese mythology who makes occasional appearances throughout. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Long, long ago, when all the animals could talk, there lived in the province of inaba in japan, a little white hare. Japanese folklore are heavily influenced by the two primary religions of japan, shinto and buddhism. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. Japanese mythology and millions of other books are available for instant. A special study of japanese illustrated books helped to enlarge the scope of this. Noh goddess illuminates life and art the japan times. 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. In japanese mythology, izanagi and izanami were a divine couple, brother and sister, who had a principle role in creating the islands of japan and from whom many important and elemental kami gods had their birth. 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.
The mythology of japan has a long history dating back more than 2,000 years. Metrobooks, 1997 new larousse encyclopedia of mythology translated by richard aldington and delano ames. Mar 09, 2020 a little bit of background before we dive into the myths. Bill tsutsui, president of hendrix college and author of godzilla on. 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. The ninetailed fox is a very popular creature in japanese mythology. Ninetailed foxes appear in a lot of different japanese myths and stories. 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. The first myth has to do with the formation of japan. The earliest mention of xiwangmu is found in the shanhaijing, meaning classic of mountains and seas.
The white hare of inaba the japanese hares brown fur changes to white during the winter of some regions of japan. The drama of myths are particularly wellsuited to provide the scaffolding for teenage stories, whether focused coming of age or romance and adventure. Jan 25, 2018 in japanese mythology, izanagi and izanami were a divine couple, brother and sister, who had a principle role in creating the islands of japan and from whom many important and elemental kami gods had their birth. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. Feb 02, 2016 i really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. Nov 07, 20 japanese mythology is largely derived from the state religion of shinto. Japanese mythology by judith piggott library of the worlds myths and legends. 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 ebook by junichi isomae 97814949083. Japanese mythology is largely derived from the state religion of shinto.
The following is a list of demons, ghosts, kami, obake, yokai, yurei and other legendary creatures that are notable in japanese folklore and mythology. Explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the. Aburaakago an infant ghost who licks the oil out of andon lamps. Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. This work may be regarded to be an early geography of china, and tradition states that it was written during the semimythical xia dynasty.
The queen mother of the west, known by various local names, is a goddess in chinese religion and mythology, also. In a world thought to have been createdand nearly destroyedby the primordial gods izanagi and izanami, mythic heroes battled ferocious dragons and giant spiders, while ordinary bamboo cutters and farmers made unexpected contact with the supernatural. The root of their name is a word meaning hidden or. I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. Michael ashkenazi is a professional writer and the author of numerous scholarly and encyclopedia articles on japanese religion and culture.
The japanese culture and arts have been strongly influenced by a widespread belief in ghosts, demons and supernatural spirits. It also appears in the heianperiod encyclopedia wamyo ruijusho 938 ce, and again in the heike monogatari 71 ce, a record of one of japans bloodiest civil wars and most tragic family. Chinese sources, seiobo in japan, seowangmo in korea, and tay vuong m. While buddhism has overtaken much of japan, many people still practice shinto, mostly for tradition rather than actual belief in the surrounding mythology. Xiwangmu is the name of a city on the planet tien shan based on oriental religions in the book the rise of. The most popular myths and legends of japanese culture are charmingly retold in english in this handsomely illustrated book. The book the golden peaches of samarkand by edward h.
What are some good books i can get on japanese mythology. The book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study. Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay. Now weve put together a list the best japanese mythology books for you to really get a glimpse into some of the best stories, characters, and yokai lurking in every corner of japanese history. She cultivates a garden of peach trees that blossom only every years.
May 23, 2014 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. Japanese mythology is full of countless stories of oni encounters with lords and ladies, warriors and rogues. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan. 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.
A tale from chinese opera, retold by aaron shepard ancient tales and folklore of china, by edward t. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology. Seiobo, the queen mother of the west, in japanese art. However one of these peaches eaten, gives eternal life. Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami deities or spirits, oni ogres, andor youkai feylike creatures. 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. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Originally, all spirits, ghosts, and monsters were known as oni. 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. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology.
Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the japanese archipelago. Well only go through a couple of myths, and the versions of these myths will be condensed. Shinto, an indigenous religion, and buddhism, which developed in india and came to japan from china and korea. 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. Yamata no orochi is one of my favorite and more traditional stories. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. There are also some books on japanese mythology on amazon, so check those out for a more thorough version of these myths. Hungarian author laszlo krasznahorkai is known for his dense, challenging fiction.
The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in 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. This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion. Ive been wanting to read a bit about japanese myths and legends, kamis and yokais, and the main reference i found was handbook of japanese mythology, which seems quite complete.
The peach as a kami and mother goddess, and symbol of fertility. The festivals of a japanese town, the essence of japanese cuisine, and sex, sexuality, and the anthropologist with fran markowitz. The queen mother of the west, known by various local names, is a goddess in chinese religion and mythology, also worshipped in neighbouring asian countries, and attested from ancient times. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. By the way, the japanese mythology knows not only male but female sennin. Mar 02, 2020 xiwangmu, whose name means queen mother of the west is a goddess in the taoist pantheon, and worshipped in chinese folk religion. His latest book to appear in english is seiobo there below, first published in hungary in 2008. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the study of mythology and folklore is a peculiar one to the ext. Tobosaku is the bad guy in the japanese mythology who stole not only one, but three peaches out of seibos garden. The nue is one of the oldest yokai recorded, having its first appearance in the kojiki 712 ce, an account of the early histories of japan. The shinto pantheon alone boasts an uncountable number of kami deities or spirits. Abumiguchi a furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander who worked for yamata no orochi. The book is easy to read, and at the same time immensely informative on the complicated and varied ways yokai have existed throughout japanese history. Xiwangmu is considered to be one of the most prominent female deities in early chinese mythology, and her importance continued in later times as well.
Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. This newest novel or maybe its a book of interrelated short stories. 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. A superhero tale of china, retold from the journey to the west by aaron shepard lady white snake. Japanese mythology consists of stories derived from old folk beliefs and incorporates elements of shinto mythology as well as buddhism. Visit the links to learn about japanese myths related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions. 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. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the study of mythology and folklore is a peculiar one to the extent that we are looking into things which are generally regarded as untrue yet critically important to a culture. Mississippi river hydrology may help reduce oil onshore scientists are currently tracking the effects of the oil spill on the wetlands of the louisiana coast. The study reveals that, rather than having any clear and unified substance, japanese mythology has always been the result of a nostalgic desire to retrieve historical origins. Queen mother of the west and her peaches of immortality.
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