It also invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them. His name comes from chinese mythology, where it is with the taoist god xuan wu the chinese pronunciation of genbu. Stories about creation, mystical creatures, and ghosts, as well as stories about buddhism, folk tales, and other amazing tales grace the pages of this anthology. It is based on a belief in demons, gods, ghosts, and spirits. Hadland davis, the author of myths and legends of japan, an unprecedented opportunity to study and introduce japanese culture to western audiences. From dread snow vampire of the mountains to a loving bride and mother, she has played. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay.
While they have at times been compared to the western unicorn, they are not entirely the same. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. Michael ashkenazi is a professional writer and the author of numerous scholarly and encyclopedia articles on japanese religion and culture. Karura comes from the hindu deity garuda, a giant eagle who served as the mount of vishnu. While there are kami, there are also demons called oni. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology. The origins of japanese mythology are found in the shinto religion, taoism and buddhism. Journal of the association of teachers of japanese readable japanese mythology. Heres the reason for night and day, according to japanese. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the japanese archipelago. Japanese mythology and millions of other books are available for instant.
Well only go through a couple of myths, and the versions of these myths will be condensed. In japanese mythology, harionago is a female yokai whose name translates as barbed woman. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. Early works of japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with china and chinese literature, often written in classical chinese. Japanese mythology question x post from mythology i am posting this here in the hopes someone could point me in the right direction to find an answer. Mysterious creatures of japanese folklore by foster, michael dylan, kijin, shinonome isbn. The kirin cryptozoology, myths and legends unexplained. Susanoo, becoming conceited over his success, began to play the role of a trickster. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. Oh, and on a random note about japanese mythology and the ainu. The name karura comes from the japanese pronunciation of garuda. Izanagi is the god of creation and life, while izanami is the goddess of creation and death while purifying himself, he created more. Japan has been known to contain some of the most whimsical and even eerie tales of mythology, intriguing audiences on an international scale. Japanese mythology question x post from mythology close.
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. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in japanese mythology. The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of. A book from 1870 something like that collected by an englishman, algernon. They were then later brought along with buddhism to china, and finally to japan. From traditional theatre forms to contemporary popular cinema thesis presented to the graduate council of texas state universitysan marcos in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of arts by.
Garuda was incorporated into buddhist folklore, where he became a race of powerful eaglelike devas. If you like mythology and have never looked into japanese mythology this is a great starting point. In the goddess chronicle, kirino encourages the reader to see one of the keystone tales of japanese mythology from the perspective of darkness, and the perspective of those not showered with glory, and the perspective of those left behind. He is worshiped mainly as a god of cereals or grain. So this euphemistic name was used to refer to the black tortoise. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. Heres the reason for night and day, according to japanese mythology. Stories and studies of strange things by lafcadio hearn, shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, tales of moonlig. Not to be confused with the japanese word for giraffe, kirin are different entirely. The first myth has to do with the formation of japan. 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. She is depicted as a beautiful woman with very long hair. 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.
The festivals of a japanese town, the essence of japanese cuisine, and sex, sexuality, and the anthropologist with fran markowitz. The god also furthers prosperity and is worshiped particularly by merchants and tradesmen, is the patron deity of swordsmiths and is associated with brothels and entertainers. She is said to wander the roads of the japanese prefecture of ehime on the island of shikoku. Eventually, japanese literature developed into a separate style, although the influence of chinese literature and classical chinese remained until the end of the. You might hear them from naruto but here i tell you the myth of amaterasu, susanoo and tsukuyomi in the japanese mythologies of their deities. Such a perspective can be upsetting and frustrating, but its also an invitation to the reader to. Selections from nihon shoki and kojiki robert borgen and marian ury introduction kojiki and nihon shoki, completed in the years 712 and 720 respectively, are japans two oldest books.
Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Amaterasu, susanoo and tsukuyomi in japanese mythology. The word tortoise is not used for his name, because it was also used as a slur in china. Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. From the wages of guilt to the rape of nanking, here are nine books to get your japanese history on. 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.
The best fantastical japanese mythology books every culture has their individual myths and folklore that contain an array of whimsical beasts and heroes alike. An archive of our own, a project of the organization for transformative works. What is a good book about japanese mythology and other cultures. Even if you have some acquaintance with japanese mythology, this is a nice short overview. Harionago barbed woman is a female ghoul in japanese mythology. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. The japanese culture and arts have been strongly influenced by a widespread belief in ghosts, demons and supernatural spirits.
The book of yokai provides a lively excursion into japanese folklore and its everexpanding influence on global popular culture. This article introduces a few more of the japanese gods and goddesses like the sennin tobosaku and other strange beings like the shishi dog. 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. Hoori is often associated with both his parents and his wife. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. See more ideas about japanese mythology, mythology and japanese folklore. Japanese gods, too numerous to count, are known collectively as yaoyorozunokamigamithe eight million. An introductory guide to the mythology of japanone of the most pervasive yet least understood facets of japanese culture. Inari, in japanese mythology, god primarily known as the protector of rice cultivation. When it comes to japanese gods in art, what makes the gods distinguishable from. Every culture has their individual myths and folklore that contain an array of whimsical beasts and heroes alike. The creation of japan, kojiki the kojiki, which translates to records of ancient matters, contains japans native creation myths and other 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. Amanozako, heaven opposing everything, or tengu kami is a monstrous goddess mentioned in the kujiki, which states that she originated when susanoo let his own ferocious spirit build up inside him until he vomited her out like her fellow 8 million gods, amanozako resides in heaven.
Indian literature also had an influence through the separation of buddhism in japan. We dont have an article named usefulnotes japanesemythology, exactly. 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. Many of us foreigners living or traveling in japan are only slightly familiar with the countrys troubled and complicated history. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology ashkenazi, michael on. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in. 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. If some of the typos were fixed in the book i would award full stars, but a couple of these mistakes make the stories hard to understand unless you realize. Xuan wu was a prince who lived in prehistoric northern china.
The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime impulse. 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. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Japanese mythology contemporary japanese literature. 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. Translated and sourced from mizuki shigerus mujyara, kaii yokai densho database, kwaidan, japanese wikipedia, and other sources the yuki onna is one of japans most wellknown and yet unknown yokai. 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. One of the most magnificent and admired of creatures in the legends of the east is the kirin. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn. Like all mythology, it was considered both factually true and truth through most of history. Explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the.