Folk Religion in Japan: Continuity and Change

Front Cover
University of Chicago Press, 1974 - Religion - 278 pages
Ichiro Hori's is the first book in Western literature to portray how Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist elements, as well as all manner of archaic magical beliefs and practices, are fused on the folk level.

Folk religion, transmitted by the common people from generation to generation, has greatly conditioned the political, economic, and cultural development of Japan and continues to satisfy the emotional and religious needs of the people. Hori examines the organic relationship between the Japanese social structure—the family kinship system, village and community organizations—and folk religion. A glossary with Japanese characters is included in the index.
 

Contents

I MAIN FEATURES OF FOLK RELIGION IN JAPAN
1
II JAPANESE SOCIALS TRUCTURE AND FOLK RELIGION
49
III NEMBUTSU AS FOLK RELIGION
83
IV MOUNTAINS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE IDEA OF THE OTHER WORLD
141
V JAPANESE SHAMANISM
181
VI THE NEW RELIGIONS AND THE SURVIVAL OF SHAMANIC TENDENCIES
217
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
253
INDEX
265
Copyright

Common terms and phrases