Since ancient times, the Japanese have lived with superstitions of strange presences and phenomena known as "yōkai," creating a culture by turns infused with unease, fear, and divinity.
Fearsome kappa, oni, and tengu. Yamauba crones. Ghostly yurei. Otherworldy ijin...Where did they come from? Why do they remain so popular? Written by Japan's premier scholar of yokai and strange tales, this book is both an introduction to the rich imagination and spirituality of Japan's yokai culture and a history of the authors and writings that have shaped yokai studies as a field.
Author(s): Kazuhiko Komatsu, Hiroko Yoda, Matt Alt
Series: Japan Library 13
Publisher: Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture
Year: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 281
Tags: Yokai, Japanese Culture, Japanese Folklore
Table of Contents
Cover
Contents
An Introduction to Yōkai Culture
Preface to the English Edition
Part Ⅰ
An Invitation to Yokai Culture
Chapter 1. What is Yokai Culture?
Yokai as Incidents
Yokai as Supernatural Entities
Yokai as Depictions
The “Yokaization” of Old Tools and Strange Phenomena
In the Footsteps of Yokai Scholars
Modern Japanese and Yokai
Chapter 2. Yokai Beyond Time and Borders
Why Do Yokai Appear?
The Etic and the Emic
Translating Culture
Part Ⅱ
On the Trail of Yokai Studies
Chapter 3. Tsukimono
What Is a Tsukimono?
The Changing Face of Tsukimono Research
Classifying Spirits
Rumors of Mysterious Beasts
Breaking Down Superstitions
Mystical Methods
The Transformation of Shared Fantasies
The Role of Religious Figures
Chapter 4. Yōkai
What Are Yokai?
Revived Interest in Yokai Illustrations
The Early Days of Yokai Research
Yanagita Kunio’s Views on Yokai
Post-Yanagita Yokai Studies
New Developments in Yokai Studies
Yokai Studies as Human Studies
Chapter 5. Kappa
What Are Kappa?
Categories of Kappa Lore
Folklore Studies and Kappa
Kappa Komabiki Ko
Kappa of the Rivers and Mountains
New Directions in Kappa Research
Rewriting Kappa Theory
The Fascination with Kappa
Chapter 6. Oni
What Is an Oni?
How Oni are Used Today
Oni as a Label
Two Approaches to Oni
Oni as Imaginary Creatures
Examining Oni Legends
Oni in Ritual, Performance, and Folklore Studies
From Namahage to Oni
The True Form of Oni
Chapter 7. Tengu and Yamauba
Famed Yokai of the Mountains
A Brief History of Tengu Scholarship
The Image of the Tengu
Tengu Worshipers
Folklore Studies and Tengu
A Brief History of Yamauba Scholarship
The Image of the Yamauba
Chapter 8. Yūrei
What Are Yurei ?
The Difference Between Yurei and Yokai
Defining Yurei : The Basics
A Brief History of Yurei Scholarship
Views of the Dead: The Roots of Yurei Culture
Chapter 9. Ijin and Ikenie: Outsiders and Sacrifices
What Are Ijin?
Ijin , Sacrifices, and Village Communities
Legends of Ijin-goroshi (Outsider Murders)
Changing Views of Ijin
Ijin and the Rise and Fall of Families
Ijin Evolving
Chapter 10. Boundaries
What Is a Boundary?
Spaces and Places as Boundaries, Time as Boundary
Boundaries and Place
Boundaries and Time
Symbols of Boundaries
Strange Phenomena and Times with Boundary Attributes
Bibliography and Recommended Readings
List of Illustrations
About the Author
