Japanese mythology crossover fanfiction archive with over 43 stories. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi. What are some good books i can get on japanese mythology. 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. The japanese giant salamander are also known for grabbing their prey with their strong jaws and pulling them into the water. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. Mysterious creatures of japanese folklore by foster, michael dylan, kijin, shinonome isbn. One notable feature of japanese mythology is its explanation of the origin of the imperial family which has been used historically to assign godhood to the imperial line. Susanoo, becoming conceited over his success, began to play the role of a trickster.
Cruel and malicious, they can, nevertheless, be converted to. Comparing egyptian and japanese mythology and how it explores morals. The japanese culture and arts have been strongly influenced by a widespread belief in ghosts, demons and supernatural spirits. 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. A japanese person, for example, may have a shinto wedding but a buddhist funeral. Loess is usually homogeneous, highly porous, and is traversed by vertical capillaries t. The best fantastical japanese mythology books every culture has their individual myths and folklore that contain an array of whimsical beasts and heroes alike. Japanese gods, too numerous to count, are known collectively as yaoyorozunokamigamithe eight million. 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. Although based on the god yama of the hindu vedas, the buddhist yama has spread and developed different myths and different.
Come in to read stories and fanfics that span multiple fandoms in the japanese mythology universe. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. 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. Pages in category japanese mythology the following 86 pages are in this category, out of 86 total. Since ive read mainly hindu mythology books, i can help only with those. Traditional stories of monsters and magic book of japanese mythology, folk tales from japan by chronicle books and kotaro chiba apr 23, 2019. Kyonshi the japanese version of the chinese hopping vampire, known as jiangshi. 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. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. A captivating guide to chinese mythology, japanese mythology and hindu mythology. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology.
Stories and studies of strange things by lafcadio hearn, shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, tales of moonlig. 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 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. Oh, and on a random note about japanese mythology and the ainu. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. The festivals of a japanese town, the essence of japanese cuisine, and sex, sexuality, and the anthropologist with fran markowitz. One thing that i appreciate is that he kept it very japanese.
Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. I would highly recommend this book who would like to learn about japanese myths. 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. What is a good book about japanese mythology and other cultures. The book of yokai provides a lively excursion into japanese folklore and its everexpanding influence on global popular culture. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Kunekune a tall, slender strip of paper sheet that wiggles on rice or barley fields during hot summer. Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn. The shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami, the japanese word for gods or spirits. Yamata no orochi is one of my favorite and more traditional stories. Still others claim that the legend of the kappa is no more than a fear of the japanese giant salamander. 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. 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.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. These salamanders grow to be up to 5 feet in length and have skin tones similar to that of the kappa. 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. The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan. 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. I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. In east asian and buddhist mythology, yama sometimes known as the king of hell, king yan or yanluo is a dharmapala wrathful god said to judge the dead and preside over the narakas hells, hell realm or purgatories and the cycle of afterlife sa. An aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of windblown silt and lesser and variable amounts of sand and clay that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate. This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion.
Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay. Kyokotsu a skeletal figure that emerges from a well. How to say mythology in japanese whats the japanese word for mythology. 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. An introduction to japanese mythology symbolism in naruto. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. 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. 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. 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. Three months ago, during a visit to the town of banff, i picked up a necklace with a dragon tooth pendant to wear as a replacement for the lunar dolphin necklace i discovered at a medieval fair earlier in the summer i was really happy when i discovered this crescentshaped dolphin necklace. Hans christian anderson fairy tales japanese edition. Hadland davis, the author of myths and legends of japan, an unprecedented opportunity to study and introduce japanese culture to western audiences. 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. Michael ashkenazi is a professional writer and the author of numerous scholarly and encyclopedia articles on japanese religion and culture.
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 by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology author. The drama of myths are particularly wellsuited to provide the scaffolding for teenage stories, whether focused coming of age or romance and adventure. Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami deities or spirits, oni ogres, andor youkai feylike creatures. What are the most interesting novels based on mythology. When kashima lets his guard fall, namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes. Oni, in japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. The kojiki or record of ancient things is the oldest known book of myths, legends, and history of japan. A lot of mangas pull inspiration from a large number of different cultures that can kind of make it seem like a grabbag of mythology that was just stolen in order to use names and powers, where as naruto links it all together fairly well and has thematic consistency in that sense.
He lives in the mud under the islands of japan and is guarded by the god kashima who restrains the catfish with a stone. Japanese mythology embraces shinto and buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. Posts about japanese mythology written by lugh dubthach. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology ashkenazi, michael on. The narration is very good, and i personally loved it. They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into japan from china along with buddhism. An introductory guide to the mythology of japanone of the most pervasive yet least understood facets of japanese culture. 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. 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. Buddhism was an offshoot of hinduism, originally from india, and therefore much of its mythology is derived from there. It shows the what could have been of india, following t.
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