One of the most magnificent and admired of creatures in the legends of the east is the kirin. Hansen handbook of egyptian mythology, geraldine pinch handbook of hindu mythology, george. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. Something that would read more like a storybook than like a textbook. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines by matt clayton at barnes. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Ive been getting reinterested in the various mythologies thanks to neil gaimans norse mythology book, and wanted to read something about japanese. Buy japanese mythology by juliet piggott online at alibris.
Kyokotsu a skeletal figure that emerges from a well. There are many japanese myths, stories folklore and fables. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. 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. This article introduces a few more of the japanese gods and goddesses like the sennin tobosaku and other strange beings like the shishi dog.
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 includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. The account of ninigi being sent to earth appears in the nihon shoki. Kirin were originally introduced to japan via chinese myths and legend, where they are known as qilin. 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. 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.
Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology ashkenazi, michael on. 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. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. The kojiki is divided into three books, and the stories of the gods are all recorded in the first book. In japan, the kirin is considered to be the most powerful and sacred beast of all, surpassing the hoo and tatsu in power. 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. The first myth has to do with the formation of japan. Qilin is a specific type of the lin mythological family of onehorned beasts. Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami deities or spirits, oni ogres, andor youkai feylike creatures. 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. 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. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology author. 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. Every culture has their individual myths and folklore that contain an array of whimsical beasts and heroes alike. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions. What is a good book about japanese mythology and other cultures. 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. Like the chinese dragon, the qilin is composed of different animals. The birth of amaterasu, trukuyumi, susawono, and the leechchild. Oni, in japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance. Whilst the western world is probably most familiar with the dragon and the phoenix, there are other equally interesting, though less wellknown mythological beings. Long, long ago, when all the animals could talk, there lived in the province of inaba in japan, a little white hare. What are some beautiful japanese myths, stories and fables. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook.
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 looking for. 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. Learn japanese mythology with free interactive flashcards. Over time, the chinese and japanese version diverged into slightly different creatures.
I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. While they have at times been compared to the western unicorn, they are not entirely the same. Within this book, youll find the following japanese myths and topics covered. Kunekune a tall, slender strip of paper sheet that wiggles on rice or barley fields during hot summer. 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. The best books set in japan explore postwar nagasaki, go on road trip with a cat, and meet japanese mythological creatures in these five books that take place in japan. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. Chinese mythology is full of fantastic supernatural and mythical creatures. Jan 5, 2014 lets jumpstart this year with rich stories of japanese mythology and folklore. Loess is usually homogeneous, highly porous, and is traversed by vertical capillaries t. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. 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. Mysterious creatures of japanese folklore by foster, michael dylan, kijin, shinonome isbn.
Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Part 5 of the nihon shoki lists hikohohodemi no mikoto as the fourth child of ninigi, however, it is known to be an alias of hoori. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime impulse. Cruel and malicious, they can, nevertheless, be converted to. Kyonshi the japanese version of the chinese hopping vampire, known as jiangshi. Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay. Titles in abcclios handbooks of world mythology handbook of arab mythology, hasan elshamy handbook of celtic mythology, joseph falaky nagy handbook of classical mythology, william f. Japanese mythology simple english wikipedia, the free. The kojiki or record of ancient things is the oldest known book of myths, legends, and history of japan. Susanoo, becoming conceited over his success, began to play the role of a trickster. The drama of myths are particularly wellsuited to provide the scaffolding for teenage stories, whether focused coming of age or romance and adventure. This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion.
Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in. I could assume that you mustve have heard some of the folk. Japanese mythology submitted names behind the name. They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into japan from china along with buddhism. 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. 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. What are some good books i can get on japanese mythology. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology.
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. Could you recommend books about japanese mythology that are more narration oriented. Choose from 51 different sets of japanese mythology flashcards on quizlet. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The qilin kirin the chinese unicorn japanese chinese mythology explained.
See more ideas about japanese mythology, japanese folklore. 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 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. To simplify things, i would like to tell you my list of top 5 japanese folklore and fables. 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. Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn. Not to be confused with the japanese word for giraffe, kirin are different entirely.
398 1106 320 1419 1441 197 802 694 212 1121 1366 885 1390 784 1259 1031 1092 1529 244 520 265 145 552 512 101 921 1403 928 622 844 718 1345 1298 9 619 516 868 541 626 1049 286 567