Suchergebnisse

Shingu, on the northern shores of Kyushu is today a suburb of Fukuoka City. Fishing is a slowly-dying occupation and this volume analyses how the fishermen adjust to changing circumstances. Although Japan is the largest fishing nation in the world, when originally published this book was the first to be published in English which focused on the composition and role performance of the crews and larger net-groups

AbstractIt is often claimed that environmental problems facing the world today can be attributed to dualism and anthropocentrism rooted in Christianity. Hence, it is argued that a solution to these problems can be sought in holism and ecocentrism inherent in non-western thought. Native American and Asian religions have in particular been heralded as potential sources of inspiration. Using Japan as a case, this paper challenges this view, arguing that religions are not coherent constructions and that their claimed benevolence to nature are based on selective reading of these non-western religions. As to Japan, both Buddhism (not least Zen) and Shinto have been regarded as ecocentric religions with a holistic approach to the world. This has not prevented serious degradation of the environment taking place, however. On the contrary, it will be argued that there are features in these holistic religions that might facilitate such degradation. It is therefore far too simplistic to attribute environmental problems to modernization and westernization.

AbstractThe paper seeks to analyse Japanese vernacular architecture in terms of geomancy. There is a widely held belief that the orientation and shape of the house, as well as the location of the various rooms and objects (e.g. altars, water basins, stoves) therein, have profound impact on the wellbeing of its residents. The main features of the geomantic compass are outlined, and it is argued that the northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest axes are of particular importance. Whereas the former is seen as representing wealth and the continuity of the household, the latter represents danger and the threats that face the household due to its reliance on other households for in-marrying 'strangers' (i.e. women).