Daoism in Japan: Chinese traditions and their influence on Japanese religious culture (Routledge Studies in Taoism)

Like an ancient river, Daoist traditions introduced from China once flowed powerfully through the Japanese religious landscape, forever altering its topography and ecology. Daoism’s presence in Japan still may be discerned in its abiding influence on astrology, divination, festivals, literature, politics, and popular culture, not to mention Buddhism and Shintō. Despite this legacy, few English-language studies of Daoism’s influence on Japanese religious culture have been published. Daoism in Japan provides an exploration of the particular pathways by which Daoist traditions entered Japan from continental East Asia. After addressing basic issues in both Daoist Studies and the study of Japanese religions, including the problems of defining ‘Daoism’ and ‘Japanese,’ the book looks at the influence of Daoism on ancient, medieval and modern Japan in turn. To do so, the volume is arranged both chronologically and topically, according to the following three broad divisions: "Arrivals" (c. 5th-8th centuries CE), "Assimilations" (794-1868), and "Apparitions" (1600s-present). The book demonstrates how Chinese influence on Japanese religious culture ironically proved to be crucial in establishing traditions that usually are seen as authentically, even quintessentially, Japanese. Touching on multiple facets of Japanese cultural history and religious traditions, this book is a fascinating contribution for students and scholars of Japanese Culture, History and Religions, as well as Daoist Studies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgments List of contributors Introduction: Conjuring cultures: Daoism in Japan Part I: Arrivals 1. Pleiades retrieved: A Chinese asterism’s journey to Japan Astromancy and rulership in Ancient East Asia The continental roots of yīnyáng astromancy The Pleiades in East Asia Notes Bibliography 2. Daoist deities in ancient Japan: Household deities, Jade Women and popular religious practice Introduction Methods and biases Jade Women in China The Kuchizusami 口遊 The Mokkan 木簡 Notes Bibliography 3. Framing Daoist fragments, 670–750 Introduction Some Reflective Disengagements Disparate Daoist elements in the Kojiki and Nihon shoki The articulation of Daoist moments (Tenmu and Jitō, 672–702) The Chinkon-sai, the winter solstice and Fujiwara-kyō Reframing the Chinkon-sai Keeping Daoism at bay The Nagaya Incident Legal restrictions Conclusion Notes Bibliography 4. Daoist resonance in a “perfected immortal”: A case study of Awata no Ason Mahito Daoist presence in Tenmu’s hereditary titles Test case: the curious career of Awata no Ason Mahito Daoist headdress? A Japanese immortal in Wu A Japanese immortal in Wǔ Zhào’s court: the perfected immortal and the Queen Mother Problems and opportunities: determining meaning in a cosmopolitan, pluralistic era Notes Bibliography Part II: Assimilations 5. Onmyōdō divination techniques and Daoism Introduction The framework of Onmyōdō Onmyōdō and divination Divination in Daoism and Onmyōdō Conclusion Notes Bibliography 6. The Laŏzĭ and the emergence of Shintō at Ise Introduction The socio-political setting Watarai Yukitada and the Laŏzĭ Daoism vs. Buddhism? Yukitada’s sources The socio-historical setting Conclusion: The Laŏzĭ and medieval Shintō Abbreviations of Primary Source Titles Notes Bibliography 7. Demarcation from Daoism in Shinran’s Kyōgyōshinshō Daoism and Buddhism in medieval Japan Subordinating the stars Criticism of Daoist practices The Biànzhèng lùn and its use by Shinran Demoting Laŏzĭ from the heavens Conclusion Notes Bibliography 8. Kōshin: Expelling Daoist demons through Buddhist means The "deathbringers” of Daoism Antecedents Early development Japanese reflections The Kōshin deity Ritual transformation The Kōshin cult The Kōshin vigil Kōshin chants The Kōshin festival The Kōshin engi Notes Bibliography Part III: Apparitions 9. The Zhuāngzĭ, haikai, and the poetry of Bashō Introduction The Zhuāngzĭ’s gūgen 寓言 and comic linked verse Shōyōyū 逍遥遊 and the haikai landscape redefined Zōka 造化 and the poetics of Bashō Notes Bibliography 10. The eight trigrams and their changes: Divination in early modern Japan Introduction Prologue: what is a trigram? Looking for the trigrams in early modern Japan Books of trigrams: type, content, and evolution Early folded books and the core technique The first manuals: unveiling the technique Compendia of the eight trigrams: transmission of knowledge, authorship, and critical thinking A Kyōgen soothsayer Monks or priests? The elusive status of Genroku diviners The early modern world view as seen through divination Conclusion: divination, beliefs, superstitions, and their sociocultural context Notes Bibliography 11. Crossing the borders: The magical practices of Izanagi-ryū Introduction The pluralistic structure of Izanagi-ryū Performing the ritual texts Locating the origins of sorcery The magical practices of Izanagi-ryū The witch, the bewitched, the unwitcher, and ... the bewitcher Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Daoist Traditions Introduced From China Once Flowed Powerfully Through The Japanese Religious Landscape, Forever Altering Its Topography And Ecology. Daoism's Presence In Japan Still May Be Discerned In Its Abiding Influence On Astrology, Divination, Festivals, Literature, Politics, And Popular Culture, Not To Mention Buddhism And Shintō, Yet Few English-language Studies Of Daoism's Influence On Japanese Religious Culture Have Been Published. Daoism In Japan Provides An Exploration Of The Particular Pathways By Which Daoist Traditions Entered Japan From Continental East Asia. After Addressing The Basic Issues In Both Daoism Studies And The Study Of Japanese Religions, Including The Problems Of Defining 'daoism' And 'japanese', The Book Looks At The Influence Of Daoism On Ancient, Medieval And Modern Japan In Turn. To Do So, The Volume Is Arranged Both Chronologically And Topically, According To The Following Three Broad Divisions: Arrivals (c. 5th-8th Centuries Ce), Assimilations (794-1868), And Apparitions ( 1600s-present). The Book Demonstrates How Chinese Influence On Japanese Religious Culture Ironically Proved To Be Crucial In Establishing Traditions That Usually Are Seen As Authentically, Even Quintessentially, Japanese. Touching On Multiple Facets Of Japanese Cultural History And Religious Traditions, This Book Is A Fascinating Contribution For Students And Scholars Of Japanese Culture, History And Religions, As Well As Daoism Studies-- Edited By Jeffrey L. Richey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Like an ancient river, Daoist traditions introduced from China once flowed powerfully through the Japanese religious landscape, forever altering its topography and ecology. Daoism s presence in Japan still may be discerned in its abiding influence on astrology, divination, festivals, literature, politics, and popular culture, not to mention Buddhism and Shint . Despite this legacy, few English-language studies of Daoism s influence on Japanese religious culture have been published." Daoism in Japan" provides an exploration of the particular pathways by which Daoist traditions entered Japan from continental East Asia. After addressing basic issues in both Daoist Studies and the study of Japanese religions, including the problems of defining Daoism and Japanese, the book looks at the influence of Daoism on ancient, medieval and modern Japan in turn. To do so, the volume is arranged both chronologically and topically, according to the following three broad divisions: "Arrivals" (c. 5th-8th centuries CE), "Assimilations" (794-1868), and "Apparitions" (1600s-present). The book demonstrates how Chinese influence on Japanese religious culture ironically proved to be crucial in establishing traditions that usually are seen as authentically, even quintessentially, Japanese. Touching on multiple facets of Japanese cultural history and religious traditions, this book is a fascinating contribution for students and scholars of Japanese Culture, History and Religions, as well as Daoist Studies." "Daoist traditions introduced from China once flowed powerfully through the Japanese religious landscape, forever altering its topography and ecology. Daoism's presence in Japan still may be discerned in its abiding influence on astrology, divination, festivals, literature, politics, and popular culture, not to mention Buddhism and Shintō, yet few English-language studies of Daoism's influence on Japanese religious culture have been published. Daoism in Japan provides an exploration of the particular pathways by which Daoist traditions entered Japan from continental East Asia. After addressing the basic issues in both Daoism Studies and the study of Japanese religions, including the problems of defining 'Daoism' and 'Japanese', the book looks at the influence of Daoism on ancient, medieval and modern Japan in turn. To do so, the volume is arranged both chronologically and topically, according to the following three broad divisions: "Arrivals" (c. 5th-8th centuries CE), "Assimilations" (794-1868), and "Apparitions" (1600s-present). The book demonstrates how Chinese influence on Japanese religious culture ironically proved to be crucial in establishing traditions that usually are seen as authentically, even quintessentially, Japanese. Touching on multiple facets of Japanese cultural history and religious traditions, this book is a fascinating contribution for students and scholars of Japanese Culture, History and Religions, as well as Daoism Studies"-- Provided by publisher