Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shapeshifting foxes and longtongued ceilinglickers. One thing that i appreciate is that he kept it very japanese. The book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study. Stories and studies of strange things by lafcadio hearn, shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, tales of moonlig. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology. The early japanese believed that the world around them was inhabited by gods and spirits. Abumiguchi a furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander who worked for yamata no orochi aburaakago an infant ghost who licks the oil out of andon lamps aburasumashi a spirit with a large head who lives on a mountain pass in kumamoto prefecture akabeko a red cow involved in the construction of enzoji in yanaizu, fukushima. 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. Studies in japanese folklore, 1963 online research. Japanese mythology crossover fanfiction archive with over 43 stories. Jul 29, 2016 the ninetailed fox is a very popular creature in japanese mythology.
Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Every culture has their individual myths and folklore that contain an array of whimsical beasts and heroes alike. Japanese mythology and millions of other books are available for instant. There are many japanese myths, stories folklore and fables. What are some good books i can get on japanese mythology.
Fushimi inaritaisha is an ancient shrine, founded in 711, making it one of kyotos oldest and most significant places. The shinto pantheon alone boasts an uncountable number of kami deities or spirits. Kunekune a tall, slender strip of paper sheet that wiggles on rice or barley fields during hot summer. Japanese mythology explores the nations attraction to this act of historical grounding and the varying identities that emerged during different historical periods.
Cruel and malicious, they can, nevertheless, be converted to buddhism. The root of their name is a word meaning hidden or. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Japanese mythology simple english wikipedia, the free. The mythology of japan has a long history dating back more than 2,000 years. 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. 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. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. Buy a cheap copy of japanese mythology book by juliet piggott. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi waterstones. The book is easy to read, and at the same time immensely informative on the complicated and varied ways yokai have existed throughout japanese history. Kyokotsu a skeletal figure that emerges from a well.
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. No two stories about oni are exactly alike except for one thingoni are always the villains of mankind. Ninetailed foxes appear in a lot of different japanese myths and stories. Mar 09, 2020 a little bit of background before we dive into the myths. While buddhism has overtaken much of japan, many people still practice shinto, mostly for tradition rather than actual belief in the surrounding mythology. Japanese mythology a to z, second edition is a valuable, colorful reference for anyone with an interest in mythology or japanese culture. Michael ashkenazi is a professional writer and the author of numerous scholarly and encyclopedia articles on japanese religion and culture. What are some beautiful japanese myths, stories and fables. It originally came out of chinese mythology and was later introduced to both japan and korea. The best fantastical japanese mythology books anime. The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of. 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. Explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the. Red winter by annette marie, across the nightingale floor by lian hearn, inuyasha.
This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion. Kyonshi the japanese version of the chinese hopping vampire, known as jiangshi. Passed down from generations through both spoken word and writing, there is a vast number of ancient tales that touch upon virtually every aspect of life. Before shrines were built, natural spaces where kami shinto deities were believed to be present were used for worship. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Most of the surviving japanese myths are recorded in the kojiki compiled 712. Dec 16, 2014 overflowing with great stories of japans fantastical monsters, spirits, and other creatures of the collective imagination, the book of yokai is filled with solid information, a variety of new perspectives, and the kind of richness of detail that will enhance any readers enjoyment of japans monstrous folk traditions. Yamata no orochi is one of my favorite and more traditional stories. Japanese mythology is a very complex system of beliefs that embraces shinto and buddhist traditions as well as agriculturebased folk religion. I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. So, if youre looking to read more books on mythology because youve been loving the movies and games inspired by greek and norse myths, or.
Japanese mythology by judith piggott library of the worlds myths and legends. Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai originated in. Though oni have been depicted in various ways in japanese legend and art, sometimes also. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. The isonade, beach stroker is an enormous, shark like sea monster said to live off the coast of matsuura and other places in western japan. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into japan from china along with buddhism. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi. Originally, all spirits, ghosts, and monsters were known as oni. Amazing origami models from japanese culture and mythology. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. 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. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology.
Through the act of commentary and interpretation, the sacred books connected interpreters to their historical origins, authenticating where they came from, the emergence of the japanese archipelago, and the uniqueness of the japanese people. Come in to read stories and fanfics that span multiple fandoms in the japanese mythology universe. The main shrine building stands at the foot of mount inari, with the iconic red torii gatelined path winding up to the peak behind it. According to the ehon hyaku monogatari, its body has never been seen, as. Visit the links to learn about japanese myths related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world. I could assume that you mustve have heard some of the folk. Japanese mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, legend. Oni, in japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance. 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. Japanese gods, too numerous to count, are known collectively as yaoyorozunokamigamithe eight million. Oh, and on a random note about japanese mythology and the ainu. Shinto, an indigenous religion, and buddhism, which developed in india and came to japan from china and korea. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the japanese archipelago. Japan has been known to contain some of the most whimsical and even eerie tales of mythology, intriguing audiences on an international scale.
The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of justice. The festivals of a japanese town, the essence of japanese cuisine, and sex, sexuality, and the anthropologist with fran markowitz. The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in japanese mythology. Studies in japanese folklore, 1963 online research library. Japanese mythology is largely derived from the state religion of shinto.
The isonade as depicted in takehara shunsens ehon hyaku monogatari. 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. Metrobooks, 1997 new larousse encyclopedia of mythology translated by richard aldington and delano ames. Jan 5, 2014 lets jumpstart this year with rich stories of japanese mythology and folklore. See more ideas about japanese mythology, mythology and creatures. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. 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. 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 shinto pantheon alone boasts an uncountable number of kami japanese for gods or spirits.
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. Feb 02, 2016 i really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look. Japanese mythology refers to any number of stories involving kami deities or spirits, oni ogres, andor youkai feylike creatures. Nov 07, 20 japanese mythology is largely derived from the state religion of shinto. Handbook of japanese mythology michael ashkenazi oxford. Japanese folklore are heavily influenced by the two primary religions of japan, shinto and buddhism.
The ninetailed fox is a very popular creature in japanese mythology. Bill tsutsui, president of hendrix college and author of godzilla on. 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. Japanese mythology submitted names behind the name. Shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, red winter by annette marie, flame in the mist by renee ahdieh, kinslayer by jay. The kojiki or record of ancient things is the oldest known book of myths, legends, and history of japan.
Ive been wanting to read a bit about japanese myths and legends, kamis and yokais, and the main reference i found was handbook of japanese mythology, which seems quite complete. Japanese mythology is a complex system of beliefs that also embraces shinto and buddhist traditions as well as agriculturebased folk religion. Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. The white hare of inaba the japanese hares brown fur changes to white during the winter of some regions of japan.
Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by michael ashkenazi isbn. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. To simplify things, i would like to tell you my list of top 5 japanese folklore and fables. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Nov 3, 20 images of figures from japanese mythology, including gods, creatures, and anything associated. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of japan. 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. 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. Japanese mythology is full of countless stories of oni encounters with lords and ladies, warriors and rogues. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions. Long, long ago, when all the animals could talk, there lived in the province of inaba in japan, a little white hare. 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. 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.
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