Overflowing with great stories of japans fantastical monsters, spirits, and other. The history of thousands of years of contact with china, korea, ainu, and okinawan myths are also key influences in japanese mythology. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in. 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.
Pages in category japanese mythology the following 86 pages are in this category, out of 86 total. On a distant world in the far future, the sengoku feudalwarring states period of japan is happening all over againbut this time with hightech weapons, magically powered mecha, taoist magic masters, and. The following is a list of some of the major and minor deities in shinto. Journal of the association of teachers of japanese readable japanese mythology. Hansen handbook of egyptian mythology, geraldine pinch handbook of hindu mythology, george. The book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study. Come in to read stories and fanfics that span multiple fandoms in the japanese mythology universe. From the wages of guilt to the rape of nanking, here are nine books to get your japanese history on. Selections from nihon shoki and kojiki robert borgen and marian ury introduction kojiki and nihon shoki, completed in the years 712 and 720 respectively, are japans two oldest books. 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. Explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the study of. 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.
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. 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. Norse mythologybabre bayan, a suit of armour that rostam wore in wars described in the persian epic shahnameh. The shinto pantheon alone boasts an uncountable number of kami deities or spirits. 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. Handbook of japanese mythology makes it easy to travel this vast yet littleknown mythological landscape. Oh, and on a random note about japanese mythology and the ainu. Commonly called uzume, she is the goddess of dawn and revelry, instrumental to the missing sun. 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. Only nigihayahi furu has the name of amateru among japanese deities. Most of the surviving japanese myths are recorded in the kojiki compiled 712. Japanese mythology ebook by jim ollhoff nook book ebook. Japanese mythology by judith piggott library of the worlds myths and legends. 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. Though oni have been depicted in various ways in japanese legend and art, sometimes also. Readers of japanese mythology will learn the history of myths, as well as their deeper meaning. My exposure to japanese mythology and folklore actually began when i was in grade school. Handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology author.
Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs, practices, and historical accounts of the japanese people. What are some good books i can get on japanese mythology. Japanese divinities simple english wikipedia, the free. A tale from chinese opera, retold by aaron shepard ancient tales and folklore of china, by edward t. Handbook of japanese mythology by michael ashkenazi. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities. A very informative and also highly educational book to read. This creation myth, or story about the creation of the world, became central to the shinto religion. Oni, in japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance. Shinto and buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of japanese mythology. Japanese mythology crossover fanfiction archive with over 43 stories. Some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in japan.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. What is a good book about japanese mythology and other cultures. Fantasy, magical realism, mythic fiction, historic fiction, or general fiction based in japanese mythology. Anime commonly include ideas based on the creation myth, featuring amaterasu, susanoo, izanagi and izanami. The armour was invulnerable against fire, water and weapons. 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. It is clearly described that nigihayahi was ruling yamato ancient name of the capital and the center of japan before conquest war of emperor jinmu in the two oldest official history books of. Many of us foreigners living or traveling in japan are only slightly familiar with the countrys troubled and complicated history. 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 kojiki or record of ancient things is the oldest known book of myths, legends, and history of japan. Japanese gods, too numerous to count, are known collectively as yaoyorozunokamigamithe eight million. 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. I really want to know more about japanese mythology, but i dont know where to look.
Greek mythologyarmour of beowulf, a mail shirt made by wayland the smith. They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into japan from china along with buddhism. Tenra bansho zero is a selfdescribed hyperasian fantasy, an animemanga mashup that includes elements of japanese mythology. Japanese mythology by juliet piggott and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Ryan and shane investigate the death and haunting of an internet japanese streamer named ruruchan. A superhero tale of china, retold from the journey to the west by aaron shepard lady white snake. See more ideas about japanese mythology, mythology and mythical creatures. Yamata no orochi is one of my favorite and more traditional stories. Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, goddesses, and spirits. 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. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Armour of achilles, created by hephaestus and said to be impenetrable.
Buy handbook of japanese mythology handbooks of world mythology by ashkenazi, michael isbn. This is literally a casefic for a real actual suicide, and depicts some pretty not fun things. The drama of myths are particularly wellsuited to provide the scaffolding for teenage stories, whether focused coming of age or romance and adventure. Handbook of japanese mythology linkedin slideshare. Metrobooks, 1997 new larousse encyclopedia of mythology translated by richard aldington and delano ames. 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. Cruel and malicious, they can, nevertheless, be converted to buddhism. Mississippi river hydrology may help reduce oil onshore scientists are currently tracking the effects of the oil spill on the wetlands of the louisiana coast. Japanese mythology simple english wikipedia, the free. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the japanese archipelago. The japanese satan enmaoo emma oh hell king is actually the ainu god of. 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. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that includes shinto and buddhist traditions.