An Introduction to Yōkai Culture: Monsters, Ghosts, and Outsiders in Japanese History

Description

Since ancient times, the Japanese have lived with superstitions of strange presences and phenomena known as "yōkai," creating a culture by turns infused with unease, fear, and divinity. Fearsome kappa, oni, and tengu. Yamauba crones. Ghostly yurei. Otherworldy ijin...Where did they come from? Why do they remain so popular? Written by Japan's premier scholar of yokai and strange tales, this book is both an introduction to the rich imagination and spirituality of Japan's yokai culture and a history of the authors and writings that have shaped yokai studies as a field. Table of Contents Cover Contents An Introduction to Yōkai Culture Preface to the English Edition Part Ⅰ An Invitation to Yokai Culture Chapter 1. What is Yokai Culture? Yokai as Incidents Yokai as Supernatural Entities Yokai as Depictions The “Yokaization” of Old Tools and Strange Phenomena In the Footsteps of Yokai Scholars Modern Japanese and Yokai Chapter 2. Yokai Beyond Time and Borders Why Do Yokai Appear? The Etic and the Emic Translating Culture Part Ⅱ On the Trail of Yokai Studies Chapter 3. Tsukimono What Is a Tsukimono? The Changing Face of Tsukimono Research Classifying Spirits Rumors of Mysterious Beasts Breaking Down Superstitions Mystical Methods The Transformation of Shared Fantasies The Role of Religious Figures Chapter 4. Yōkai What Are Yokai? Revived Interest in Yokai Illustrations The Early Days of Yokai Research Yanagita Kunio’s Views on Yokai Post-Yanagita Yokai Studies New Developments in Yokai Studies Yokai Studies as Human Studies Chapter 5. Kappa What Are Kappa? Categories of Kappa Lore Folklore Studies and Kappa Kappa Komabiki Ko Kappa of the Rivers and Mountains New Directions in Kappa Research Rewriting Kappa Theory The Fascination with Kappa Chapter 6. Oni What Is an Oni? How Oni are Used Today Oni as a Label Two Approaches to Oni Oni as Imaginary Creatures Examining Oni Legends Oni in Ritual, Performance, and Folklore Studies From Namahage to Oni The True Form of Oni Chapter 7. Tengu and Yamauba Famed Yokai of the Mountains A Brief History of Tengu Scholarship The Image of the Tengu Tengu Worshipers Folklore Studies and Tengu A Brief History of Yamauba Scholarship The Image of the Yamauba Chapter 8. Yūrei What Are Yurei ? The Difference Between Yurei and Yokai Defining Yurei : The Basics A Brief History of Yurei Scholarship Views of the Dead: The Roots of Yurei Culture Chapter 9. Ijin and Ikenie: Outsiders and Sacrifices What Are Ijin? Ijin , Sacrifices, and Village Communities Legends of Ijin-goroshi (Outsider Murders) Changing Views of Ijin Ijin and the Rise and Fall of Families Ijin Evolving Chapter 10. Boundaries What Is a Boundary? Spaces and Places as Boundaries, Time as Boundary Boundaries and Place Boundaries and Time Symbols of Boundaries Strange Phenomena and Times with Boundary Attributes Bibliography and Recommended Readings List of Illustrations About the Author