Japanese Mythology

Fülszöveg

Japan is a Country Rich in Myths, legends and folk tales, and its mythology is a fascinating blend of gods, heroes, supernatural beings, and intelligent anlnnals, inspired by history, ghost stories and religion.
Buddhism and Shinto are both flourishing religions and contribute remarkable stories of gods and mortals. The gods of Shinto, the indigenous religion, all have human failings: like Ameratasu, the sun goddess, who plunged the world into darkness in anger at the behaviour of Susano, the storm god.
Stories are told of the mighty deeds of historical characters such as Tamemoto and Yoshitsune; and others of familiar animals like dogs, cats, foxes, badgers and monkeys who converse freely and repay wrongs or kindnesses done to them by humans.
Ghost stories, too, abound, and the countryside is populated by creatures such as the tree-dwelling tengu and the kappa, goblins, which haunt rivers and have an insatiable appetite for cucumbers as well as animals and human beings.... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Japan is a Country Rich in Myths, legends and folk tales, and its mythology is a fascinating blend of gods, heroes, supernatural beings, and intelligent anlnnals, inspired by history, ghost stories and religion.
Buddhism and Shinto are both flourishing religions and contribute remarkable stories of gods and mortals. The gods of Shinto, the indigenous religion, all have human failings: like Ameratasu, the sun goddess, who plunged the world into darkness in anger at the behaviour of Susano, the storm god.
Stories are told of the mighty deeds of historical characters such as Tamemoto and Yoshitsune; and others of familiar animals like dogs, cats, foxes, badgers and monkeys who converse freely and repay wrongs or kindnesses done to them by humans.
Ghost stories, too, abound, and the countryside is populated by creatures such as the tree-dwelling tengu and the kappa, goblins, which haunt rivers and have an insatiable appetite for cucumbers as well as animals and human beings.
LIBRARY OF THE WORLD'S MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Myths and legends are found the world over, and their origin and purpose form a special part of the story of the development of the human race. Some of these myths embody people's early explanations of the world they lived in, the forces governing their lives and the need to provide some account for the good and evil that befell them. Many of these forces were personified-given names and personalities - the first step to the formalisation of belief In ritual and in religion. A galaxy of gods, devils, heroes and monsters emerged, as varied as the societies from which they sprang and the appeal of their actions. Mythology has served as the foundation of the loftiest and most abstract thought in art and religion.
The Library oft lie World's Myths and Legends is an authoritative series on the major mythologies of the world's history. Written by a team of well-known scholars, including archaeologists, linguists and students of comparative religion, each book in the library combines an attractive recital of the myths of a culture with the world-picture that these stories reveal and the art-forms they have Inspired. The text is fully Illustrated with artefacts and paintings related to the myths, and, where appropriate, ethnological material showing the role of myth In everyday life. Vissza