The Monkey as Mirror [Paperback]

Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 069102846X | ISBN-13: 978-0691028460 | Publication Date: April 1, 1989

This tripartite study of the monkey metaphor, the monkey performance, and the 'special status' people traces changes in Japanese culture from the eighth century to the present. During early periods of Japanese history the monkey's nearness to the human-animal boundary made it a revered mediator or an animal deity closest to humans. Later it became a scapegoat mocked for its vain efforts to behave in a human fashion. Modern Japanese have begun to see a new meaning in the monkey--a clown who turns itself into an object of laughter while challenging the basic assumptions of Japanese culture and society.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In an important and interesting new work the anthropologist author examines the historical transformations of the concept of self and other in Japan. This subject, basic in any culture, sometimes seems central in Japan, and any elucidation it can receive is to be welcomed. . . . [This] is a fair, impartial, balanced reading of a neglected chain of metaphors which can teach us much about this country. -- Donald Richie, The Japan Times

From the Back Cover

"This gem of anthropological analysis, of elegant dialectic between subtle theory and thoroughly understood experience and records, may be reviewed under five interconnected rubrics: ambiguity, dynamics, micro- and macro-time, reflexive structure, and tropes in social context. Let it be noted that by pervasively interweaving paragraphs about Japanese (pre)history and present life, the author constructs a model introduction to the culture that should be assigned reading in areal courses and introductory anthropology."--Paul Friedrich, University of Chicago

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (April 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 069102846X
• ISBN-13: 978-0691028460
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #805,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent text., July 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Monkey As Mirror: Symbolic Transformations in Japanese History and Ritual (Hardcover)

The 'Monkey as Mirror' is a book written ethno-historically dealing with social-cultural anthropology. The main concerns of the text are "the relationship between culture and history on the one hand and that between history and ritual/performance on the other". The main concern of the book is to examine the cultural progression of the Japanese. In order to analyze this, the focus resides on the monkey performance and Special Status People (SSP) posing as symbolization and transformation as a result of changes in Japanese society.

The text is very well set out and follows strategic guidelines as presented in the contents, this effectively links the book and ties the reader into its structure. As well as having a colorful and imaginative title, carrying with it the mischievousness associated with the macaque/baboon image, use has been made of folklore and myth in order to add entertaining and comical enjoyment to the text. This is also carried throughout the t! ! ext by the authors excitement when giving descriptions of monkey performances and training sessions. Footnotes are used to illustrate details of such things as ceremonies, rituals, customs, myths and legends as required. This allows the reader to identify with the cultural history of the Japanese whilst simultaneously offering explanation to non-Japanese readers. This allows for a better understanding of the rituals presented in the text and opens up an avenue of further reading for concepts brushed upon but not discussed in detail by the author. The use of identifiable language throughout the text allows access to a broad readership base. As the text unfolds self-criticism is made, making one feel as though the author is being a little more honest and reliable than we may necessarily believe.

The author perceives that in modern day Japan religious meanings of the monkey performance have remained, but the sense for the need of ritual has been lost. The crux of the text is th! ! at the monkey continues to be seen as a trickster, yet new ! notions of the 'cultured monkey' have arisen endorsing an attitude representing progressive, modern Japan: "speak out, examine, and listen". Ohnuki-Tierney presents the impression that emphasis has now been placed on the Japanese self as the 'cultured monkey' and others as 'tricksters'. The text illustrates the three 'cultured monkeys' as representative of contemporary Japanese society, covering the belief that the monkey represents a confronting force for contemporary society, questioning and mocking its very framework.

Showing the monkey as a group animal associating it with the yin-yang (reflexive) notion and view of the Japanese as 'self' and foreigners as 'others', the monkey becomes a culturally important animal. The author expands upon this by looking at duality in the reflexive nature of Japanese society. A whole chapter is devoted to this principle assuming the reader to have no knowledge of the concept. Yet when looking at the representations of monkey p! ! erformance Ohnuki-Tierney focuses upon Tokyo, which emphasizes the monkey as a full-blown trickster. This then tends to lead one to believe that for the sake of the author's argument Ohnuki-Tierney may be exhibiting bias, however this may just have been a personal preference.

Ultimately Ohnuki-Tierney has attempted to understand and present Japanese culture by choosing to examine monkey symbolism and performance, along with meanings of the SSP. The final chapter is a good summary and conclusion presenting an overall and succinct linkage of events and arguments with views and descriptions of previous chapters. It also looks over various meanings attributed to the monkey and SSP, as well as looking at the ethno-historical contexts in which these occurred.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent text., July 16, 1998

By 

"skdragon" (South Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Monkey As Mirror: Symbolic Transformations in Japanese History and Ritual (Hardcover)

The 'Monkey as Mirror' is a book written ethno-historically dealing with social-cultural anthropology. The main concerns of the text are "the relationship between culture and history on the one hand and that between history and ritual/performance on the other". The main concern of the book is to examine the cultural progression of the Japanese. In order to analyze this, the focus resides on the monkey performance and Special Status People (SSP) posing as symbolization and transformation as a result of changes in Japanese society.

The text is very well set out and follows strategic guidelines as presented in the contents, this effectively links the book and ties the reader into its structure. As well as having a colorful and imaginative title, carrying with it the mischievousness associated with the macaque/baboon image, use has been made of folklore and myth in order to add entertaining and comical enjoyment to the text. This is also carried throughout the t! ! ext by the authors excitement when giving descriptions of monkey performances and training sessions. Footnotes are used to illustrate details of such things as ceremonies, rituals, customs, myths and legends as required. This allows the reader to identify with the cultural history of the Japanese whilst simultaneously offering explanation to non-Japanese readers. This allows for a better understanding of the rituals presented in the text and opens up an avenue of further reading for concepts brushed upon but not discussed in detail by the author. The use of identifiable language throughout the text allows access to a broad readership base. As the text unfolds self-criticism is made, making one feel as though the author is being a little more honest and reliable than we may necessarily believe.

The author perceives that in modern day Japan religious meanings of the monkey performance have remained, but the sense for the need of ritual has been lost. The crux of the text is th! ! at the monkey continues to be seen as a trickster, yet new ! notions of the 'cultured monkey' have arisen endorsing an attitude representing progressive, modern Japan: "speak out, examine, and listen". Ohnuki-Tierney presents the impression that emphasis has now been placed on the Japanese self as the 'cultured monkey' and others as 'tricksters'. The text illustrates the three 'cultured monkeys' as representative of contemporary Japanese society, covering the belief that the monkey represents a confronting force for contemporary society, questioning and mocking its very framework.

Showing the monkey as a group animal associating it with the yin-yang (reflexive) notion and view of the Japanese as 'self' and foreigners as 'others', the monkey becomes a culturally important animal. The author expands upon this by looking at duality in the reflexive nature of Japanese society. A whole chapter is devoted to this principle assuming the reader to have no knowledge of the concept. Yet when looking at the representations of monkey p! ! erformance Ohnuki-Tierney focuses upon Tokyo, which emphasizes the monkey as a full-blown trickster. This then tends to lead one to believe that for the sake of the author's argument Ohnuki-Tierney may be exhibiting bias, however this may just have been a personal preference.

Ultimately Ohnuki-Tierney has attempted to understand and present Japanese culture by choosing to examine monkey symbolism and performance, along with meanings of the SSP. The final chapter is a good summary and conclusion presenting an overall and succinct linkage of events and arguments with views and descriptions of previous chapters. It also looks over various meanings attributed to the monkey and SSP, as well as looking at the ethno-historical contexts in which these occurred.