Ritual Poetry and the Politics of Death in Early Japan [Paperback]

Gary L. Ebersole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1992

This examination of death rituals in early Japan finds in the practice of double burial a key to understanding the Taika Era (645-710 A.D.). Drawing on narratives and poems from the earliest Japanese texts--the Kojiki, the Nihonshoki, and the Man'yoshu, an anthology of poetry--it argues that double burial was the center of a manipulation of myth and ritual for specific ideological and factional purposes. "This volume has significantly raised the standard of scholarship on early Japanese and Man'yoshu studies."--Joseph Kitagawa "So convincing is the historical and religious thought displayed here, it is impossible to imagine how anyone can ever again read these documents in the old way."--Alan L. Miller, The Journal of Religion "A central resource for historians of early Japan."--David L. Barnhill, History of Religions

Editorial Reviews

Review

So convincing is the historical and religious thought displayed here, it is impossible to imagine how anyone can ever again read these documents in the old way. -- The Journal of Religion

From the Back Cover

"This volume has significantly raised the standard of scholarship on early Japanese and Man'yoshu studies."--Joseph Kitagawa

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (July 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691019290
• ISBN-13: 978-0691019291
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,153,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very high quality scholarship, yet accesible, December 22, 2008

By 

Stephanie Corwin (Shikoku, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ritual Poetry and the Politics of Death in Early Japan (Paperback)

I was very impressed by this work. Very thorough scholarship and incredibly deep analysis yet accessible even to non-specialists.