In the Presence of Gods and Spirits

Hirata Atsutane and His Collaborators

AvAnne Walthall

Häftad, Engelska, 2025

Del i serien Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies

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Beskrivning

In the Presence of Gods and Spirits brings to life the early nineteenth-century Japanese religious leader and scholar Hirata Atsutane, whose fear of Russian incursion onto Japan’s soil led him to redefine what it means to be Japanese. Atsutane advocated the study of the Way of the Gods, commonly known as Shinto, to explain what happens to the soul after death and to cultivate a Japanese identity centered on gods, spirits, and the emperor. His teachings would later attract thousands of followers and feed the movements that led to the Meiji Restoration. Drawing on the concept of material religion, Walthall demonstrates how Atsutane and his collaborators sought out knowledge of the unseen world and educated others, while seeking to bring themselves closer to the gods and spirits. This work showcases Atsutane and his community’s legacy, which has had a profound influence on Japanese society, religious belief, and culture far beyond his lifetime.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2025-08-12
Mått:152 x 229 x undefined mm
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies
Antal sidor:288
Förlag:The University of Michigan Press
ISBN:9780472057573

Utforska kategorier

Östasiatiska religioner inom Filosofi och religion
Asiens historia inom Historia och arkeologi
Etnicitet inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Anne Walthall is Professor Emerita of Japanese History at the University of California Irvine. She previously coedited Women and Class in Japanese History (1999) and Women and Networks in Nineteenth-Century Japan (2020) with the University of Michigan Press.

Recensioner i media

“Walthall's new study of the life and work of the 19th-century nativist (kokugaku) scholar Hirata Atsutane addresses a crucial gap in the English-language coverage of Japanese intellectual history. Walthall's book is a useful addition to any library that focuses on the evolution of the modern Japanese state and the formation of a collective vision concerning national identity.”

Innehållsförteckning

List of IllustrationsAcknowledgementsChronology of the Hirata House and its TimesIntroduction: The Hirata Community and the Meaning of MaterialsChapter One: The Creation of the Hirata HouseChapter Two: Portraits worth a Thousand WordsChapter Three: Collaborators and The Sacred Pillar of the SoulChapter Four: Sacred ObjectsChapter Five: Denizens of the Unseen World: Gods, Spirits, ImmortalsChapter Six: The Shirakawa, The Yoshida, and AtsutaneChapter Seven: The Shrine Priests: Supporters and RivalsChapter Eight: The Women behind the MenEpilogue: Atsutane’s LegaciesList of References