Matthieu Felt – författare

The classic story of Japan's origins—now in a fully revised and reader-friendly edition.The Kojiki is Japan's oldest surviving text, chronicling the mythical creation of the Japanese islands, the origins of the imperial family, and the early development of Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion. A cornerstone of Japanese identity and culture, it has profoundly influenced the nation's literature, spirituality, and political thought for over a thousand years.Told in a vibrant, poetic style, the Kojiki brings to life the primordial deities Izanagi and Izanami, their divine children, and the unfolding of the Japanese cosmos. These stories form the spiritual and mythological foundation of Japan—where gods walk the earth, and emperors trace their lineage to the heavens.This fully updated edition offers a vastly improved English translation with modernized names and terminology, and for the first time, previously untranslated "racy" Latin passages are rendered clearly in English. The result is a more accessible and complete reading experience, ideal for both first-time readers and longtime students of Japanese culture. Footnotes have been carefully refined for clarity and relevance, and the text has been re-typeset for ease of reading.With a new foreword by Kojiki scholar Matthieu Felt, this edition highlights why the Kojiki remains essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese mythology, literature, history, or religion.

The Chronicles of Japan--or The Nihon Shoki--compiled in 720 CE, is the oldest official history of the Japanese state. Following a 672 coup, the state of Wa renamed itself Japan and produced this dynastic historical text, legitimizing its hegemony of the archipelago. The first volume begins with the creation of the universe and the divine genealogy that underpins imperial legitimacy. Although the text was originally produced as a record of dynastic history, it is now considered the single most valuable source of information about the life, language, culture, myths, and customs of early Japan. To this day it inspires new adaptations in film, media, and video games. Written in Literary Sinitic with vernacular Japanese notes and songs, the text illustrates the process by which non-Chinese speaking peoples adapted Classical Chinese script and syntax to inscribe their own languages. Matthieu Felt's full English translation of this text is accompanied by explanatory notes, maps, and charts, making it valuable to any reader interested in the history of Japan, Shinto, mythology, the history of writing, Japanese literature and culture, and premodern Asian history.

Japanese myths present a significant barrier to entry for the Western reader. The primary sources are arcane, and their translations are not accessible to the non-specialist. Japanese deities (kami) have multiple, long names, and the myths exist in different and conflicting versions. Finally, the sheer number of kami makes grasping the pantheon difficult. Japanese Mythology: A Guide presents key Japanese myths in a format that is both rigorous and readable. Matthieu Felt brings together Japanese myths as they appear in the oldest extant sources and the various methodologies that have been used to study these myths during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Sources are indicated for readers wishing to do further research with original texts or to use Japanese myths in a comparative capacity.

Japanese myths present a significant barrier to entry for the Western reader. The primary sources are arcane, and their translations are not accessible to the non-specialist. Japanese deities (kami) have multiple, long names, and the myths exist in different and conflicting versions. Finally, the sheer number of kami makes grasping the pantheon difficult. Japanese Mythology: A Guide presents key Japanese myths in a format that is both rigorous and readable. Matthieu Felt brings together Japanese myths as they appear in the oldest extant sources and the various methodologies that have been used to study these myths during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Sources are indicated for readers wishing to do further research with original texts or to use Japanese myths in a comparative capacity.