Japanese Images of Nature: Cultural PerspectivesPamela J. Asquith, Arne Kalland It is often claimed that the Japanese have a particular love for nature, a love often reflected in their art and material culture. But today equal notice is being given to the environmental degradation caused by the Japanese at home as well as abroad. How can these phenomena be reconciled? This issue is but one of several raised that this volume seeks to address in its examination of the human-nature relationship in Japan. Through topics ranging from medieval literature and fine arts through to modern vending machines and tourism, the authors document the great diversity in how people perceive their natural environment and how they come to terms with nature, be it through brute force, rituals or idealization. The main message of the book is that 'nature' and the 'natural' are concepts very much conditioned by their context, an approach quite different from the uncompromising stance so often found in the West. |
Contents
CHAPTER TWO | 36 |
CHAPTER THREE | 54 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 68 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 83 |
CHAPTER SIX | 106 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 121 |
CHAPTER EIGHT | 145 |
Constructions of Sexuality among Japanese Adolescents | 166 |
CHAPTER TEN | 181 |
CHAPTER ELEVEN | 206 |
CHAPTER TWELVE | 221 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN | 236 |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN | 257 |
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS | 281 |
Common terms and phrases
advertising aesthetic animals argues Asahi Shinbun Asian aspects associated beauty behaviour Berque bijinga brain death Buddhism Chapter cherry blossoms Chinese climate colour constructed context Death and Organ discussion drinks environment environmental example existence expression fireflies flowers forest Four Seasons Fūdo geisha harmony Heian Heian period Hermès human ibid idea ideal ideology important interpretations of nature ishoku Japan Japanese culture Japanese gardens Japanese poetry Kaibara Ekken Kalland Kasulis Kyoto land living magazines magical meaning Meiji metaphor modern Moeran Mount Fuji mountains natural farming natural images nature continuum nature tourism newcomers Nihon nihonga Nihonjinron Nōshi organ transplants particular perceptions of nature poem poetry Principle relation relationship ritual rural sense settlers sexual Shinto shizen shrines Skov social spirit symbols Tokugawa Tokyo tourists traditional trees University Press village visual Watsuji Watsuji Tetsurō we-philosophy Western wild woman women yin and yang young