The Monkey as Mirror: Symbolic Transformations in Japanese History and RitualThis 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. |
Contents
Theoretical Setting | 3 |
A Sketch | 12 |
Limitations and Organization of the Book | 17 |
The Monkey as Metaphor for the Japanese | 20 |
The Monkey as a Metaphor for Humans | 22 |
The Line Between Humans and Monkeys | 32 |
The Monkey as an Anomalous Symbol and the Hierarchy of Meaning | 34 |
MEANINGS THROUGH HISTORY | 39 |
Dualistic Cosmology | 130 |
Deities as Mirrors of Humans | 133 |
Purity and Impurity in the Japanese Ethos | 137 |
The Sacred the Secular and the Impure | 140 |
Cosmological Principles and Classification of People | 144 |
Mediators and Scapegoats as Reflexive Agents | 149 |
Clowns as Reflexive Agents | 151 |
Theoretical Considerations | 154 |
The Monkey in Japanese Culture Historical Transformations of Its Meaning | 41 |
The Monkey as Mediator in Early and Transitional Periods | 42 |
A Summary | 55 |
The Monkey as Scapegoat and Trickster in Later History | 59 |
Contemporary Developments | 72 |
The Special Status People in Japanese Society Historical Transformations of Their Meaning | 75 |
Ancient Period 300 BCTwelfth Century | 77 |
Medieval Period TwelfthSixteenth Century | 81 |
Early Modern Period 16031868 | 93 |
Modern Period 1868Present | 97 |
Summary and Interpretation | 99 |
The Monkey Performance Historical Transformations of Its Meaning | 101 |
Ancient and Medieval Periods 300 BCSixteenth Century | 103 |
Early Modern Period 16031868 | 113 |
Modern Period 1868Present | 118 |
Summary | 126 |
The Monkey and the Special Status People in the Reflexive Structure of the Japanese | 128 |
BASIC STRUCTURE PROCESSUALCONTEXTUAL STRUCTURE AND MULTIPLE STRUCTURES OF MEANING | 161 |
The Monkey Performance of the Late Medieval Period | 163 |
Monkey Performance as Stable Ritual | 164 |
Monkey Performances as Street Entertainment | 168 |
Framing of the Monkey Performance | 179 |
The Monkey Performance in Contemporary Japan | 183 |
Monkey as Clown | 186 |
Discussion | 204 |
FROM THE MEDIATING MONKEY TO THE REFLEXIVE MONKEY HISTORICAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND RITUAL STRUCTURE | 207 |
Structures of Meaning in History Myth and Ritual | 209 |
Structural Regularities in Transformation | 217 |
Historical Regularities | 221 |
History Myth and Ritual | 235 |
Musings on the Reflexive Monkey | 238 |
References | 241 |
| 261 | |
Other editions - View all
The Monkey as Mirror: Symbolic Transformations in Japanese History and Ritual Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney No preview available - 1987 |
Common terms and phrases
Ancient animals appears assigned associated basic became become beginning belief Buraku called century changes Chapter characterized close clown Collection communication concept constitute contemporary contemporary Japan context continued dancing defined deities developed discussion dominant Early Modern period emperor event example expressed Figure forces foreigners hierarchy horses humans important impurity individuals interpretation involved Japan Japanese culture late later living lord mediator Medieval period metaphor monkey performance monkey trainers Mountain myth nature negative Nihon noted occupations opposition original painting Photo play points position present Press principles purity refer reflexive relationship religious represents ritual role sacred saru scapegoat seen short social society special status spectators stable street structure of meaning symbolic taboos Tarō term tion Tokyo tradition trainer transformation ture turn types University various Yanagita