L'enunciazione in Semiotica

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

L'enunciazione in Semiotica UNIVERSITÀ CA’FOSCARI DI VENEZIA DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN LINGUE, CULTURE E SOCIETA’ (XXII ciclo) Settore scientifico disciplinare di afferenza: L-OR/20 Tesi di Dottorato Attori, reti e linguaggi dell’esperienza religiosa. Indagini semiotiche sulle strategie di enunciazione nel discorso religioso giapponese Coordinatore del Dottorato: Prof. Rosella Mamoli Zorzi Tutor del Dottorando: Prof. Massimo Raveri Dottorando: Tatsuma Padoan (955350) A.A. 2006/07 – 2009/2010 A chi, da lassù, continua a guidare i nostri passi INDICE Introduzione (p. 5) Cap.1 Regimi e strategie di enunciazione (p. 6) 1.1 Cosa è enunciazione? Per una teoria semiotica del discorso (p. 6) 1.2 Come è enunciazione? Strategie e tattiche di mediazione (p. 19) 1.3 Quando è enunciazione? I regimi e le reti (p. 42) 1.4 Definizione dei due case studies (p. 55) Cap. 2 Credenza e traduzione: gli dei di Katsuragi (p. 58) 2.1 Il Giappone nel tredicesimo secolo: cartografia di discorsi localizzati (p. 60) 2.1.1 La traduzione tra discorsi religiosi (p. 67) 2.2 Katsuragi e le sue narrazioni mitostoriche (p. 77) 2.3 Isotopie dello spazio: ridefinire i luoghi dell’ascesi (p. 95) 2.4 Costruzione mitologica e negoziazione di memoria (p. 109) 2.5 L’invenzione delle origini: tattiche enunciative (p. 113) 2.5.1 Regimi di credenza e strategie di legittimazione (p. 127) 2.6 Traduzioni narrative e rotte di pellegrinaggio (p. 130) 2.7 Conclusione: promuovere una identità narrativa (p. 131) 3 Cap. 3 Politica e agentività: dei treni e dei riti (p. 133) 3.1 Introduzione. Sulle tracce dei non-umani (p. 133) 3.1.1 Il partito dei non-umani (p. 136) 3.1.2 Le memorie dei non-umani (p. 138) 3.2 La lotteria dei non-umani (p. 141) 3.3 Controversie tra non-umani (p. 142) 3.4 Il percorso dei non-umani (p. 143) 3.5 Soggettività enunciazionale e cartografie dei non-umani (p. 148) 3.6 Soggettività narrativa: passeggiando con i non-umani (p. 155) 3.7 Soggettività discorsiva: i rituali dei non-umani (p. 161) 3.8 Passioni vegetali, ovvero la cura dei non-umani (p. 178) 3.9 Invio: le cartoline dei non-umani (p. 196) Conclusione (206) Bibliografia (p. 208) Ringraziamenti (p. 227) 4 Introduzione Questa ricerca si prefigge di esplorare il problema dell’enunciazione all’interno del discorso religioso giapponese, prendendo in esame due diversi case studies, che si differenziano per epoca storica e per forme espressive utilizzate, oltre che per un distinto uso dei dispositivi enunciativi. Si cercherà in particolare di seguire la proposta di B. Latour sull’analisi di diversi regimi di enunciazione, integrando le sue idee con i modelli della semiotica generativa. La metodologia di indagine che verrà seguita sarà quella proposta dalla semiotica generativa e discorsiva, attraverso una esplorazione degli strumenti concettuali emersi in questi ultimi anni, all’interno del filone di studi sviluppatosi a partire dalla cosiddetta Scuola di Parigi. Ad un capitolo introduttivo sul concetto di enunciazione e su alcuni suoi recenti sviluppi, seguiranno i due casi concernenti rispettivamente: (1) i meccanismi di traduzione e di costruzione identitaria presenti in un discorso mitologico shintō-buddhista medievale, attivati da particolari prassi enunciative che portano all’instaurazione di un regime di credenza; e (2) la negoziazione del territorio attuata da un regime di enunciazione politica, che connette tra loro attori umani e non-umani all’interno di un pellegrinaggio urbano, costruito per mezzo di una campagna pubblicitaria e commerciale. La diversità dei casi esaminati permetterà una maggiore comparazione tra le diverse forme e strategie di enunciazione presenti nel discorso religioso in Giappone, consentendo di valutare l’efficacia della metodologia semiotica in questo campo di ricerca, e suggerendo possibili orientamenti futuri di indagine. 5 Cap. 1 Regimi e strategie di enunciazione “Dopo aver marciato sette giorni attraverso boscaglie, chi va a Bauci non riesce a vederla ed è arrivato. I sottili trampoli che s’alzano dal suolo a gran distanza l’uno dall’altro e si perdono sopra le nubi sostengono la città. Ci si sale con scalette. A terra gli abitanti si mostrano di rado: hanno già tutto l’occorrente lassù e preferiscono non scendere. Nulla della città tocca il suolo tranne quelle lunghe gambe da fenicottero a cui s’appoggia e, nelle giornate luminose, un’ombra traforata e angolosa che si disegna sul fogliame. Tre ipotesi si dànno sugli abitanti di Bauci: che odino la Terra; che la rispettino al punto d’evitare ogni contatto; che la amino com’era prima di loro e con cannocchiali e telescopi puntati in giù non si stanchino di passarla in rassegna, foglia a foglia, sasso a sasso, formica per formica, contemplando affascinati la propria assenza.” I. Calvino, Le città invisibili 1.1 Cosa è enunciazione? Per una teoria semiotica del discorso Si potrebbe sostenere, non a torto, che lo studio del fenomeno dell’enunciazione abbia segnato un punto di svolta nella semiotica francese e italiana a partire dalla fine degli anni Settanta, e che rappresenti una chiave fondamentale per comprendere gli orientamenti epistemologici di questo settore di ricerca negli ultimi anni.1 Grazie all’analisi della problematica dell’enunciazione, l’interesse della semiotica si è infatti spostato dall’epistemologia strutturale degli anni Sessanta e Settanta, allo studio della dimensione del discorso. Ciò è avvenuto attraverso una progressiva integrazione di riflessioni provenienti dalla pragmatica anglosassone (Austin, Searle), dalla fenomenologia (Husserl, Merleau-Ponty) e dall’ermeneutica (Ricœur), adattate al paradigma semiotico proprio grazie al concetto di enunciazione. Ma che cosa riguarda esattamente tale concetto? Per illustrarlo, partirò citando un aneddoto famoso negli studi di comunicazione politica. 1 Bertrand (2000), trad. it. p. 53. 6 Nel 1988 i candidati francesi alle presidenziali, François Mitterand e Jacques Chirac, si affrontavano in un faccia a faccia televisivo, sulla prima rete nazionale francese. Mitterand era il Presidente uscente, e si ricandidava alle elezioni dopo due anni di governo in coabitazione con il Primo ministro Chirac, dello schieramento opposto, a sua volta aspirante all’Eliseo. Nel corso del dibattito, Mitterand si rivolse ripetutamente a Chirac chiamandolo “Monsieur le Premier Ministre”. Ad un certo punto Chirac, un po’ spazientito, replicò: “Permettetemi soltanto di dire che stasera io non sono il Primo ministro e voi non siete il Presidente della Repubblica. Noi siamo due candidati alla pari, e che si sottomettono al giudizio dei francesi, che è ciò che conta. Mi permetterete dunque di chiamarvi ‘signor Mitterand’”. La risposta, caustica, di Mitterand fu: “Avete perfettamente ragione, signor Primo ministro”. Nel corso di questo scambio verbale, emergono molti dei meccanismi che caratterizzano il fenomeno dell’enunciazione. Innanzitutto il primo interlocutore, Mitterand, rivolgendosi a Chirac con l’appellativo “Primo ministro”, costruisce una precisa gerarchia di relazioni all’interno della quale cerca di incasellare il proprio avversario politico. Egli enuncia cioè un discorso in cui la propria identità e quella del secondo interlocutore sono chiaramente definite. Chirac, in quanto Primo ministro, è collocato su un gradino più basso rispetto alla figura del Presidente, ed è spinto ad accettare questo stato di cose. Il discorso enunciato da Mitterand tenta infatti di inserire al suo interno l’avversario, cercando di spingere Chirac a rivolgersi al proprio interlocutore chiamandolo, per l’appunto, “Presidente”. Tuttavia Chirac tenta di scardinare il discorso di Mitterand e la gerarchia di relazioni che esso propone, enunciando a sua volta un suo discorso, in cui i due soggetti ricoprirebbero invece un ruolo paritario, ma sottoposto (collocato sotto) al giudizio di un terzo soggetto, l’elettorato francese. Così il discorso di Chirac crea una nuova rete di gerarchie e forme di identità, evocando e costruendo un terzo attante (o ruolo comunicativo), che pone al di sopra degli attori politici, con il compito di decidere sull’esito delle elezioni.2 L’abile evocazione di questo terzo attante ha la forza persuasiva di chiamare in causa il singolo elettore a casa che sta assistendo al dibattito televisivo. Si tratta di una azione verbale che porta il telespettatore a identificarsi con un attore collettivo, “l’elettorato giudicante”, 2 Per la definizione formale di “Attante” in semiotica, cfr. il dizionario di Greimas e Courtés (2007), ad vocem. 7 attraverso un gesto che sembra voler nobilmente restituirgli un potere sovrano, che in realtà è però già garantito dalla Costituzione. Il messaggio politico sotteso è chiaramente: “Attenzione, Mitterand sta cercando di sottrarvi il potere che vi spetta, di spodestare il vostro ruolo sovrano”. Chirac si fa paladino del giusto ordine delle cose, si presenta come la persona che sa ascoltare l’elettorato e sa riconoscergli la posizione che gli spetta. Mitterand, con una sola risposta pungente e un sapiente uso dell’ironia, fa invece crollare la realtà che questo discorso propone, il suo insieme di identità e relazioni, riaffermando con forza la gerarchia che inizialmente egli stesso aveva proposto. L’enunciazione è il meccanismo che compie esattamente tutte queste operazioni. Esso è infatti il modo in cui noi, attraverso i linguaggi (verbali, visivi, gestuali, ecc…) costruiamo e cerchiamo di negoziare la nostra identità e quella degli altri. In altre parole, è il modo in cui cerchiamo di negoziare le relazioni tra noi e gli altri, mettendo in gioco dei soggetti e cercando di definire delle forme di comportamento tra questi soggetti, le loro interazioni. Attraverso l’enunciazione, produciamo dei processi comunicativi o discorsi, e ci proiettiamo, spostiamo, immergiamo al loro interno, tentando di coinvolgere anche gli altri, invitandoli ad aderire alle forme di identità e comportamento proposte. Il solo modo per rispondere è quello, da parte dell’interlocutore, di produrre altri discorsi (verbali, visivi, gestuali, spesso in una combinazione tra diversi linguaggi), nel corso di una attività interpretativa di traduzione e rilancio di identità.
Recommended publications
  • Representations of Pleasure and Worship in Sankei Mandara Talia J
    Mapping Sacred Spaces: Representations of Pleasure and Worship in Sankei mandara Talia J. Andrei Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Columbia University 2016 © 2016 Talia J.Andrei All rights reserved Abstract Mapping Sacred Spaces: Representations of Pleasure and Worship in Sankei Mandara Talia J. Andrei This dissertation examines the historical and artistic circumstances behind the emergence in late medieval Japan of a short-lived genre of painting referred to as sankei mandara (pilgrimage mandalas). The paintings are large-scale topographical depictions of sacred sites and served as promotional material for temples and shrines in need of financial support to encourage pilgrimage, offering travelers worldly and spiritual benefits while inspiring them to donate liberally. Itinerant monks and nuns used the mandara in recitation performances (etoki) to lead audiences on virtual pilgrimages, decoding the pictorial clues and touting the benefits of the site shown. Addressing themselves to the newly risen commoner class following the collapse of the aristocratic order, sankei mandara depict commoners in the role of patron and pilgrim, the first instance of them being portrayed this way, alongside warriors and aristocrats as they make their way to the sites, enjoying the local delights, and worship on the sacred grounds. Together with the novel subject material, a new artistic language was created— schematic, colorful and bold. We begin by locating sankei mandara’s artistic roots and influences and then proceed to investigate the individual mandara devoted to three sacred sites: Mt. Fuji, Kiyomizudera and Ise Shrine (a sacred mountain, temple and shrine, respectively).
    [Show full text]
  • Prayer on Mount Hiei
    Primary Source Document with Questions (DBQs) EXCERPTS FROM SELECTED WRITINGS BY SAICHŌ: “PRAYER ON MOUNT HIEI” “ON THE POSSIBILITY OF ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ALL MEN” “VOW OF THE UNINTERRUPTED STUDY OF THE LOTUS SŪTRA” “THE MAHAYANA PRECEPTS IN ADMONITIONS OF THE FANWANG SŪTRA” Introduction Saichō (767‐822), posthumously titled Dengyō Daishi, was the founder of the Tendai School in Japan, which became the most prominent branch of Buddhism throughout the Heian period. Saichō learned of the Chinese Tiantai teachings during his trip to China in 804. After returning to Japan, he founded the Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei near Kyoto. At that point, the main Buddhist rituals were shifted from being performed at Todaiji in Nara, which followed the Vinaya (Hīnayāna) precepts, to Enryakuji, which adhered strictly to the Bodhisattva (Mahāyāna) precepts. Saichō also wrote important doctrinal commentaries on the Lotus Sūtra. Document Excerpts with Questions From Sources of Japanese Tradition, compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary, Donald Keene, George Tanabe, and Paul Varley, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia University Press, 2001), 125, 129, 140, 142‐144. © 2001 Columbia University Press. Reproduced with the permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Excerpts from Selected Writings by Saichō “Prayer on Mount Hiei” Oh Buddhas Of unexcelled complete enlightenment Bestow your invisible aid Upon this hut I open On the mountain top. [Dengyō Daishi zenshū IV, p. 756 (1912 ed.)] “On the Possibility of Enlightenment for All Men” In the lotus‑flower is implicit its emergence from the water. If it does not emerge, its blossoms will not open: in the emergence is implicit the blossoming.
    [Show full text]
  • Slide 36. Introduction of Miwa Deity to Mt. Hiei
    Footnote Slide 36. Condensed Visual Classroom Guide to Daikokuten Iconography in Japan. Copyright Mark Schumacher, 2017. INTRODUCTION OF MIWA DEITY TO MT. HIEI Scholars generally assume the Miwa deity (aka Ōmononushi, aka Ōnamuchi) was introduced to Mt. Hiei during the reign of Tenji 天智天皇 (r. 626–71). The prevailing view is that the Miwa deity was “invited” to Mt. Hiei around 663-667 CE, when Tenji moved his court out of the Yamato basin to the more secluded site of Ōtsu 大津 (near Mt. Hiei). In 667 CE, Tenji’s new palace was built just five kilometers south of Mt. Hiei. Before the court’s move to Ōtsu, one of the most important sites of court kami worship was Mt. Miwa, located on the eastern edge of the Yamato plain. The Miwa deity hailed from Mt. Miwa and was perhaps Japan’s most powerful kami in those days. It is therefore “reasonable” to assume the Miwa deity was “invited” by Tenji’s court to reside near the new capital in Ōtsu. NONETHELESS, it is impossible to say with certainty if the Miwa deity was installed at Mt. Hiei between 663-667 CE. It is safer to say the Miwa deity was “imported” to Mt. Hiei sometime in the 7th or 8th centuries (probably before the Nara era). Saichō 最澄 (767-822), founder of Hiei’s shrine-temple multiplex, was certainly aware of the Miwa deity and actively venerated it. • Writes Meri Arichi in Seven Stars of Heaven and Seven Shrines on Earth: The Big Dipper and the Hie Shrine in the Medieval Period, quote from pp.
    [Show full text]
  • From the City to the Mountain and Back Again: Situating Contemporary Shugendô in Japanese Social and Religious Life
    From the City to the Mountain and Back Again: Situating Contemporary Shugendô in Japanese Social and Religious Life Mark Patrick McGuire A Thesis In The Department of Religion Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Concordia University Montréal, Québec, Canada April 2013 Mark Patrick McGuire, 2013 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Mark Patrick McGuire Entitled: From the City to the Mountain and Back Again: Situating Contemporary Shugendô in Japanese Social and Religious Life and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Religion) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the final examining committee: Chair Dr. V. Penhune External Examiner Dr. B. Ambros External to Program Dr. S. Ikeda Examiner Dr. N. Joseph Examiner Dr. M. Penny Thesis Supervisor Dr. M. Desjardins Approved by Chair of Department or Graduate Program Director Dr. S. Hatley, Graduate Program Director April 15, 2013 Dr. B. Lewis, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science ABSTRACT From the City to the Mountain and Back Again: Situating Contemporary Shugendô in Japanese Social and Religious Life Mark Patrick McGuire, Ph.D. Concordia University, 2013 This thesis examines mountain ascetic training practices in Japan known as Shugendô (The Way to Acquire Power) from the 1980s to the present. Focus is given to the dynamic interplay between two complementary movements: 1) the creative process whereby charismatic, media-savvy priests in the Kii Peninsula (south of Kyoto) have re-invented traditional practices and training spaces to attract and satisfy the needs of diverse urban lay practitioners, and 2) the myriad ways diverse urban ascetic householders integrate lessons learned from mountain austerities in their daily lives in Tokyo and Osaka.
    [Show full text]
  • Alma M. Karlin's Visits to Temples and Shrines in Japan
    ALMA M. KARLIN’S VISITS TO TEMPLES AND SHRINES IN JAPAN Chikako Shigemori Bučar Introduction Alma M. Karlin (1889-1950), born in Celje, went on a journey around the world between 1919 and 1928, and stayed in Japan for a lit- tle more than a year, from June 1922 to July 1923. There is a large col- lection of postcards from her journey archived in the Regional Museum of Celje. Among them are quite a number of postcards from Japan (528 pieces), and among these, about 100 of temples and shrines, including tombs of emperors and other historical persons - i.e., postcards related to religions and folk traditions of Japan. Karlin almost always wrote on the reverse of these postcards some lines of explanation about each picture in German. On the other hand, the Japanese part of her trav- elogue is very short, only about 40 pages of 700. (Einsame Weltreise / Im Banne der Südsee, both published in Germany in 1930). In order to understand Alma Karlin’s observation and interpretation of matters related to religions in Japan and beliefs of Japanese people, we depend on her memos on the postcards and her rather subjective impressions in her travelogue. This paper presents facts on the religious sights which Karlin is thought to have visited, and an analysis of Karlin’s understand- ing and interpretation of the Japanese religious life based on her memos on the postcards and the Japanese part of her travelogue. In the following section, Alma Karlin and her journey around the world are briefly presented, with a specific focus on the year of her stay in Japan, 1922-1923.
    [Show full text]
  • Slide 34. Ebisu Notebook
    Ebisu Notebook. Slide 34, Condensed Visual Classroom Guide to Daikokuten Iconography in Japan. Copyright Mark Schumacher, 2017. In a PMJS posting (10/23/2015), Prof. Raji C. Steineck writes: “Sometime in the medieval period, Ebisu became associated with Izanagi and Izanami's abandoned child Hiruko. There seems to be a story that Hiruko spent time at the palace of the Dragon king, where he transformed into Ebisu. But the literature I've perused so far doesn't mention a source for that myth. Should any of you have come across a pertinent primary source, please do let me know. Ebisu Origins Ebisu Origins Ebisu Origins Bernhard Scheid (Vienna University) writes: One place to begin would be David B. Waterhouse (Toronto University.) writes: Ebisu was Iwai Hiroshi (Kokugakuin University) writes: The Ebisu Shinkō Jiten えびす信仰事典, 1999. I used it partly for my originally the tutelary god of the Nishinomiya Jinja in Settsu, and common practice of enshrining Daikoku and introductory article on Ebisu. There is also an informative online article by from Kamakura times was honoured as a protector of those Ebisu together was already observed from that Darren Ashmore, which contains a modern version of the Ebisu legend of who travel in boats. Worship of him spread to major shrines and period (late Muromachi); the practice originated Nishinomiya Shrine (stronghold of Ebisu worship) in a long footnote. to Buddhist monasteries as well; and through a series of in the fact that the main object of worship identifications he came to be worshipped also by military men. (saijin 祭神) at the Nishinomiya Shrine was It seems quite clear that most Ebisu lore including the Hiruko connection One of these identifications involved the Shintō god Ōkuninushi- Ebisu Saburō, a figure who, however, was can be traced back to the Nishinomiya Shrine probably in the late Heian no-mikoto… who was taken to be ultimately the same as simultaneously identified with Ōkuninushi no period.
    [Show full text]
  • The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei & the Amazing Story of Yusai Sakai
    The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei: The Kaihōgyō & The Amazing Story of Yusai Sakai The Ultimate Marathon Monk -1- Much of the following material is taken from John Stevens’ book The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei, wikipedia, and other internet sites. The Kaihōgyō is a set of the ascetic spiritual trainings for which the Buddhist Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei are known. These monks are from the Tendai school of Buddhism, a denomination brought to Japan by the monk Saicho in 806 from China. The story of the marathon monk practice, or sadhana (daily spiritual practice), began when a young seeker named So-o arrived at the mountain monastery at the age of 15. So-o’s daily practices involved encircling Mt. Hiei, and offering daily prayers along the way. So-o practiced a type of Buddhism where he recognized all of nature as manifestations of Buddha. As the story goes, one day along his walk he was enraptured with the image of Buddha near a waterfall. Seeking to merge with the One, he dove into the falls but along the way he hit a log in the water. So-o pulled the log out of the water and carved the image of Fudo Myoo, which is still a venerated spot on today’s course. After his leap into the falls, So-o continued to build a number of monasteries on Mt. Hiei, which became the residence and inspiration for numerous Marathon Monks over the years. The Marathon Monks’ quest is to serve Buddha through many duties but they are best known for their great spiritual effort and perseverance in ascetic practices.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of the Japanese People
    A History of the Japanese People Frank Brinkley A History of the Japanese People Table of Contents A History of the Japanese People......................................................................................................................1 Frank Brinkley.........................................................................................................................................2 FOREWORD...........................................................................................................................................4 AUTHOR'S PREFACE...........................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER I. THE HISTORIOGRAPHER'S ART IN OLD JAPAN.....................................................8 CHAPTER II. JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY.........................................................................................13 CHAPTER III. JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY (Continued)....................................................................20 CHAPTER IV. RATIONALIZATION.................................................................................................29 CHAPTER V. ORIGIN OF THE JAPANESE NATION: HISTORICAL EVIDENCES.....................34 CHAPTER VI. ORIGIN OF THE NATION: GEOGRAPHICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RELICS.................................................................................................................................................42 CHAPTER VII. LANGUAGE AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS...........................................50
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of Kaji Kito in Nichiren Shu Buddhism Kyomi J
    The Development of Kaji Kito in Nichiren Shu Buddhism Kyomi J. Igarashi Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Prerequisite for Honors in Religion April 2012 Copyright 2012 Kyomi J. Igarashi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank Professor Kodera for his guidance and all that he has taught me throughout my four years at Wellesley College. I could not have written this thesis or taken on this topic of my interest without his encouragement and words of advice. I would like to acknowledge the Religion Department for funding me on my trip to Japan in December 2011 to do research for my thesis. I would also like to thank Reverend Ekyo Tsuchida for his great assistance and dedication during my trip to Japan in finding important information and setting up interviews for me, without which I could not have written this thesis. I am forever grateful for your kindness. I express my gratitude to Reverend Ryotoku Miyagawa, Professor Akira Masaki and Professor Daijo Takamori for kindly offering their expertise and advice as well as relevant sources used in this thesis. I would also like to acknowledge Reverend Honyo Okuno for providing me with important sources as well as giving me the opportunity to observe the special treasures exhibited at the Kuonji Temple in Mount. Minobu. Last but not least, I would like to extend my appreciation to my father, mother and younger brother who have always supported me in all my decisions and endeavors. Thank you for the support that you have given me. ii ABSTRACT While the historical and religious roots of kaji kito (“ritual prayer”) lay in Indian and Chinese Esoteric Buddhist practices, the most direct influence of kaji kito in Nichiren Shu Buddhism, a Japanese Buddhist sect founded by the Buddhist monk, Nichiren (1222-1282), comes from Shingon and Tendai Buddhism, two traditions that precede Nichiren’s time.
    [Show full text]
  • 479. Kuroda Toshio
    Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 1996 23/3–4 The World of Spirit Pacification Issues of State and Religion KURODA Toshio Translated by Allan GRAPARD This essay examines the role of “spirit paci³cation” (chinkon) in Japanese history, focusing on developments in the medieval period. It begins with a historical sketch of the cults of vengeful spirits (goryõ), examines how the exoteric-esoteric system (kenmitsu taisei) managed these cults, and con- cludes with comments on the relevance of this topic with regard to Shinto in contemporary Japan and the “Yasukuni Problem.” RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN the rapid buildup of a political movement to grant state support once again to Yasukuni Shrine, which since Japan’s defeat in World War II has survived as a publically supported “legal religious entity.” It has been reported that a “National Day of Mourning for the War Dead” might be enacted in the near future as the ³rst step toward realizing this objective. The movement toward state support for Yasukuni Shrine did not originate in the recent past, of course, for it was already a part of the early efforts to restore State Shinto shortly after the World War II defeat, even before the so-called “Reactionary Course” had begun. This is not to say, however, that the movement has remained in its original rather anachronistic and reactionary form, for over the years it has gradually been tailored to take on a more important function (MIYAJI 1981), and now forms an inseparable part of policies aimed at fostering popular “enthusiasm, through cooperative efforts, for pro- tecting the nation in the eventuality of a national emergency” (White Paper on Defense, 1981).
    [Show full text]
  • The World of Spirit Pacification Issues of State and Religion
    Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 1996 23/3-4 The World of Spirit Pacification Issues of State and Religion Kuroda Toshio Translated by Allan G rapard This essay examines the role of “spirit pacification” (chinkon) in Japanese history, focusing on developments in the medieval period. It begins with a historical sketch of the cults of vengeful spirits (goryo), examines how the exoteric-esoteric system (kenmitsu taisei) managed these cults, and con­ cludes with comments on the relevance of this topic with regard to Shinto in contemporary Japan and the “Yasukuni Problem. ” Recent years have seen the rapid buildup of a political movement to grant state support once aeain to Yasukuni Shrine, which since Japan’s defeat in World War II has survived as a publically supported “legal religious entity•” It has been reported that a “National Day of Mourning for the War Dead” might be enacted in the near future as the first step toward realizing this objective. The movement toward state support for Yasukuni Shrine did not originate in the recent past, of course, for it was already a part of the early efforts to restore State Shinto shortly after the World War II defeat, even before the so-called “Reactionary Course” had begun. This is not to say, however, that the movement has remained in its original rather anachronistic and reactionary form, for over the years it has gradually been tailored to take on a more important function (Miyaji 1981),and now forms an inseparable part of policies aimed at fostering popular “enthusiasm,through cooperative efforts, for pro­ tecting the nation in the eventuality of a national emergency55 (White Paper on Defense, 1981).
    [Show full text]
  • Copyright 2017 Makoto Kondo
    THE NEW POSSIBILITY OF MISSION IN JAPAN A dissertation by Makoto Kondo presented to The Faculty of the Pacific School of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry Berkeley, California April 2017 Copyright 2017 Makoto Kondo Committee Members: Randi Walker, DMin, PhD, Coordinator Hung Pham, S.J., S.T.D., Member Robert M. Fukada, DMin, Member Abstract THE NEW POSSIBILITY OF MISSION IN JAPAN by Makoto Kondo It is a fact that the numbers of Christians still remain to be less than only 1% of the whole population of Japan even today. Are there any possibilities for Christian mission in Japan today and in the future, even when people have been losing interest in any religion? In Japan, for more than 400 years from Francisco Xavier up to now, numberless missionaries and pastors have been making every effort to propagate the gospel messages, taking it as an absolute ‘must’ for their missionary activities. Most of them tried to carry out their mission with their own traditional method. As a result, there occurred almost necessarily some sorts of cultural and religious frictions among others throughout history. It is very interesting to know that Christianity in Japan had never been nationalized in Copyright 2017 Makoto Kondo history, though having been very often tempted to become a national religion. In my research project, I tried to trace out the acceptance history of Christianity in Japan, while keeping it in my mind to investigate the most important and basic themes, such as ‘What is Christian mission?’ or ‘How could it be possible for us missionaries and pastors in Japan to serve the churches and anywhere else as true bearers of Christian mission in the present context?’ While pursuing my research project, it became clear at least that the i statistic ratio of the Christian population in Japan does not necessarily lead to any conclusion as to whether Christian mission in Japan resulted in success or failure.
    [Show full text]