Summary
"Sources of Japanese Tradition" presents a comprehensive collection of Japanese texts, revised and expanded, to illuminate the development of Japanese civilization on its own terms. The second edition restructures Volume 1 to cover the period from early chronicles to the late sixteenth century. It emphasizes understanding Japanese history, society, politics, education, philosophy, and religion through indigenous sources, without Western parallels.
The book offers new readings on early and medieval Shinto, the tea ceremony, state Buddhism, and Chinese political thought's influence in Japan. It also includes sections on women's education, medieval innovations in the uses of history, and the laws and precepts of medieval warrior houses. Readers gain insight into the formation of Japanese culture through these primary source materials.
Key concepts
- Source Readings — A wide selection of original texts providing direct access to historical, societal, political, educational, philosophical, and religious developments in Japan.
- State Buddhism — Readings specifically addressing Buddhism's role and influence within the governmental structures of Japan.
- Chinese Political Thought — Selections demonstrating the impact of political philosophies originating from China on Japanese thought and governance.
- Medieval Warrior Houses — Laws and precepts belonging to the warrior class, offering insights into their societal and political roles.
- Uses of History — Medieval innovations in how historical records and narratives were employed, indicating evolving cultural perspectives.
From the book
Description: Sources of Japanese Tradition is a best-selling classic, unrivaled for its wide selection of source readings on history, society, politics, education, philosophy, and religion in the Land of the Rising Sun. In this long-awaited second edition, the editors have revised or retranslated most of the texts in the original 1958 edition, and added a great many selections not included or translated before. They have also restructured volume 1 to span the period from the early Japanese chronicles to the end of the sixteenth century. New additions include: * readings on early and medieval Shinto and on the tea ceremony, * readings on state Buddhism and Chinese political thought influential in Japan, and * sections on women's education, medieval innovations in the uses of history, and…
Snippet: In this long-awaited second edition, the editors have revised or retranslated most of the texts in the original 1958 edition, and added a great many selections not included or translated before.