Displaying Mythological Characters: Changes in the Meanings of Decorations in the Sawara Grand Festival in Chiba, Japan

Shinji Tsukahara

Jump to Content

Chapter 2 Displaying Mythological Characters

Changes in the Meanings of Decorations in the Sawara Grand Festival in Chiba, Japan

In: Matsuri and Religion

Author:

Shinji Tsukahara [aka. 伸治塚原]

Shinji Tsukahara [aka. 伸治塚原] Ibaraki University Japan Mito

Search for other papers by Shinji Tsukahara [aka. 伸治塚原] in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Translator:

Jude Pultz

Jude Pultz Ibaraki University Japan Mito

Search for other papers by Jude Pultz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 10–36

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004466548_003

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

The large figures displayed atop the floats in the Sawara Grand Festival portray characters drawn from mythology and history that have been strongly associated with Japanese nationalism and imperialism. In order to investigate the meanings that these float figures hold for the participants and audience of the festival, this chapter acknowledges the close relations between folklore and politics and interprets the works themselves as agents that enact emotions and responses, rather than focusing on the creative intentions of the producers. The figure subjects were freely chosen by the people of Sawara, mostly during the prewar period, and were based on characters that were popular at the time—namely, the emperors and their mythological ancestors and historical champions. In the present, however, the figures are rarely seen in light of their nationalistic origins. Instead, they are appreciated more for their aesthetic beauty and as mascots of the various wards of Sawara.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004466548/BP000002.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Matsuri and Religion

Complexity, Continuity, and Creativity in Japanese Festivals

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004466548

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 12 Jul 2021

Subjects

Front Matter

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	977	418	16
Full Text Views	16	2	0
PDF Views & Downloads	15	2	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 2 Displaying Mythological Characters

Changes in the Meanings of Decorations in the Sawara Grand Festival in Chiba, Japan

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Matsuri and Religion

Complexity, Continuity, and Creativity in Japanese Festivals

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics