Handbook of Japanese Mythology (Handbooks of World Mythology)

Great for people in academics or have a deep interest in Japan. This is an academic book, so if you don't like reading it is not the book for you.

I bought this book for my personal library. I use it as a research source. It's a keeper!

Cant put it down, so many things to learn and understand of their culture.

Invaluable source book of stories, myths, characters and Japanese historical context.

Dr. Michael Ashkenazi's "Handbook of Japanese Mythology" is an expert study that deserves a prominent place on the shelves of many japanophiles, including those devoted to religious studies and such early sources as the "Kojiki" and "Nihongi," as well as those who more broadly study the roots of world myth. In this regard, the most valuable part of Ashkenazi's volume are Chapters 1 and 2, which in 108 pages provide chronological context and examine what the author terms "mythic time and space." Chapter 3, which then runs to page 298, is an alphabetical dictionary of people, deities, imaginary creatures, and a few stories picked up in literature and the theater . The book is less useful for readers seeking to identify Japanese woodblock prints, tattoos, kimono motifs, netsuke carvings, sword furnishings, and porcelains, all of which are among the world's most subject-matter oriented. This is due in the first instance to the book's paucity of illustrations, and in the second case to the author's emphasis on the definition of personalities and creatures at the expense of discussing how they are visually represented. Take one example, that of the "rakan." These Buddhist worthies appear not only at temples in multiples of 500 but also feature on the Satsuma porcelains known as "dragonware." In the context of these porcelains, westerners tend to misidentify them as the "thousand faces theme" or even as Taoist Immortals.

Book was very informative and well structured.

it was really hard for me to find a book on Japanese mythology that didn't just talk about the stories that were handed down. I was looking for more details into the history itself. i was happy to finally have found a book such as that.

Good place to start if you're interested in Japanese mythology

I love mythology and I love Japan so this is the perfect combination. Very entertaining

The book is actually a glossary about the different God's. But the introduction part is very interesting. It may be a little difficult to read if you have no knowledge on the subject but it's extremely well documented and it even gives you insight on Japanese society today. I live in Japan and my friends are sometimes amazed at my knowledge, mainly thanks to this book. I totally recommend it

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Great book

I've really started to enjoy reading this. It's really in depth about many aspects of Japanese mythology. It does have a couple pictures to match but not as many as I hoped. but isn't much of an issue. Would highly recommend. Very informative.