Ise in Japanese Culture: Kenkō Hōshi’s Essays in Idleness at the Intersection of Literature and History

Today (July 29, 2024), I am the chair, discussant, and one of the presenters for a panel about Ise Jingū called "Japan’s National Shrine: Ise Jingū in the Early Modern Period and Beyond" at the 13th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 13) in Surabaya, Indonesia. The other presenters on the panel are Yoshiko Yuasa 湯浅 佳子 (Tokyo Gakugei University), Kaoru Oshima 大島 薫 (Kansai University), Satoshi Sonehara 曽根原 理 (Tohoku University), and Jon Morris モリス　ジョン (Daito Bunka University).

In this post, I have included the panel abstract, my abstract, and a selected bibliography for my presentation, "Ise in Japanese Culture: Kenkō Hōshi’s Essays in Idleness at the Intersection of Literature and History." I originally gave a longer version of this talk in Japanese for a general audience, and besides revising it for an academic audience, based on the comments I received then, I have made significant changes to it. I plan to publish the research soon, so if you aren't in the audience today, keep your eye out for it in print.

PANEL ABSTRACT

Like Indonesia, Japan has a rich history of engaging with diverse religions, beliefs, philosophies, and people worldwide. The two countries have many institutions and sites bound up with religious traditions—in Japan, the imperial household and Mt. Fuji are perhaps the most iconic of these. However, many others are important for understanding Japanese history and culture, even though they are less well-known outside Japan. This panel focuses on Ise Shrine (Jingu)—one of the most revered religious sites in the nation’s Shinto religious tradition—to explore how an ancient indigenous religion has emphasized its deep-rooted traditions while evolving over the centuries to adapt to society within a varied religious landscape that has come to include a significant Buddhist and Christian presence. Agap of its cultural and historical significance, it maintains a unique position as a site that exerts tangible and intangible influences on the Japanese psyche.

Attention has primarily focused on Jingu in the ancient period, and we know considerably less about it from the late medieval (14th to 16th centuries) to the early modern period (17th to 19th centuries). In ancient times, Jingu received strong protection as a core component of the state organization. However, this support crumbled during the medieval period, forcing it to seek new patrons among warriors and upper-class farmers. Proselytizers or pilgrimage facilitators known as “onshi” were dispatched to acquire followers throughout Japan. While they successfully spread faith in the site, Jingu had difficulty obtaining sufficient financial support to fulfill its ritual functions. From the 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate revived Jingu, which had declined significantly, and by the late early modern period, commoner faith had spread widely, with tremendous numbers of people all over the country coming together to join in the “okage mairi” (pilgrimages of gratitude).

This panel’s research on early modern Jingu seeks to describe perceptions of the shrine from various disciplines to understand its place in national, local, elite, and popular culture. The first three presentations focus on literary and other textual sources to address issues such as evolving textual and visual understandings of Ise. The remaining two presentations explore the shrine’s political and popular aspects, including the relationship between Jingu (associated with the imperial family) and Toshogu Shrine, which enshrined the founder of the ruling warrior house.

MY ABSTRACT

This presentation uses a collection of historical and literary essays to explore the religious and cultural resonance of the Ise-Shima region, which is probably best known for having one of Japan's most sacred sites from the Shinto religious tradition.  It focuses on depictions of Ise in one of Japan’s most beloved classical texts, Kenko Hoshi’s14th-century Essays in Idleness. Scholars have paid considerable attention to Kenko’s incorporation of key concepts associated with the Buddhist worldview, and from the perspective of intellectual history, the text is considered an eloquent expression of Japanese views on impermanence.    

In contrast to the emphasis on Buddhist thought in the text, this presentation highlights connections made by the author to the Shinto tradition in relation to Ise. In particular, it considers a passage about a close unmarried female relative of the emperor tasked with performing ritual services at the Ise Shrine complex on behalf of the emperor and another section that introduces an anecdote about an oni (demon) woman from Ise. This presentation aims to deepen our understanding of the initial medieval religio-social context for the passages, reevaluate how Kenko’s medieval textual depictions of Ise were received in subsequent centuries, and consider how gender and other themes have been interpreted in both written and visual culture from the early modern period to the present.

SOME ONLINE RESOURCES (my presentation)

• Jinja Honchō 神社本庁 (Association of Shinto Shrines): ""Jinja Honcho was formed with the consensus of 80,000 Shinto shrines throughout the Japanese archipelago in 1946. Since then, respecting the Grand Shrine of Ise as the most prominent shrine in Japan, Jinja Honcho has worked to encourage Shinto rituals, to promote the prosperity of Shinto shrines, and to support the continuity of Japanese culture and traditions."
• Irei, the Spirituality of the Japanese (PDF)
• Jinja, Heart of Japan (PDF)
• Soul of Japan (PDF)  this booklet covers all the basics and gives a good idea of what Shinto is from the perspective of its largest organization.
• To Nurture A Noble Spirit - The Power of the Imperial Rescript on Education -
• Rosemarie Bernard (Shinto and Ecology Bibliography) : also conveniently available as a downloadable document.
• John Breen and Mark Teeuwen (A Shinto Bibliography in English) (PDF)
• Kokugakuin University's Shinto Portal 
• Articles in Translation
• Encyclopedia of Shinto

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY (my presentation)

Aoki Akira 青木晃, ed. Tsurezuregusa: Hanpon eiri 版本絵 徒然草. Osaka: Izumi Shoin 和泉書院, 1981.

Anderson, Benedict ベネディクト・アンダーソン. Teihon sōzō no kyōdōtai: Nashonarizumu nokigen to ryūkō 定本 想像の共同体―ナショナリズムの起源と流行. Tokyo Shoseki Kōbō Hayayama 書籍工房早山, 2007.

Arisue Ken 有末賢. “Shūgōteki kioku to kojinteki kioku: Kioku no kyōyūsei to bōkyakusei wo megutte” 集合的記憶と個人的記憶 : 記憶の共有性と忘却性をめぐって. Hōgaku kenkyū: Hōritsu, seiji, shakai 法學研究：法律・政治・社会 89, no. 2 (2016): 19–40.

Ariyoshi Tamotsu 有吉保, ed. Tsurezuregusa shōmitsu saishiki Yamato ehon 徒然草　詳密彩色大和絵本. Tokyo: Bensei Shuppan 勉誠出版, 2006.

Chance, Linda H. 1997. Formless in Form: Kenkō, Tsurezuregusa, and the Rhetoric of Japanese Fragmentary Prose. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Chance, Linda H. 1997. “Constructing the Classic: Tsurezuregusa in Tokugawa Readings.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 117, no. 1 (Jan.–Mar.): 39–56.

Foucault, Michel. "What is an Author?" In Michel Foucault: Language, Counter-Memory, Practice, edited by Donald F. Bouchard.  Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1977.

Fujita Masakatsu 藤田正勝. Nihon bunka wo yomu: Itsutsu no kīwādo 日本文化をよむ 5つのキーワード. Tokyo: Iwanami Shinsho 岩波新書, 2018.

Geertz, Clifford C. ギアーツ. Bunka no kaishakugaku 文化の解釈学〈1〉 [The Interpretation of Cultures]. Tokyo: Iwanami Gendai Shinsho 岩波現代新書, 1987.

Gomi Fumihiko 五味文彦. Zōho Tsurezuregusa no rekishigaku 増補「徒然草」の歴史学. Tokyo: Kadokawa Gakugei Shuppan 角川学芸出版, 2014.

Hishikawa Moronobu菱川師宣. Yamato-e tsukushi 大和絵つくし. 1680.

Ichiko Teiji 市古貞次 and Miki Sumito 三木紀人. Tsurezuregusa (koten arubamu) 徒然草 (古典アルバム). Tokyo: Meji Shoin 明治書院, 1970.

Kanagawa Kenritsu Kanazawa Bunko 神奈川県立金沢文庫. Kanagawa Geijutsusai Tokubetsuten: Tsurezuregusa no emaki to hanpon　神奈川芸術祭特別展　徒然草の絵巻と版本. Yokohama 横浜: Kanagawa Kenritsu Kanazawa Bunko 神奈川県立金沢文庫, 1986.

Kanagawa Kenritsu Kanazawa Bunko 神奈川県立金沢文庫. Tokubetsuten Kenkō Hōshi toTsurezuregusa 特別展 兼好法師と徒然草. Yokohama 横浜: Kanagawa Kenritsu Kanazawa Bunko 神奈川県立金沢文庫, 2022.

Karasumaru Mitsuhiro-bon 烏丸光広本. Karasumaru Mitsuhiro 烏丸光広. Tsurezuregusa 徒然草. Location and Publisher Unknown. 1613.

Kawahira Toshifumi 川平敏文. Kenkō Hōshi no kyozō: Giden no kinseishi 兼好法師の虚像　偽伝の近世史. Tokyo: Heibonsha Sensho 平凡社選書, 2006.

Kawahira Toshifumi 川平敏文. Tsurezuregusa no jūnana seiki: Kinsei bungei shichō no keisei 徒然草の十七世紀ー近世文芸思潮の形成. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten 岩波書店, 2015.

Kawahira Toshifumi 川平敏文. Tsurezuregusa: Mujōkan wo koeta miryoku 徒然草 無常観を超えた魅力. Tokyo: Chūkō Shinsho 中公新書, 2020.

Keene, Donald, tr. Essays in Idleness. New York: Columbia University Press, 1967.

Kō Iku 黄昱. “Tsurezuregusa ni okeru kanseki juyō no hōhō: Dai nijūgo dan ‘tōri mono to iwaneba’ wo megutte” 『徒然草』における漢籍受容の方法 ―第二十五段「桃李もの言はねば」をめぐって―. Kokubungaku kenkyū shiryōkan kiyō 国文学研究資料館紀要 39 （March 2013）: 155–187.

Kubota Jun 久保田淳. Tsurezuregusa hikkei 徒然草必携. Tokyo: Gakutōsha 學燈社, 1987.

Kurata Toshiaki 蔵田敏明 and Watanabe Iwao 渡辺巌. Tsurezuregusa no Kyōto wo aruku: Kenkō Hōshi 徒然草の京都を歩く：兼好法師. Tokyo: Tankōsha 淡交社, 2005.

McKinney, Meredith, tr. Yoshida Kenkō and Kamo No Chōmei: Essays in Idleness and Hōjōki. New York: Penguin Classics, 2013.

Ogawa Takeo 小川剛生. Shinpan Tsurezuregusa gendaigoyaku tsuki 新版　徒然草　現代語訳付き. Tokyo: Kadokawa Sofia Bunko 角川ソフィア文庫, 2015.

Ogawa Takeo 小川剛生. Kenkō Hōshi: Tsurezuregusa ni kisarenakatta jijitsu 兼好法師—徒然草に記されなかった真実. Tokyo: Chūokōron Shinsha 中央公論新社, 2017.

Ogawa Takeo 小川剛生. Tsurezuregusa wo yominaosu 徒然草をよみなおす. Tokyo: Chikuma Shobō 筑摩書房, 2020.

Ogino Ayako 荻野文子. NHK hyakufun de meicho bukkusu: Kenkō Hōshi Tsurezuregusa NHK「100分de名著」ブックス兼好法師　徒然草. Tokyo: NHK Shuppan NHK 出版, 2012.

Saikū Rekishi Hakubutsukan 斎宮歴史博物館. NARIHIRA: Inishie no miyabi otoko no monogatari NARIHIRAーいにしへの雅び男のものがたりー. Taki-gun 多気郡, Mie Prefecture 三重県: Saikū Rekishi Hakubutsukan 斎宮歴史博物館, 2022.

Shimauchi Yūko 島内裕子. Tsurezuregusa no hensen 徒然草の変遷. Tokyo: Perkikansha ペリカン社, 1992.

Shimauchi Yūko 島内裕子. Mineruva nihon Hyōdensen: Kenkō ミネルヴァ日本評伝選 兼好. Kyoto: Mineruva Shobō ミネルヴァ書房, 2005.

Shōgakukan 小学館, ed. Shinpen Nihon koten bungaku zenshū 12: Taketori monogatari,Ise monogatari, Yamato monogatari, Hiranaka monogatari 新編　日本古典文学全集１２　竹取物語　伊勢物語　大和物語　平中物語. Tokyo: Shōgakukan 小学館, 1994.

Transferring from Kogakkan University 皇學館大学 to Nagoya Gakuin University 名古屋学院大学

 Today, I retired from Kogakkan University in Ise, Mie Prefecture. I enjoyed being a faculty member from 2014 to 2024 and greatly appreciate the opportunities for research and teaching, as well as the friendships I shared with the other faculty and staff.  I wrote a short farewell for one of the school publications below:

On Retiring from the University

As of March 31, I will be retiring from Kogakkan University and transitioning to Nagoya Gakuin University. Since joining the Communication Department in the Faculty of Letters in 2014, I have had the privilege of spending countless meaningful hours in the classroom with thousands of students. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to interact not only with students in the Department of Communication but also with students from all faculties. Together, we have enjoyed the standard curriculum courses such as "English Expression" and "Introduction to Kogaku," as well as the specialized courses in our department, including "Foreign Affairs," "Japanese Cultural History," and seminars for juniors and seniors. 

My tenure as a full-time faculty member may have been relatively short. However, when the Department of Communication Studies was established 24 years ago, I trained and brought my high school students to the first English speech contest organized by the department, and since then, I have felt a connection with the university.

Kogakkan is a unique space where faculty, staff, and students study and research Japanese history, culture, and the country's spirit and embody Japanese values in their daily activities. I am proud and grateful to have engaged in education and research in this unique environment.

Although my role as a full-time faculty member is coming to an end, I am genuinely excited to continue my association with the university as a part-time lecturer. I am deeply grateful for the warm support I have received from the faculty and staff, and I eagerly look forward to your continued support in April and beyond.

-----

From tomorrow, I will begin teaching at Nagoya Gakuin University 名古屋学院大学 as a member of the Faculty of Intercultural Studies 国際文化学部.

"Ise" and Japan Study Program: Tenth Anniversary 「伊勢」と日本スタディプログラムのリユニオン 10周年

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the "Ise" and Japan Study Program, four participants were invited back to reflect on the program in panel discussions over the course of three days. Please see the video below for a brief introduction to the event.    

　この記念すべき年を祝して、4人のかつての参加者を再び伊勢に招きし、3日間にわたるパネルディスカッションで「伊勢」と日本スタディプログラムを振り返りました。以下の動画で、パネルディスカッションの簡単な紹介をご覧いただけます。

The “Ise” and Japan Study Program began in 2014 as a collaborative project between Kogakkan University and Ise City. One of the program’s aims has been to invite researchers worldwide to deepen their understanding of Ise and Japan by attending university lectures and fieldwork. Another aim has been to increase Ise’s visibility by having participants share what they have learned and felt in their native languages via social networking services (SNS) and other online media. Beginning in 2014, with 13 participants, 124 researchers from over 30 countries joined the program.    

　「伊勢」と日本スタディプログラムは、伊勢市と皇學館大学の協働により実施しているもので、伊勢や日本に関する大学でのさまざまな講義や、伊勢を中心とした各地でのフィールド・スタディを通じて、伊勢や日本への理解を深めていただくことを目的としています。。また、学んだ内容や感じたことをインターネットやSNS等を使って、母語や英語で情報発信していただくことにより、外国の方々の伊勢や日本に関する興味・関心を高め、伊勢の知名度向上を図ることも目的としています。2014年に13人の参加者でスタートして以来、30カ国以上から合計124人もの研究者の方々に参加していただきました。

 See the video below for extended clips of discussions and comments by panel participants, the mayor of Ise, the president of Kogakkan University, the Dean of the Faculty of Letters at Kogakkan University, and a longtime faculty member who has participated in the program since its inception.

　以下の動画には、パネルディスカッション参加者、伊勢市長、皇學館大学学長、皇學館大学文学部長、そして初回から参加した皇學館大学教員によるディスカッションやコメントが収録されています。ご覧ください。

If you want to learn more about the program, please see the following website (mainly in Japanese): http://ise-japan.kogakkan-u.ac.jp/info/detail.php?mdid=6999

And, if you want to learn more about Shinto, Ise, and Mie Prefecture, I have gathered links to materials that may be of use. https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5176503056937137810/2825470813504798096 

Graduation Papers

Every year in December, fourth-year students in the Communication Department at Kogakkan University must submit a graduation paper or project to graduate. Although the graduation papers are generally not available to be read by the general public, one of my students in 2020 submitted an especially well-researched thesis that was later published in the Kogakkan Ronsō 皇學館論叢 journal as 「戦時下における遊びと食事 : 太平洋戦争中の人々の暮らし」(Play and Food in Wartime : People's Lives during the Pacific War), so it is available to view online (in Japanese).

It seems to me that the requirement to write a graduation paper independent of any specific class can be a really valuable experience because it provides an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a field of study after a long research and writing process. In my final seminar at Kogakkan, students submitted papers with the following titles:

1. 英語音声指導の現状と改善策　―中学校におけるやり取りを中心に―
2. 日本におけるオートバイロードレースの現状と課題　―魅力発信の比較研究―
3. 文明の衝突論の再検討 ―ロシアによるウクライナ侵攻を中心に　―
4. 自転車ヘルメット着用における努力義務化の効果に関する一考察―安全意識向上を中心に―
5. 観光地情報提供のデジタル化　―伊勢志摩とクアラルンプールの案内を中心に―
6. 伊勢湾のサワラブランドにおける高付加価値化　―「答志島トロさわら」「波乗り鰆」の事例分析―
7. 文化資源の商品化の一考察―「神宮杉」を中心に　―
8. 先進国首脳会議と開催地の観光資源　―2016年のG7伊勢志摩サミットと2023年のG7広島サミットの比較研究―
9. ダークツーリズムの魅力に関する研究　―チェルノブイリ原発事故とタイタニック号沈没事故を中心に―
10. サッカー観戦から見る国内外のイメージと現実の考察
11. 日本語教育におけるアスペクトの説明　―日中の日本語教科書を中心に―

The titles cover topics that generally focus on culture or language education--ranging from a re-examination of Samuel Huntington's "clash of civilizations" theory with a focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine (no. 3) to the digitization of information displayed or distributed at tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur and Ise-Shima (no. 5) 

My Last Seminar at Kogakkan

Today, I finished my last seminar at Kogakkan University. I have enjoyed teaching this seminar for nearly a decade in a supportive and stimulating educational atmosphere with many outstanding students, so it was difficult to say goodbye to the class.

I will leave my position at Kogakkan at the end of March and begin a new position in the Intercultural Studies Department 国際文化学部 at Nagoya Gakuin University (NGU) 名古屋学院大学 from April. I am planning to teach a seminar there as well, but I will spend some time this year adapting the content to the new environment. 

----------

Second-year students in the Communication Department at Kogakkan had to choose the seminar they wanted to join as third-year students, and the explanation below is what I used to introduce it to them.

ゼミのタイトル Seminar Title： 「日本の過去と現代」ゼミ Japan’s Past and Present Seminar

① 　ゼミ紹介　Seminar Introduction 

【キーワード】　ディスカッション Discussion 、プレゼンテーション Presentation 、比較文化史 Comparative Cultural History 、日英・英日翻訳 English<->Japanese Translation

ディスカッションとプレゼンテーションを通じて、日本の過去と現在の接点を探求する。3年生では、日本三大随筆（『枕草子』、『方丈記』、『徒然草』）などの古典文学を題材に用い、現代にも通じる要素を確認しながら、日本文化の理解を深める。また、これらと並行して、英語で観光案内看板・地図、博物館展示の解説パネル、インターネットに投稿するビデオの作成などによって、世界に日本の歴史・文化を実際に発信していく。4年生では、各自の卒業論文完成に向け、専門領域の知識を習得するとともに必要な文献の精読、論文の書き方を学ぶ。教職・一般企業・公職に求められている英語力を培う。

Third-year students deepen their understanding of Japanese culture through discussions and presentations. We read classical literature such as Japan’s three most representative works from the "random jottngs" or "heterogenous narrative" (zuihitsu) genre--The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, Hojoki by Kamo no Chōmei, and Tsurezuregusa by Kenkō Hōshi--to identify elements that are still relevant in today’s society. At the same time, we communicate Japanese history and culture to the world by creating English-language tourist information signs and maps, explanatory panels for museum exhibits, and videos to be posted on the Internet. In the fourth year, students acquire knowledge in the topics they want to focus on, read the necessary sources, and improve their writing as they work to complete their graduation theses. In this seminar, students cultivate English language skills required for teaching, general business, and public service.　

② 　Seminar Characteristics ゼミの特色・他のゼミとの違い

 日本の歴史・文化をテーマにして、授業形態は英語でのプレゼンテーションとディスカッションが中心となる。たとえ、日本の歴史に詳しくなく、英語が得意でなくても、気軽に履修することができる。ただし、積極的に授業に参加してもらいたい。卒業論文の研究テーマは学生の自主性を重んじる。それぞれのテーマで論理的思考能力を育成し、情報収集と整理の方法を習得し、文献の読解能力を養い、論文執筆能力の向上を最終目的にしてゼミを行う。英語の卒業論文も可能である。

The theme of the course is Japanese history and culture, and the format of the class is mainly presentations and discussions in English. Even if you are unfamiliar with Japanese history and English is not your strong suit, you are welcome to take this course. However, students are expected to participate actively in class. Each student chooses their research topic for their graduation thesis. The seminar is designed to foster logical thinking skills for each topic, learn how to collect and organize information, and develop reading skills. The ultimate goal of this seminar is to improve each student's writing ability to complete the graduation thesis. English graduation theses are also welcome.

③ 　担当専門科目　Classes Taught in the Department 

「日本文化史Ⅰ・Ⅱ」、「英語音声学Ⅰ・Ⅱ」、「Global Japan」、「Tourism English」、「Japanese Culture and History」、「Shinto English」という学科専門科目を担当している。ビジネス・プロフェッショナル、外国人の接客、英語教員として求められる基礎知識とスキルを養成する科目であり、他の担当科目と連動して構成されている。外国人とより良いコミュニケーションを取るのに役に立つので、中・高（英語）免許取得希望の学生もこの授業を選択することが望ましい。Japanese Cultural History I & II, English Phonetics I & II, Global Japan, Tourism English, Japanese Culture and History, and Shinto English. These courses are designed to cultivate the essention knowledge and skills needed by business professionals, people working with non-Japanese customers, and English teachers. The courses are designed to connect with others I teach at Kogakkan. Students who wish to obtain a junior or senior high school (English) license should also select this class, as it is helpful for better communication with non-Japanese speakers of English. 

Spring Semester: Comparative Cultural History Workshop for Europe and Japan 日欧比較文化史部会

 Today was our last meeting of the "Comparative Cultural History Workshop for Europe and Japan" 日欧比較文化史部会. In the workshop, we read, translate, and discuss English and Japanese research about Japanese history. If you are interested in joining us next semester, please talk to me or Professor Okano Tomohiko 岡野友彦 (History Department 国史学科).

A Documentary on the Chronicles of Japan 日本書紀

 The university students's television studio at Kōgakkan University have completed an English version of a documentary on the Chronicles of Japan 日本書紀. 

I provided a brief introduction to it at the beginning. However, the rest of the English narration in the video was provided by one of Ms. Kunimoto, who was responsible for the project from the initial planning stages to the final editing. 

Below is a transcription of my introduction to the video:

"Hello, and welcome to this video documentary. My name is Christopher Mayo, and I am a faculty member at Kogakkan University 皇學館大学. Our university is located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. It is one of only two universities in Japan where students can become certified as Shinto priests. One of the most sacred sites in the Shinto tradition, the Ise Jingu shrine complex 伊勢神宮, is located nearby. The documentary you are about to watch was produced by the Kogakkan University Student Television Station, which is run by students who create the material from start to finish, including the planning, filming, and editing of videos. This documentary is focused on an ancient text called the Nihon Shoki, or Chronicles of Japan. The Nihon shoki 日本書紀, or Nihongi, was compiled and written down in the eighth century based on earlier written records and oral traditions. As the first of the so-called Six State Histories 六国史, or Rikkokushi, it took the form of an official history. The first two volumes contained material dealing with the divine origins of Japan. The remainder followed the activities of Japan’s sovereigns up until the end of Empress Jitō’s reign in 697. W.G. Aston first translated it into English in 1896. As this video explains, the Nihon shoki remains a key source for anyone interested in learning more about Japanese beliefs, customs, history, and ideas. We hope you enjoy the video."

 

“Images of Ise in Essays in Idleness at the Intersection of Literature and History”『徒然草』における伊勢像 ～文学と歴史の接点～

I recently gave a talk in Japanese about Kenkō’s Essays in Idleness at Isuzujuku 五十鈴塾, a beautifully maintained set of traditional-style buildings in Ise that hosts educational and cultural events. The title was “Images of Ise in Essays in Idleness at the Intersection of Literature and History”『徒然草』における伊勢像 ～文学と歴史の接点～. 

Although most people in Japan are familiar with the text, researchers generally focus on literary and cultural themes rather than the connections made between the words on the pages and physical places. In my talk, I examined images of Ise that appeared in this 14th-century medieval text authored by an individual known to us by the name of Kenkō. What I tried to do is to read Japanese history through the text, especially passages related to Ise such as the 24th and 50th essays in it.  I hope that the participants found it as enjoyable as I did to explore history, culture, and ideas in this text.

This is a brief description in Japanese that I used for the talk:「兼好法師が十四世紀に著した『徒然草』を題材にして、そこに描かれた伊勢像を考えてみます。第二十四段の「斎王の野宮におはしますありさまこそ」や第五十段の「伊勢国より、女の鬼に成りたるを」などの文学を通して日本文化史を読んでみませんか。このお馴染みの古典文学を「伊勢」という視点から見直してみたい方は、ぜひご参加ください。」

If you ever have an opportunity to visit Ise or Ise Shrine 伊勢神宮, please stop by and join a class or take a look at the Isuzujuku buildings.

Publication: 「これ英語で何と言うの？」身の回りのモノ・コト英語小辞典

 Toyozumi Makoto and Christopher M. Mayo メイヨークリストファー, proofreader 校閲. “Kore Eigo de nan to iu no?”: Mi no mawari no mono, koto Eigo jiten. 「これ英語で何と言うの？」身の回りのモノ・コト英語小辞典. Ise City: Kōgakkan University Press 皇學館大学出版部, 2022年9月25日.

Professor Toyozumi wrote this dictionary for teachers in K-12 who are teaching English and want to be able to use words and phrases that are familiar to students in their school and social environment. He invited me to do the proofreading for it, and we spent quite a bit of time with each entry, trying to find the best English equivalent and providing Japanese explanations as necessary.

Publication: 図録 特別展「生きる正倉院―伊勢神宮と正倉院が紡ぐもの―」

 Jingū Shichō 神宮司庁. Zuroku tokubetsu ten: Ikiru Shōsōin: Ise Jingū to Shōsōin ga tsumugu mono 図録　特別展「生きる正倉院―伊勢神宮と正倉院が紡ぐもの―」. Ise City: Jingū Shichō 神宮司庁, 2022年9月13日. (English translation 翻訳: Mayo, Christopher M. メイヨークリストファー, et al.)

Ise Jingū organized a gorgeous exhibition of sacred shrine objects to be displayed with the replicas of items from the Shōsōin treasures, which are designed and crafted in the original manner with no expense spared. I worked with the organizers and Professor Emeritus Sakurai Haruo 櫻井治男 to complete the translation, which was a complicated and time-consuming project that had many challenging constraints. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of everyone involved, though, I think we were able to produce a solid English translation that can be a useful reference for future exhibitions.

Publication: “Teaching Premodern Japanese Violence: History and Heritage in the Classroom”

 Mayo, Christopher M. メイヨークリストファー. “Teaching Premodern Japanese Violence: History and Heritage in the Classroom.” In Kōgakkan ronsan: Kōgakkan Daigaku sōritsu hyakuyonjū shūnen saikō rokujū shūnen kinen 皇学論纂: 皇學館大学創立百四十周年再興六十周年記念, 739–736. Ise City: Kōgakkan University 皇學館大学, 2022年3月31日. 

I translated and revised an essay I originally wrote in Japanese for a 2021 publication, 交錯する宗教と民族―交流と衝突の比較史. I think I was able to expand and deepen some of the points I made in the original Japanese essay. The essay is included in a beautiful volume that was published to commemorate Kogakkan University's founding 140 years ago and its re-opening after the war 60 years ago. Although my essay was a small contribution, it was quite an honor to be part of the university's long tradition of scholarship.

Publication: 日本中世の「暴力」と現代の「教育」

 Mayo, Christopher M. メイヨークリストファー. “Nihon chūsei no ‘bōryoku’ to gendai no ‘kyōiku’ 日本中世の「暴力」と現代の「教育」. In Kōsaku suru shūkyō to minzoku: Kōryū to shōtotsu no hikakushi 交錯する宗教と民族―交流と衝突の比較史. Edited by Kage Toshio 鹿毛敏夫, 161–180. Tokyo: Bensei Shuppan 勉誠出版, 2021年7月5日.

This edited volume was the product of a research project led by scholars at Nagoya Gakuin University 名古屋学院大学. They kindly invited me to join it, and I think it was a great experience for everyone involved. Looking back on it, I am amazed we managed to do so much during the pandemic. 

Publication: Communities and Sacred Spaces: Canterbury and Ise in Historical and Cultural Context

 Mayo, Christopher M. メイヨークリストファー, ed. Communities and Sacred Spaces: Canterbury and Ise in Historical and Cultural Context. Ise City: Kogakkan University 皇學館大学, 2020年3月19日.

This international collaboration between scholars in Japan and the UK is the first edited volume I have published. It focuses on topics related to the Shinto shrine of Jingu in Ise and the Christ Church Cathedral in Canterbury.

Is There Anything to Do in Mie?

Is There Anything to Do in Mie? 三重県でやることなんてあるの?

Yes, there is! Who wouldn't want to see the scenery in that photo, the "wedded rocks" 夫婦岩 (meotoiwa) in Futami 二見? In this post, I've collected links to English information (some official, some not) about a few things you can see and do here in Mie (jump to the bottom for more about me and why I made this post).

Photo Credit: Ministry of the Environment 環境省
 

MIE (Overview)

• “Discover Mie” brochure (PDF) : a 20-page brochure packed with information and maps.
• Japan Travel, Mie : beautiful photography and clear, succinct explanations of famous sites.
• place where the Iga-ryu Ninja clan originated."
• Kintetsu Rail Pass : Convenient to have if you are traveling in this part of Japan — it will also connect you to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. If you are residing in Mie, I recommend setting up an account using the mobile application to purchase limited express tickets. You may also want to purchase an electronic rail pass like "PitaPa."
• Mie Barrier Free Website : Unfortunately, this is not in English, but they would probably be able to provide information if contacted.
• Mie Guidebook : a wiki site put together by ex-pats living in Mie. It has some useful information, but I am afraid it may give a rather dull impression, and it doesn't seem to get updated much.
• Mie Kotsu Buses : There may be helpful information here about cheaper fares if you travel by bus. 
• Mie Prefectural Government's Site
• Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation : they've made several high-quality PDF materials available on their site.
• Ise-Shima Japan (PDF)
• Ise-Shima Activity Guide Map (PDF)
• Ise Suzuka no Seki (Seki Juku) on the old Tokaido Road (PDF)
• Kumano City Guide Map (PDF)
• Kumano Kodo Iseji Route Access Guide Map (PDF)
• Matsusaka Walking Map (PDF)
• Odai Map (PDF)
• The Ise branch of the old pilgrimage network of Kumano (PDF)
• Yokkaichi Walking Map (PDF)
• Mie “Tour Guide” (PDF) : a compact PDF pamphlet that gives a quick overview of Mie.
• Mie Travel Guide : easy to navigate and quite informative. The site introduces Mie's cultural, historical, and natural appeal this way: 
• "Located in central Japan, Mie has abundant natural scenery, from colorful fall foliage to a beautiful, deeply indented coastline and mountains where you can enjoy mountain climbing and skiing. Mie also features some of Japan’s best amusement attractions. Mie is famous for its seafood, including Ise spiny lobster, abalone and oyster, and is the breeding area of Matsuzaka cattle, famed for their high-class marbled wagyu beef. Extremely important sites from Japanese spiritual history can be found in Mie, including the long-cherished Ise Jingu and the World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Mie is also the birthplace of Haiku master Matsuo Basho and great scholar Motoori Norinaga, as well as being the 
• Traveler’s Map of Mie  (PDF): It has several maps stuffed into a two-page PDF with lots of information about sites in Mie — highly recommended. 

NORTHERN MIE

• NHK World special on Kameyama (archive)
• Kuwana Sightseeing Pamphlet : a nice, glossy pamphlet with much more useful information about culture and history than you generally find in tourist literature.
• Japan Travel, Yokkaichi

CENTRAL MIE

• Sightseeing in Suzuka
• Japan Travel, Tsu

WESTERN MIE

• East Nara Nabari Tourism (ENN)
• Japan Travel, Iga Ueno (Basho)

EASTERN MIE (Overview)

• Ise-Shima Travel Guide, Shima City’s Site
• Ise-Shima Guide
• Journeys in Japan Video, Ise-Shima (YouTube)
• Ise-Shima Promotional Video (YouTube)
• National Parks Foundation, Ise Shima
• Ise-Shima Park Instagram Account
• Ministry of the Environment, Ise-Shima Park
• Japan National Tourist Organization, Ise-Shima Practical Guide : A handy PDF with practical information about the sites and how to get around when you visit.
• Bicycle Tour, Ise-Shima : I don’t know if they are still doing the tours, but this is a lovely place to ride a bike.
• NHK World special on Ise Shima (archive)

Eastern Mie: Ise

• Ise Overview
• Ise City Tourism : it has many resources, including a few PDF brochures in English.
• Ise - -the Origin of Japan -- (PDF)
• Ise Anchoko (PDF) : information in a Q+A format. 
• Map of Ise (PDF)
• Map of Ise (older version with different information)(PDF)
• Tourist Guide for Ise City(PDF)
• Rakuraku Ise Moude : Travel information from Ise City.
• Ise Shrine
  • Ise Shrine : Ise Shrine’s official site. 
  • Precinct Map: Geku (the "Outer" shrine) (PDF)
  • Precinct Map: Naiku (the "Inner" shrine) (PDF)
  • Ise Shrine Video /Interview (YouTube)
  • Ise Shrine (Jinja Honchō; Association of Shinto Shrines)
  • GaijinPot, Ise Shrine
  • Japan Pics : A blog with some photos from a trip to Ise Shrine that the author took before the ritual rebuilding of the shrine in 2013.
  • Sengūkan Museum : the English may not display properly.
• Kawasaki
  • Japan Travel, Kawasaki
  • Museum of Ise Kawasaki Merchants, Map (PDF) : A great map with English explanations of a “living historical town” within Ise — close to the stations and a great way to see how people today maintain and live in a town with hundreds of years of history.
  • The Kawasaki Merchant’s House
  • Japan Timeline, Kawasaki : Some photos.
• Theme Parks / Museums / Entertainment
  • Shima Spain Village
  • Ise Azuchi Momoyama Cultural Village : I haven’t been yet, but it looks like a great place to take kids.
  • Futami Sea Paradise Aquarium : A popular destination for my son.
  • Sengūkan Museum
  • Ise Shrine Museums
  • The Museum of Shinto and Japanese Culture, Kogakkan University
  • The Kawasaki Merchant’s House

Eastern Mie: Toba

• Eco Tourism
• Toba Promotional Videos (YouTube)

SOUTHERN MIE

• Owase
  • Owase Tourism Site
  • Kumano Kodō Center : I used to be on the board of directors for this facility, which coordinates activities connected with the Old Road of Kumano World Heritage Site — my opinion might be biased, but I think this is definitely worth a visit!
• Kumano
  • Is Japan Cool? Kumano Kodo (ANA site) : All Nippon Airways has this “cool” site that introduces people, places, food, and Japanese culture.
  • Kumano City Tourist Association
  • Kumano Kodo site : PDFs, videos, and other detailed information on the World Heritage Site.
  • Japan Guide, Kumano
  • “Old Road of Kumano” (Kumano Kodo) Video by NHK World (YouTube)
  • Hana no Iwaya Shrine

SHINTO RESOURCES (Bibliographies, Guides, etc.) 

• Jinja Honchō 神社本庁 (Association of Shinto Shrines): ""Jinja Honcho was formed with the consensus of 80,000 Shinto shrines throughout the Japanese archipelago in 1946. Since then, respecting the Grand Shrine of Ise as the most prominent shrine in Japan, Jinja Honcho has worked to encourage Shinto rituals, to promote the prosperity of Shinto shrines, and to support the continuity of Japanese culture and traditions."
• Irei, the Spirituality of the Japanese (PDF)
• Jinja, Heart of Japan (PDF)
• Soul of Japan (PDF)  this booklet covers all the basics and gives a good idea of what Shinto is from the perspective of its largest organization.
• To Nurture A Noble Spirit - The Power of the Imperial Rescript on Education -
• Rosemarie Bernard (Shinto and Ecology Bibliography) : also conveniently available as a downloadable document.
• John Breen and Mark Teeuwen (A Shinto Bibliography in English) (PDF)
• Kokugakuin University's Shinto Portal 
• Articles in Translation
• Encyclopedia of Shinto

Online Databases for Japanese Historical Research

PAID 


Princeton University Databases Portal for access to databases available to Princeton students through the university. With the exception of Japan Knowledge, which requires use of VPN, all databases can be accessed from off campus by simply logging in when prompted.

• Japan Knowledge "Reference collection including encyclopedias, an economic weekly journal, maps, people in the news, etc. Includes access to the Jitsu, Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (=Nikkoku Online) and Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei dictionaries."
• JSTOR "Full text archive of core journals in select disciplines. Journal issues from the most recent 3-5 years are usually NOT available electronically through JSTOR."
• Magazine Plus  "Indexes more than 50 million articles from 8,500 Japanese language journals. Updated weekly. Covers humanities, social sciences, and science and technology."
• Project Muse "Full-text articles from more than 100 scholarly journals in history and the humanities, the social sciences, and the sciences."
  

FREE

• CiNii "(Scholarly and Academic Information Navigator, pronounced like "sigh-knee") is a database service that enables searching of information on academic articles published in academic society journals or university research bulletins, or articles included in the National Diet Library's Japanese Periodicals Index Database."
• National Diet Library 国立国会図書館 The national library in Japan.
• Tokyo Historiographical Institute 東京大学史料編纂所 "These databases, which were first constructed in 1984, are a product of ongoing co-operation between researchers attached to the Historiographical Institute, archivists, publishers, computer engineers and many others."