Research on Japanese Ancestor Worship

Author: Zhou Jie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: This book explores and summarizes the ancestor worship in China and Japan through field investigations. However, there are many comparable aspects in ancestor worship between China and Japan, especially in terms of family consciousness and beliefs in souls, with numerous similarities and differences. This book does not cover these aspects. Further study and research are needed by the author in the future. In terms of natural and geographical conditions, China has built cities and formed bloodline groups through human efforts on a vast land, while Japan has formed social foundations based on naturally formed groups such as mountains and rivers. Administrative divisions like prefectures and districts in Japan are largely based on natural environments. Social governance has been shaped within village groups naturally divided by small basins, leading to the formation of social consciousness. The unified body of these villages in Japan is known as the clan. Japanese clans are typically bloodline-based tribal groups, sharing similarities with the role of religion in China in terms of politics, arbitration, military affairs, and rituals.