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Social Anthropological studies of Religion in North Okinawa

Research Project

Project/Area Number 61301039
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Co-operative Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field 文化人類学(含民族学・民俗学)
Research InstitutionUniversity of the Sacred Heart

Principal Investigator

YOSHIDA Teigo  University of the Sacred Heart, 文学部, 教授 (60037025)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) KIMURA Hideo  Asian University, 経済学部, 助教授 (10153206)
ITABASHI Sakumi  Tokyo University of Medicine and Dentistry, 教養部, 助教授 (70107415)
SUENARI Michio  University of the Sacred Heart, 文学部, 教授 (20054570)
白川 琢磨  慶應義塾大学, 文学部, 非常勤講師
Project Period (FY) 1986 – 1988
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1988)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1988: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1987: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1986: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Keywords儀礼 / 祭祀 / 祖先祭祀 / コスモロジー / 方位観 / 伝統文化 / シャーマン / ケガレ / 儀礼シンボル / 門中 / 神女(カミンチュー) / 祭祀組織 / 社会変化 / 来訪神 / 葬儀 / 親族関係 / 世界観 / 他界観 / 神観念 / シャーマニズム / 社会組織
Research Abstract

Social anthropological investigations have been carried out with respect to the three areas of interest on the traditional religion in North Okinawa through analyses of social structure, rituals and cosmology.
First, shinugu and other rituals, washing of human bones practiced as part of ancestral cults in such hamlets as Yasuda, Oku in north Okinawa Mainland, and Izena hamlet in the Island of Izena were investigated in connection with differential social structures in those hamlets. Apart from differences, similarities have been discovered between shinugu rituals in Okinawa and hunting rituals performed by Okinawan aborigines. This will stimulate further comparative studies.
Second, various rituals including unjami (rituals centering around the sea goddess), rituals of abundance, tug-of-wra festivals, etc, have been investigated in Naho hamlet in Iheya Island, Bise hamlet in Motobu-cho, Hiji and other hamlets in Kunigami Village. As a result of these studies the notions of Nirai Kanai, visiting gods, ancestral spirits, mountain and sea deities, and of cardinal directions have been disclosed. Also, a variety of ritual symbols such as susuki (pampas leaves)and a dead rat placed in a papaya fruit were studied. The former is used for exorcising evils and the latter is a symbol of a wild boar sacrificing to the sea goddess to secure good catches of fish.
Third, women shamans called yuta were intensively interviewed and investigated. It was discovered that yuta had been playing an important role in clarifying her clients' ambiguities related to their ancestral cults caused by the last war. Also, yuta repeatedly criticised the traditional rituals performed by priestesses in their hamlets, and reinterpreted and theorized Okinawan cosmology.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1988 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1987 Annual Research Report
  • 1986 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All Other

All Publications (7 results)

  • [Publications] 吉田禎吾: 吉田禎吾編『文化の解読』.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1988 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 吉田禎吾: 紫田ミチ雄 他編『世界史を考える』第1巻自然.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1988 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] YOSHIDA,Teigo.: "The Feminine in Japanese Folk Religion; Polluted or Divine?" Unwrapping Japanese Society.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1988 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 吉田禎吾: 文化の解読.

    • Related Report
      1988 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 吉田禎吾: 世界史を考える・第1巻自然.

    • Related Report
      1988 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] TEIGO YOSHIDA: The Third JAWS(Japan Anthropology Workshop)国際研究集会-ヘブライ大学(エルサレム)において1987年4月7日〜9日まで開催-. (1988)

    • Related Report
      1987 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] TEIGO YOSHIDA: JAPAN ANTHROPOLOGY WORKSHOP,APril,Conference,Hebrew Vniversity,Jerusalem. (1987)

    • Related Report
      1986 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1987-03-31   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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