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Article: Shamanic dance in Japan: the choreography of possession in Kagura performance.
- Article from:
- Asian Folklore Studies
- Article date:
- June 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Asian Folklore Studies. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Religion in Japan is often characterized as shamanic in origin.(1) Indeed, both religious ritual and the performing arts in Japan are generally acknowledged as originating from shamanic possession-trance.(2) The ancient techniques involved in summoning the deities to possess their shamans included elements of the performing arts: dance, music, song, and drama. Japanese religious practice is thus rightfully described as "hierophany" or "a showing of the sacred" (ELLWOOD and PILGRIM 1985, 111). To this day, the great variety of the so-called minzoku geino (folk performing arts) in Japan combine artistic and spiritual dimensions into functional ritual events.
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